How to Get Rid of Wasps From Home Safely and Naturally

They can be of a lot of use in your garden, helping to keep pests like flies and insects away. However, at the end of the day, they are pests themselves and can become quite a nuisance if they decide to set up shop near your home. The trouble worsens if you are allergic to them!

What are we talking about you ask? Wasps of course! Wasps are a class of insects that differ from bees and ants.

You would have heard of hornets and yellow jackets which are some of the most common types of wasps that can be found in gardens and yards.

Apart from them, there are other kinds of wasps as well, including paper wasps, red wasps, cicada killers and mud daubers.

Understanding what kind of wasp you are dealing with is the key to removing them and their nests from your home efficiently.

While some wasps can be easily handled, others are more aggressive and can put up a fight if forced to leave their nests. This is probably why many individuals tend to prefer professional pest control services aka chemical treatments over other remedies to get rid of wasps.

Why Won’t Chemical Treatments Work?

Before turning to chemical treatments for getting rid of the wasps in your garden, take note of the fact that these treatments are very difficult to attempt and can be very hazardous to human health and the environment.

Studies have in fact established the fact that thousands of children around the world are infected by poisonings related to household pesticides every year.

This fact alone is enough to reiterate the fact that using chemicals to get rid of pests like wasps can only harm you and your loved ones in the long run.

Switching Over to Home Remedies Which Actually Work

Not many know that there are many ways to get rid of wasps and other pests around the house with limited or no use of chemicals at all.

These methods pose less danger to human health and the environment while effectively getting rid of the wasps infesting your garden/yard.

The next time you need to know how to get rid of wasps, take a look at these home remedies.

1.Peppermint Oil Remedies to Get Rid of Wasps

Wasps have a natural hatred for peppermint as well as anything that is even remotely related to mint.

Using peppermint oil can therefore help you get rid of the wasps infesting your home. Here are some remedies you can try out with peppermint oil for the same purpose.

Method I: Peppermint Oil Cotton Balls

This remedy is effective enough to get rid of wasps outside your home.

Ingredients:

• Peppermint Oil – 6 to 8 drops

Method:

• Take a few cotton balls and dip them in the peppermint oil.
• Squeeze out the excess oil and place these cotton balls in strategic places where you find wasps visiting often. These include front porches, porch roofs, ledges and crevices, etc.
• Place a couple of these cotton balls near old and wasp nets to make sure that the wasps stay

Method II: Peppermint Oil Soapy Mix

It is said that soap water can suffocate wasps. Hence if you are wondering how to get rid of wasp, try this remedy.

Ingredients:

• Baby Shampoo (or) Soap – 1 cup
• Peppermint Oil – 10 drops

Method:

• Mix the shampoo and the peppermint oil nicely.
• Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
• Spray this mixture on all the areas and surfaces where you find the wasps. Spray the mixture on the nests as well in order to drive the wasps away for good.

2. Liquid Soap and Water Remedy to Get Rid of Wasps

Research has showed that a combination of water and liquid soap can work wonders in keeping away dangerous wasps from your home (1). The liquid soap mix when sprayed on the wasps, sticks to their wings and eventually suffocates them.

Ingredients:

• Water – 2 cups
• Liquid Soap – 2 cups

Method:

• Mix the water and liquid soap to create a soap solution. Pour this solution into a spray bottle.
• Spray this solution on all the areas of the houses where wasps can be found.
• Do this multiple times a day until the wasps stop returning to these areas.

3. Sugar and Water Remedy 

You can make an effective wasp sugar trap using nothing but some sugar and water. Keeping this trap near the wasp infested areas will be beneficial in getting rid of the wasps.

The wasps will be drawn to the sugar and enter the trap. However, not knowing how to come out of the trap, they will remain inside and eventually die.

Ingredients:

• Sugar – 2 tbsp.
• Water – 1 cup

Method:

• Mix the water and sugar to make a sugar solution. Keep it aside.
• Take a 2 l plastic bottle and cut off its neck. Remove the cap and flip the bottle so that the neck s upside down. Place the inverted part of the bottle into the portion that you just cut off. Tape the two parts together.
• Place the sugar solution inside a cup, inside the bottle. Line the insides of the bottle with oil (this will cause the wasps to slip and fall back in should they try to escape).
• Fix a screw or hook to the top of the bottle and hang it in the area most frequented by the wasps.
• Keep noticing the trap every day until it is almost full with wasps.
• Pour boiling water into the bottle to kill the wasps. Empty out the bottle and place it back with the sugar solution inside it to trap more wasps.

