Wasps can be an annoyance when they nest near your home. Some people are allergic to wasp stings, and these stings can be deadly to them. But even if you are not, their stings are painful and it is best to avoid them. Not to mention if you have children or pets, they are more at risk to be stung. So, in this article, you can find easy ways to get rid of wasps.
Remedies to Get Rid of Wasps:
So, how do you go about eradicating wasps? Simply trying to remove the nest around your home can be dangerous. Wasps are naturally aggressive insects, and any little agitation could set the swarm on you. You may be finding yourselves grabbing the first can of commercial wasp killers off of the shelf. But it is important to know that these solutions can be harmful to you and your surroundings. Perhaps even, the poisoned wasps can be eaten by your pet. To counter this, there exist a variety of natural remedies to get rid of wasps.
1.) Borax to Get Rid of Wasps
The use of borax to get rid of wasps is a classic home remedy. This powder is useful to eliminate many insects and pests. The low toxicity in borax ensures that it is not harmful if accidentally touched by children or a pet. Wasps will die as soon as they come in contact with this powder. Follow these steps to create your remedy for wasps:
- You will need: 1 empty detergent bottle, 1-2 cups borax, a drill, a pair of work gloves, protective gear, 1 tube caulk.
- First of all, protect yourself from possible wasp stings. Wear a long-sleeve shirt/T-shirt and thick jeans. Also, wear the protective eye gear and gloves.
- Prepare the remedy by filling the detergent bottle with borax (boric acid powder)
- Drill a few small holes into the wall around the nest. Place the tip of the detergent bottle into these holes. Press the bottle to let out the boric acid into the holes.
- Repeat this twice a week till all the wasps are dead. You will see soon that this suffocates the pests.
- Once this is done, seal the holes with caulk.
2.) Get Rid of Wasps with Dish Soap
This is another inexpensive home remedy to get rid of wasps. Dish soap is an easily available item. Mix this with water to create a remedy for wasps. The soap and water combination gets stuck to their wings and makes it difficult for the wasp to fly. Eventually, this will suffocate them.
- You will need: 2 tablespoons liquid soap, 2 cups water, a spray bottle.
- Prepare your solution by mixing together the liquid dish soap and water. Mix well.
- Pour this into the spray bottle.
- Now, stand at a safe enough distance away from the wasp’s nest. Spray this solution onto the nest. Make sure you are wearing protective clothing to protect you from possible bites.
3.) Eliminate Wasps with Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains insecticidal and fungicidal properties that are deadly to some insects, including wasps. This makes it a good homemade wasp killer. In addition, the odor of vinegar acts as a natural repellent for these pests. This home remedy will attract the wasps and drown them
- You will need: ½ cup Apple cider vinegar, 1-liter sweetened water, ¼ tablespoon dish soap, and 1 tablespoon jam. Other things are one 2-liter disposable plastic bottle, tape, and 1 razor knife.
- First of all, prepare the container for this remedy. Slice off the top of the plastic bottle with the knife. Retain this piece, but throw away the cap.
- Now, fill the bottle with the 1-liter of sweetened water. To this, add the apple cider vinegar and dish soap.
- On the piece you cut off earlier, coat the cut part with jam. Invert the neck and place it into the bottle opening. Use 2 small pieces of tape to hold them in place.
- Empty this trap regularly for most effective results. Follow this remedy thrice a week to kill wasps fast.
4.) Kill Wasps Naturally with Chilies
This home remedy is another effective way to get rid of wasps. While it is unclear how exactly chili peppers affect wasps, these insects are not fond of it. Hence, it is an easy and inexpensive way to treat wasp infestation. Follow these steps to utilize this remedy.
- You will need 2 red and spicy chilies (chopped), 3 cups water, and 1 spray bottle.
- Put the water on a flame and bring it to a boil. Now add the chilies. Keep boiling for 2-3 minutes. Take this off the flame and allow it to cool. This also allows the chilies to infuse into the water.
- Once the solution is set and cooled, strain it into the spray bottle.
- Spray this directly onto any wasps, as and when you spot them in your home.
