Get Rid of Fleas While You Sleep

This is a trick I learned from my grandmother when they lived in North Carolina.  They had a dog that was always outside romping around in the woods.  He would often bring home little hitchhikers, and this was Nana's solution.

The best part about this trap is that there are no chemicals to worry about your pets or small children coming into contact with. 

Step 1: Things You Will Need

- A small desktop style lamp

- A shallow bowl.  I found that the cheap aluminum pie tins work great for this, but if you don't have one of those any shallow bowl will do until you get one.

- Liquid Soap

- enough water to fill the bowl about half to three quarters full

Step 2: Setup

set the bowl in a regularly used room, just make sure it is out of the way enough that it won't get knocked over by anyone. I set mine behind the recliner because it stays a set distance away from the wall and no one goes behind it.

Fill the bowl with the soapy water.  Adding the soap to the water is essential for the trap to work properly, because the soap decreases the surface tension of the water so that once the fleas hop in they can not manage to swim back to the edge and crawl out.

set the light directly over the bowl a few inches from the surface.

You will find the most dramatic accumulation of fleas will occur overnight ,as long as you remember to leave the lamp on.

Step 3: Maintaining Your Flea Trap

This is the really hard part ...

Change the water once a day.

Comments

[PaleoPunk]

Great idea! My cats came home with fleas last year and we had to use a lot of nasty chemicals. This is method of flea removal looks cheap, easy, and environmentally friendly!

[Lorddrake]

It is super easy and suprisingly effective. I'm not sure if it is the light or the warmth from the bulb (or a combination of the two), but we were amazed at the number of "visitor" that accumulated the first night we set it up.
Our biggest collections always occured at night, each night there were fewer and fewer fleas in the bowl. Within a few days they were all gone. We left the setup for a few more days in case we had any straglers, but none appeared.

[CarolLikesTools]

I am struggling to get it work so far. Do I rub in hand wash bar soap in the water or pour in dish washing liquid soap after fill the shallow bowl with tape water?

I've done it 2 nights, but not seeing any small creatures accumulated on the surface of water in the morning. Are fleas not visible to human eyes?

I am also wondering if it's because I rub in too much hand washing bar soap to ensure it'll work?

I am really miserable with those never ending itching bites on my body. Help please.

Thanks
Carol

[Lorddrake]

You can use any type of soap, it is easiest to use the liquid soap.

The reason you add the soap to the water is that the soap reduces the surface tension of the water making it harder for the bugs to stay afloat.

Try moving the set up closer to where your dog normally sleeps.

Yes, fleas are visible to human eyes.

You do not need much soap, just enough to make the water slightly bubbly.

[CarolLikesTools]

Thanks a lot for answering my question. I really appreciate it.

I think the 1st night didn't work because I use a deep large square plastic washing bowl. I was afraid I might spill the water on the carpet. I live in a small room in a large shared accommodation. I have all my personal belongings piled up in the tiny space so cleaning is a difficult task.

The 2nd night works better because I use a shallow large square baking tray. I can feel the difference because I got less bites.

They used to attack my feet and legs, but now my arms, neck, face and upper body suffer because I wear socks and long trouser to protect my lower body.

I sleep with scarf, socks, long sleeve and trouser last night. It was uncomfortable for summer nights. I also moved the baking tray from under my desk to under my bed.

I don't have a pet so don't know why suddenly I have fleas problems in my room. I've lived here for more than 2 years without any problem until a few weeks ago I started getting itching bites.

I still can't see any of them when woke up in the morning. But I am very nearsighted.

Again thank you for your help. I'll definitely continue doing it until all fleas are being kicked out of my room.

[CarolLikesTools]

Sorry I am back to ask a few questions. I thought I am almost done with this bug issue. I had a haven 24 hours without a single new burning itching bite and even let my guard down sleeping without socks. However it started to attack my hands and wrist area when I picked up something from the carpet. I was shocked because I have the trap on 24 hours every day. I just cannot believe there are still some bugs/fleas alive. Anyway here's my question.

1) Do I have to have the light on even during the day? I am just afraid my desk lamp would go bust soon because I have been had the light on day and night non-stop.

2) Are fleas very fussy about having fresh soapy water to drink? There are still always plenty of water in the baking tray whenever I change it everyday. Can I change the water once a week? I live in an old building so I always have to dump the water in the communal kitchen, it'll take me 4 or 5 trips to the kitchen to accomplish the task. In order to prevent spill water on the carpet I have to put the water in a jar with lid, which means I can't do it in one go.

3) I don't know what kind of bugs in my room. What's the bugs/fleas life cycle like. How long do I have to use this trap after stop getting new bites?

I think I am going to wear gloves to sleep from now on until the problem got resolved.

[Lorddrake]

It sounds like your issue is more widespread than just your room. Unless your landlord is willing to treat the building you will continue to have issues. The bugs will be attracted to the heat of the light so the more you have it on the better it works. You shouldn't have to change the water everyday. But at least twice a week is a good idea.

[CarolLikesTools]

Thanks a lot for your advice. Changing water twice a week is definitely much easier than everyday. I'll continue to have the light on 24 hours a day.

Wish myself luck to eventually see the end of this miserable health problem. Thanks again for your guidance.

Kindest regards
Carol

[brentcampbell22382]

How am I going to put a lamp over the bowl if the traps are under the bed?

[Lorddrake]

if you dont have a gooseneck lampthat is flexible enough to fit, you can set the trap near the bed instead of under it. the light and heat will attract the fleas

[brentcampbell22382]

Ok What about a night light or Christmas lights?