These natural ways to get rid of wasps are important for those who have allergies, or simply fear being stung. Wasps are a great insect to have in the wild, but not so much near your home. To protect yourself and your children, these tips will give you options without the use of chemicals that could harm your family further.
Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Wasps
Create a fake nest. Wasps are very territorial creatures and won’t build a nest where one already exists. There are many fake nest options online you can order, or you can make something using paper mache that you can attach to the awnings, porch, or gutter on your house to make wasps believe your house is already covered. While not 100% fool proof, it has been statistically proven to work well.
Use water to drown them out. This comes with many risks, but is likely the most popular of the natural ways to get rid of wasps. A garden hose with an attachment that includes dishwashing soap can also be highly effective at killing wasps. The soap breaks down their skeletons and will effectively kill them. It has been said this method works best when done after dark or at dusk when all of the wasps are home to their nest for the night. However, wasps are a good part of our ecosystem, so consider that before using this method.
Keep trash away from the house. Wasps are attracted to trash, and thus are more likely to build a nest near a food source. Make sure your compost or trash bin are away from your home, shop, or outbuildings you would be around a lot. Be careful when emptying garbage into your bins as wasps are more likely to be in those areas than others.
Place a penny in a bag of water. This method is an old wives tale that seems to work reasonably well. The reasons why are unknown, but placing a penny in a plastic baggie and hanging near the nest seem to deter the wasps from the area. It may work long enough for you to safely remove the nest and destroy it.
Plant citronella, eucalyptus, and mint near your home. Sprinkle these plants into the gardens around your home to help deter wasps. They are known to be some of the scents that wasps avoid, so their aroma around your home should help.
Use essential oils. The same scents of essential oils (citronella, eucalyptus, and mint) can be highly effective at deterring wasps. Mix a simple solution of oils in water or witch hazel and spray around the nests. Wasps will stay away from the unsavory smell.
These natural ways to get rid of wasps are sure to come in handy. Whether you have an existing problem, or simply want to work to prevent wasps from becoming a problem these tips will come in handy. Remember that wasps are good for our environment and do help with the insect population, but for many reasons you may prefer to have them farther away from your home.
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Wanda says
If you paint the ceiling of the porches and eaves of your home a very light blue no wasps will build their nests. They can’t tell if the roof is solid or open to the sky and will not build their nests.
Rose says
Ingenious!