- You can also apply this to the nest, but be sure to wear protective clothing and gear.
- Repeat this remedy a few times in a week to get rid of the wasps entirely.
5.) Cucumbers to Remove Wasp Infestation
The use of cucumbers to combat wasp infestation is not as highly known as other remedies. Studies have shown that this vegetable naturally contains a chemical compound called “cucurbitacins”. This is a bitter chemical that drives away most insects. This home remedy to get rid of wasps is perhaps one of the easiest. Follow these steps to utilize this kitchen ingredient to drive away wasps.
- You will need 2 medium-large cucumbers, and a knife to cut.
- Cut the cucumbers into slices of medium thickness.
- Place these slices around your house, most of all where the wasps gather.
- Repeat this thrice a week till your wasp infestation is solved.
6.) Lemon and Cloves to Get Rid of Wasps
Lemon and cloves combined together will create an odor that repels wasps. This home remedy is an ideal pocket-friendly method to get rid of wasps. Follow these steps to utilize this remedy to get rid of wasps in your home.
- You will need 1 lemon, 20-30 cloves, a small plate.
- Cut the lemon into equal halves. Divide the cloves equally (10-15 per half).
- Poke the pointed side of the cloves into the cut side of each lemon half.
- Now place these halves into the plate and leave it in an area where the wasps gather the most.
- Optionally, you can cut a small flat part on the other side of the lemon, for better balancing.
- Repeat this as necessary.
7.) Peppermint Oil to Eliminate Wasps
The odor of this essential oil acts as a powerful repellant for many pests, including wasps. Combine peppermint oil with water and unscented soap to create an effective natural wasp repellant. Follow these steps to do so.
- You will need: 1 tablespoon peppermint oil, 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon unscented shampoo or dish soap, and a spray bottle.
- Prepare your solution by mixing equal parts of peppermint oil and unscented shampoo/dish soap. Ix this well into the 2 cups of water.
- Pour this out into the spray bottle.
- Spray this mixture onto surfaces that are frequented by the pests.
- Repeat this every day for a week to eliminate wasps for good.
8.) Get Rid of Wasps with Bay Leaves
Bay leaves are another good remedy to repel pests and insects. The pungent odor of the bay leaves acts as a natural pest repellant. In addition, it contains essential oils like eugenol and myrcene. It has been shown that a number of essential oils keep wasps away.
- You will need: 10-12 bay leaves
- Place these leaves in the areas most frequented by the wasps.
- Replace the bay leaves weekly to maintain maximum effectiveness. Repeat this process until you get rid of wasps near your home.
9.) Eradicate Wasps Naturally with Water
One way to eradicate a wasp infestation is to aim for the source from which the problem stems. In other words, destroy the nest to eliminate the wasps. One way to do this is to use soapy water. This is especially relevant to get rid of ground nests.
- You will need: ½ a bucket of water, ½ a bucket of dish soap, and 1 bucket.
- Wait until night-time or dusk to perform this remedy. This is because wasps tend to sleep at night, so the number of insects in the nest will be higher.
- Now prepare your mixture by mixing together the measures of water and dish soap in the bucket.
- Carefully carry this out towards the nest. Make sure that you are wearing an appropriate amount of clothing to protect you from potential stings.
- Pour this into the nest quickly, and run back into the house.
- Repeat this every night for 3 days. The soap and water will destroy the protective coating on the wasp’s body. It will also drown out the wasp nest.
10.) Fake Nest to Repel Wasps
Finally, if you have eradicated a nest already and want to prevent further infestation you can build a fake nest to drive away wasps. Wasps are naturally territorial creatures. If they believe that another swarm has nested in that area, they will avoid it. One way to create a fake wasp nest is using a paper lunch bag.
- You will need: 1 newspaper, a plastic shopping bag, and a paper lunch bag.
- Crumple the sheets of the newspaper into balls. Stuff the plastic bag with these and tie it shut.
- Put this in the paper lunch bag. And now, hang this somewhere close to the house. Be sure to place it in areas where wasps are likely to build a nest. The corners of your home, on trees near the house, or in the yard are ideal.