Note: If you are too scared to empty the bottle, simply throw it away and hang a new one.

4. Chili Pepper Remedy 

Wasps hate anything spicy. This gives you the perfect opportunity to cook up a spicy chili pepper spray that will get rid of them for sure.

Ingredients:

• Water – 3 cups
• Chili Pepper – 2

Method:

• Boil the water nicely.
• Chop the chili peppers and add them to the boiling water. Let the mix boil for another 5 minutes.
• Set the mixture aside to cool down and pour it into a spray bottle afterwards.
• All you need to do now is aim and spray at the wasps whenever you spot them.
• You can also spray this mix on small nests around your home. Ensure you are at a safe distance from the nest when you are about to spray it though.

5. Cinnamon Powder Remedy 

Wasps hate the smell of cinnamon (2). You can make use of some cinnamon powder to get rid of the wasps infesting your home.

Ingredients:

• Cinnamon Powder – 1 cup

Method:

• Sprinkle cinnamon powder near the wasp infested areas of your home.
• You can also sprinkle some cinnamon powder near the wasp nests. The smell of the cinnamon will gradually drive the wasps out of their nests and out of your home as well.
• Continue doing this every day for about 14 days until you don’t find any wasps near your home.

6. Kerosene Remedy

This remedy will be of great help in killing wasps in their nests. It is especially effective in case you find a wasp nest buried underground.

Ingredients:

• Kerosene – 1 can

Method:

• Wait for nightfall as this is when the wasps return to their nests to sleep.
• Locate the mouth of the wasp’s nest and pour the kerosene directly into it.
• Cover the mouth of the nest with a wet blanket or towel immediately. This will cut off the opening from which the wasps can escape.
• Wait for a week to allow the kerosene vapors to kill the wasps. After a week, arm yourself with one of the homemade sprays mentioned above and approach the nest carefully.
• Remove the bucket and spray inside the mouth of the nest to kill off any remnant wasps in it.
• This should hopefully help you get rid of the wasps invading your home.

7. Vinegar Remedy For Wasps

Vinegar is a very effective home remedy to get rid of wasps from your home. You can use vinegar in a number of ways, including the ones mentioned here, to chase away the pesky wasps invading your home.

Method I: Vinegar Trap

Vinegar has a strong, pungent odor that attracts wasps. You can make use of vinegar to create your own wasp trap at home.

Ingredients:

• Apple Cider Vinegar – ½ cup
• Sugar Solution – 1 l
• Jam – 1 tbsp.
• Liquid Soap – ¼ tbsp.
• Oil – 1 tsp.

Method:

• Cut off the top of a 2 l plastic bottle. Fill the bottom part of the bottle halfway with the sugar solution.
• Add the apple cider vinegar and soap to the solution.
• Coat the sides of the bottle with oil. Cover the neck of the bottle with the jam. Invert the neck and place it back on top of the bottom half.
• Tape the two parts together and place this trap near the wasp infested areas of your home.
• Wait for a few days before emptying the trap. You can pour boiling water into the trap before emptying it to make sure the wasps are dead before you open the bottle.

Method II: Vinegar Spray

Another way in which you can kill wasps using vinegar is to utilize the ingredient in a spray. Here’s the recipe for that.

Ingredients:

• White Vinegar – 1 cup
• Water – 1 cup

Method:

• Mix the water and white vinegar nicely. Pour it into a spray bottle.
• Spray this mix whenever you spot the wasps in your home.
• Repeat this remedy every time you notice the wasps until you don’t find them lingering around the house anymore.

8. Lemon and Cloves Remedy 

Wondering how to get rid of a wasp in a natural and effective manner? Lemons and cloves make for a deadly combination for wasps.

The insects literally hate the smell of lemons mixed with cloves (3). Make use of this weakness to conjure up a great natural remedy for wasps.

Ingredients:

• Cloves – 20
• Lemon – 1

Method:

• Cut the lemon in half. Insert 10 cloves inside each of the lemon halves.
• Place the lemon and cloves in a saucer. Place the saucer near the area where you find the wasps.
• The scent of the lemon and cloves will drive away the wasps.
• Once they move away from the mentioned areas, you can place them near the wasp’s nests to get rid of them.

9. Cucumber Remedy 

Cucumber contains acidic properties which is said to drive away wasps.

Here is a way you can use the ingredient to get rid of the wasps in and around your home. Cucumber can also easily eliminate the cockroaches efficiently

Ingredients:

• Cucumbers – 2

Method:

• Peel the cucumbers and slice them into small pieces.
• Place these pieces in strategic places around your home where the wasps can be found frequently.
• Do this regularly to make sure the wasps stay away from your home.

