How to properly dispose of a glue trap

Glue traps are a safe, non-toxic way to control insects, rodents, and household pests. They are an important tool in the professional pest control operator’s toolkit, and sometimes the only practical option. Once the glue trap has done its job though, it needs to be disposed of in a timely, safe, and hygienic manner.

Whenever possible, we strongly recommend letting a professional do it! Professional pest control operators are highly trained in knowing the best type of trap to use in a situation, the ideal placement of them, how to monitor them, and of course how to dispose of them.  But we understand that it is not always possible to go the professional route, so, should you be taking care of this on your own, following these steps will ensure a hygienic, safe, and humane disposal.

1. Protect your hands – The number one reason we need pest control is to mitigate the spread of diseases carried by insects and rodents. If there is anything trapped in the glue, make sure to wear disposable gloves when handling it. If you are handing a trap with a live rodent, thicker gloves are recommended to protect you from potential bites.
2. If you are using a glue trap, it should be monitored regularly, and disposed of as soon as feasibly possible after a catch in order to avoid attracting additional pests. If there is a live rodent on it, and you want to end its suffering prior to disposal, the most humane way at this point is to be quick and efficient about it. You can place the trap into a bag and give it a swift hit with something heavy.  If the rodent is already dead (which generally happens within 24 hours after becoming trapped), you can simply pick up the trap, drop it in a bag along with the disposable gloves, and dispose of it in regular household garbage.
3. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling a glue trap.

What to do if an unintended target gets stuck on a glue trap

Unfortunately, sometimes unintended things get stuck on a glue trap. Be it a child or a pet, carpet or clothing, there is no need to panic if this happens. Glue traps are non-toxic and can be easily removed.

The not-so-secret removal method is vegetable oil. Baby oil, mineral oil, or any other cooking oil will also do the trick.

To remove glue from skin or hair:      

1. Pour a small amount of vegetable oil onto the area where the glue is attached. This step is optional but may make removal easier as it will start to dissolve the glue.
2. Carefully pull the glue trap off of the skin or hair. Going slowly will allow most of the glue to remain on the trap.
3. Blot any glue that is left behind with the vegetable oil, and leave it sit for a few minutes.
4. Using a dry rag, wipe the area to remove the glue and/or glue residue. If it doesn’t come off easily, repeat the process and allow the oil to remain on the skin or hair a little longer.
5. Wash the skin or hair with soap and warm water to remove the oil.

To remove glue from fabric

1. If the item is small enough, simply place it in the freezer. The glue will peel right off once frozen.
2. For furniture, or large items that won’t fit in a freezer, bring the freezer to the item! Place a freezer pack or ice cubes in a plastic zip bag and lay on the glued area – once it becomes very cold you should be able to just scrape or peel the glue off of the fabric.

To remove glue from hard surfaces

1. If the item is small enough, simply place it in the freezer. The glue will peel right off once frozen.
2. For floors, or other hard surfaces, options that work include mineral spirits, Goo Gone, WD-40, or vegetable oil. BE SURE TO TEST THESE MATERIALS IN AN INCONSPICUOUS AREA FIRST TO ENSURE IT WON’T DAMAGE THE SURFACE. (for plastics or porous surfaces, vegetable oil is recommended). Let the solvent sit on the surface for a few minutes.
3. Using a dry rag wipe it off and wash the area with soap and water.

To  release a household pet from a glue trap

1. If your pet gets caught in a glue trap, you may want to consider having a veterinarian do the removal to avoid injuring the animal, particularly if your pet gets anxious easily. The more they struggle the harder it might be to remove the glue. In the meantime, try to keep your pet calm.
2. If you choose to try to remove the trap yourself, we recommend wearing heavy gloves to avoid the animal biting you. We also recommend doing this outside if possible, or someplace where spilled oil won’t be a problem.
3. Pour the vegetable oil onto the area where the glue is attached and massage the fur or skin to work the oil into the glue. This may require a lot of oil and will take a few minutes. Once the animal is released, give it a bath with warm soapy water to remove the oil.

If you have children or pets, we recommend putting your glue traps into a reusable protective housing, such as Kness’s Stick-All Mouse and Insect Trap. LEARN MORE HERE.

We DO NOT recommend that individuals attempt to release any animal other than a household pet due to the risk of exposure to disease and injury. If you see an unintended animal trapped in a glue trap, please contact a professional pest control operator or your local animal control department.