Flea traps are necessary for those common bug-like insects that disturb the smooth running of your home. They live in your carpets, fabrics etc. and their bites can be both itchy and painful, while still transferring disease to you. Flea infestation can be very difficult to get rid of yet not impossible. With this flea trap article you can enjoy your space again and be flea-free.
Worthy of note, though we encourage you to make a simple flea trap at home with our outlined steps but you need to employ other flea-control methods to achieve true satisfaction on the whole especially if the flea infestation is severe.
Flea Trap Water and Light Method
For the water and light flea trap, light should be used a s a bait for the fleas, and at such it may not be very effective for fleas that infest pets or flea lavas etc. But, will work for fleas that can actually be drawn to the light source, therefore the night is the most effective time to carry this out.
What You Need
- Water
- Shallow Bowl or Plate
- Small Desk Lamp or night light source
- Dishwashing Detergent
First Step : Figure out Your Flea Trap’s Location
Find the area of your home in which the flea infestation is most intense and locate the trap at or near the site. Alternatively, for better results make traps in multiple flea infested areas around your home. Ensure that the area is a flat level floor near an electrical outlet if you opt for the nightlight method. But, for the desk lamp method an extension cord will suffice.
Step 2: Set Up A Light Source
You will have to get your nightlight or desk lamp plugged near the earlier chosen location of your flea infestation. The aim of the light when put on during the night is to attract the fleas to the light and its warmth but instead get drowned in the water.
Step 3: The Water
This is more simple than you thought right? Exactly! Place the shallow bowl plate but with a large surface area and short sides near the night light, or place the desk lamp directly over the plate. Then, add water to the shallow bowl, just enough for them to drown in.
Step 4: Add Dish Soap
To the already filled bowl, pour in some dish wash soap of about 1 tablespoon and swish the water around with a spoon or your finger to distribute the soap throughout the water. This is to make sure they are trapped by the water which now has a reduced surface tension, and actually get drowned. As opposed to their natural lightweightedness that allows them the flexibility of bouncing right off a plain water surface if without the slippery effect provided by the dish soap. Also, keep a towel on the floor to catch any spills, and lay the trap on top of the towel on the floor.
Tip: How to tell if your flea trap water surface is ideal, sprinkle some finely fresh grinded pepper on the water surface and observe if it floats or settles beneath. The later shows your water surface is effective for trapping the fleas and making them drown. Also for lights use a yellow-green filter, somehow it attracts fleas twice than normal white light.
Final Step: Put on Your Light
At night, just before you retire to bed. Remember to put on the light as this is what will attract the fleas. Leave the trap overnight and undisturbed for the rest of the night, by closing the door to the room to keep pets and kids out.
Empty and refill the trap each morning, by checking the trap for dead fleas. Then, refill the dish with fresh water, add more dish soap, repeat the same process and lay the trap out again on the towel for the next night. Repeat every night until you stop catching fleas.
How to Get Rid of Fleas For Your Pets
- Bathe and comb your pet’s furs, with a flea comb, while at it concentrate more on the neck and tail region. Afterwards, soak and swish the comb around in hot soapy water after each brush to kill fleas
- Then, also soak your pet with a hose or in a tub and lather your pet’s fur with a flea controlling shampoo
- Allow the shampoo to sit on the fur for few minutes before rinsing your pet down with clean water.
For your home generally, also use pesticide or insecticide, for your homes. After proper vaccuuming and cleaning, it can help cut down or eliminate fleas infestations. E.g Apply a pyrethrin-based pesticide with an insect growth regulator, both in an outside your home. Ensure none is home, and watch and safely secure your edibles. Put on gloves, goggles, long sleeves, and a respirator to apply the insecticide before spraying.