10. Boric Acid Remedy 

Boric acid as well as some of the other dry substances we are about to see in the points below can be of great help when you are not able to get to a wasp’s nest inside a wall or beneath the floor.

Let’s start with boric acid which can have fata effects on the wasps, poisoning them right away.

Ingredients:

• Boric Acid (powdered form) – 2 cups
• Caulk – 1

Method:

• Take an empty detergent bottle and fill it completely with the boric acid powder.
• Using a 1/8 inch drill, make a few holes in the wall around the opening through which the wasps enter the house.
• Place the opening of the detergent bottle near the holes and gently squeeze the boric acid powder into the holes. The wasps will die the moment they touch the boric acid.
• Follow this remedy every morning and night for a week or so until the wasps leave the area. Using the caulk, seal off the holes as well as the opening to make sure that the wasps do not invade the area again.

Note: Make sure you wear protective clothes, gloves and goggles so that you don’t come in contact with the wasps or the boric acid powder.

11. Diatomaceous Earth Remedy 

DE provides a great natural remedy for pesky wasps as it desiccates them upon contact.+

If you have some DE powder at home, here is how you can use it for killing wasps effectively. Diatomaceous Earth is also a great rescue if you want to get rid of water bugs.

Ingredients:

• Diatomaceous earth – 1 cup

Method:

• Sprinkle some DE powder near the nests of the wasps and preferably into them as well (this is best done at night).
• Do this until you notice no more wasps near the nest. Pour boiling water into the opening or spray chili pepper spray (method of preparation mentioned above) into the opening to kill any remaining wasps.
• Seal the opening with some more diatomaceous earth to ensure that the wasps stay away from it forever.

12. Baby Powder Remedy

Baby powder acts as a natural repellent for wasps (4) and can prove to be an effective homemade remedy to get rid of these insects from your home. Got some baby powder at home? Check out how you can use it as a wasp repellent.

Ingredients:

• Baby Powder – 3 tbsp.

Method:

• Sprinkle the baby powder in the areas frequented by the wasps. Continue to do this until the area is wasp free.
• You can also sprinkle baby powder around the nests of the wasps continuously until the insects can’t stand the smell of the baby powder and choose to set up house somewhere else.

Note: You can also substitute baby powder with any fragrant talcum powder you have at home.

13. Bay Leaves Remedy 

Bay leaves have a naturally pungent odor owing to the essential oils present in them.

This makes them a great natural repellent for wasps, it is also very useful for household insects like fleas, flies and cockroaches.

If you house is being infested by these insects, here is a remedy you can use against them.

Ingredients:

• Bay Leaves – 15 or so

Method:

• Spread the bay leaves evenly on the ground near the areas frequently infested by wasps and other insects.
• Do this continuously, replacing the dried bay leaves with fresh ones every few days or so until you don’t find any wasps near these areas.

14. Orange Juice and Jam Remedy 

This remedy allows you to build a trap for the wasps using these two ingredients. It is an effective way to get rid of the wasps without getting stung in the process.

Ingredients:

• Orange Juice – 2 cups
• Jam – 1 tbsp.

Method:

• Make a hole in the jar lid with the help of a drill. The hole should be no bigger than your small finger.
• Fill the jar with the orange juice. Apply the jam to the insides of the jar lid and close the jar with it.
• Place the jar near the area infested by the wasps. The sweetness of the orange juice and the jam will attract the wasps which will enter the jar, get stuck inside it and eventually drown.
• Empty the contents of the jar at night and replace it with the same ingredients to catch more wasps. Keep doing this until all the wasps move away.
• Now fill half of the jar with 2 cups of orange juice.
• Take 1 tbsp of raspberry jam and use it to cover the inside of the lid.
• Seal jar with the lid and place it at the back of the yard or at a location away from people.
• The sweet raspberry jam and the orange juice will attract the wasps and they will crawl in the jar through the lid and eventually drown in the juice.
• Wait till it is dark before you empty the jar of its contents and then refill the jar with a fresh juice and jam.
• Do this once or twice a day till the wasps are killed completely.

15. Hair Spray Remedy 

Have some extra hair spray lying around in your closet? Take close aim and spray at any wasps threatening you.

The glue in the hair spray will make the wings stick together, making it difficult for the wasps to fly and easier for you to squish them.

