How to Make a DIY Flea Trap

If you’re looking for natural ways to kill fleas, you’ve come to the right place. These small but mighty insects can become a nuisance and potentially spread harmful diseases if not treated properly, so making a DIY flea trap is an effective way to control their population in your home. 

This project only uses soap and water, so you won’t have to worry about using dangerous pesticides around young kids or pets. Nor will you have to worry about your budget since it’s a wallet-friendly way to kill fleas in a matter of days. 

Why Make My Own Flea Trap? 

If you need to learn how to get rid of fleas in your home, this guide is the perfect place to start. Using items you likely have on hand, this project can be done in little time with almost no cost—a DIYer’s dream come true. 

You can also set up multiple traps in different rooms if you’ve spotted fleas in various areas of your home. Since fleas tend to come inside through household pets, you may want to first set the trap or traps near spots your dogs or cats spend the most time. 

How Much Does It Cost to Make a Flea Trap? 

A DIY flea trap can cost next to nothing if you have the tools and materials on hand. If you have to purchase a few items for the trap, you likely won’t have to spend more than $20 total. 

This DIY cost is a far cry from flea exterminator costs, which can range from $75 to $400. However, a flea trap is best used for a small problem and not a major infestation, which would require the help of your local pest control specialist. 

How to Prep for a DIY Flea Trap

Photo: Iglenas / Adobe Stock

You need just a handful of things to successfully make and trap pesky fleas, and you probably already have almost all of them. Here’s what you’ll need.

Tools

• Shallow dish 

Materials

• Dishwashing liquid

• Alka-Seltzer (optional)

• Towels

• Candle, tea light or nightlight (optional)

If you plan to leave multiple traps in different rooms, ensure the rooms are free of pets or children and prep the area by laying towels down where the traps will sit. If you’ll be using an electrical light source to attract fleas, make sure it’s kept a good distance from the trap to ensure the safety of your home. 

How to Make Your Own Flea Trap

1. Pour Water into a Shallow Dish

For this project, you’ll need a dish with a large surface area and short sides, such as a pie plate, a rubber tote lid, or a cookie sheet. This shape keeps fleas from jumping out of the trap and escaping. Once you find a dish, fill it with water. 

2. Add Dish Soap

Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap into the water-filled dish and mix it in with a spoon. The addition of dish soap keeps fleas from reaching the surface area of the water and forces them to sink to the bottom. Adding Alka-Seltzer can also make the trap more effective. 

3. Move the Trap Near the Infested Area 

Take the soap and water mixture and move it to the area in your home that fleas have frequented. You may also want to lay a towel underneath the dish to keep spills from occurring. Fleas hide in spaces like pet beds, pet bowls, near linens, upholstered furniture, or carpeting. 

4. Add Light Source and Leave the Trap Overnight

Photo: sea and sun / Adobe Stock

Since fleas are attracted to light, adding a tea light or nightlight near your trap can help bring them to it while it sits overnight. Since fleas can’t fly, they won’t be able to escape the trap once they’re in it. Flea activity generally increases when the sun goes down and continues until the sun comes up. Leave the trap undisturbed overnight to catch and kill as many fleas as possible. 

5. Empty the Trap and Refill as Needed

In the morning, check the trap to see if any fleas have been killed. Whether the trap is empty or full, pour out the soap and water mixture and refill it if needed.