You can also opt to keep aside a bottle of hair spray for getting rid of wasps effectively.

16. Ways to Remove Wasp Nests from your Home

You probably have an idea of how to get rid of the wasps infesting your home. However, simply driving away these wasps will not to.

You will need to remove their nests from your property as well for wasps are territorial insects and will keep on trying to return to their homes.

Here are some methods you can try to remove the wasp nests from your property.

Note that you need to wear protective clothes, gloves and goggles in order to avoid being stung by the wasps while removing their nests.

It is also advised to carry out most of these operations at nighttime when the wasps return to their nests to sleep.

For Small Nests

In case the nests are small in size, consider these options:

• Pour a bucket of boiling water into the nest at night. Repeat with another bucket of boiling water in the morning. Wait for a couple of hours and knock down the nest.
• Pour a few cups of soap solution into the wasp nest at night for a couple of nights. This should kill the wasps following which you can knock down the nests.

For Large Nests

Large nests may be harder to tackle and would need some proper planning. Try these removal methods when wondering how to get rid of wasps nests, making sure you are wearing protective gear at all times when doing so.

17. Soap Solution Method

• Attach a hose-end sprayer to your garden hose. Fill the sprayer with concentrated soap solution (2 cups of dishwash soap mixed with 1 cup of water).
• Stand at a safe distance from the nest, aim the sprayer at the nest and open the tap.
• Allow the hose to run for a few seconds while dousing the nest with soapy water. This should kill the majority of the wasps while the rest of them fly away to avoid being killed.

18. Drowning Method

This is another way to get rid of wasp nests from your garden. You will need to do this at night when the wasps return to their nests.

• Place a cloth bag (choose the size according to the size of the nest as the bag needs to cover the nest completely over the wasp nest, covering it completely.
• Tie off the top the bag and pull gently to free the nest.
• Put the bag containing the nest inside a bucket filled with water. Place a large rock above the bag to keep it submerged under the water.
• Leave the bag and bucket alone and head indoors for the night. Return back the next morning to empty the bucket, keeping a bottle of hair spray handy to kill any remnant wasps that may swoop in for revenge.

19. Smoke Method

Another way to remove wasp nests from your home is to smoke them out.

• Light a small fire in a grill. Place the grill beneath the wasps’ nest. Alternatively, you can also build a fire directly underneath the nest.
• Allow the smoke from the flames to rise up and surround the nest. The wasps will flee the nest after being suffocated from the same.
• Wait for a couple of hours until the nest is empty following which you can knock it down. Use the hair spray or soap water solution handy to fend off live wasps.

20. Balloon Method

Wondering how to get rid of bees and wasps using a very simple method? Try a balloon! This method allows you to create a fake wasp nest using a balloon and some glue.

Wasps are territorial creatures and will not set up home in a place which already has a wasp nest. You can use this fake nest to drive away wasps from your home.

• Blow up the balloon to a large size and tie the opening with a thread.
• Mix glue and water in the ratio 3:1 to create a paste. Pour the paste into a bucket.
• Using a brush, dip some newspaper strips into the paste one at a time and place them on the balloon, brushing them lightly so that they stick to the balloon.
• Cover the entire balloon with the paper strips and glue. Allow it to dry. Ensure that the string used to tie the mouth of the balloon remains outside the paste.
• Paint the newspaper covering a dark gray color and wait for it to dry.
• Using a safety pin, pop the balloon inside.
• Tie this fake nest to the branch of a tree outside your home with the help of the string. This will keep the wasps away.

21. Paper Lunch Bag Method

Try creating a fake wasp nest using a lunch bag instead. This method is comparatively easier, but equally effective in keeping wasps away from your home.

• Tear some papers from an old newspaper. Crumple these papers into medium sized balls.
• Stuff these paper balls inside a plastic shopping bag. Tie the opening of the bag nicely.
• Place the shopping bag inside a paper lunch bag and tie the opening again.
• Hang this fake paper wasp nest in the garden or yard to keep away the wasps.

22. Remedies to treat wasp stings

Chances are you may encounter quite a few angry wasps in the process of removing/relocating their nests.

Chances are also high you may get a few wasp stings while trying out the home remedies mentioned above.

Here are some remedies to treat wasp stings which can be very painful to handle otherwise.

23. Removing the Stinger

The first course of action after having being stung by a wasp is to remove the stinger in your skin. You can do the same by using a pair of tweezers or your fingernails.

After removing the stinger, wash the site with water and an antiseptic soap. Apply an antiseptic ointment or calamine lotion to reduce the swelling.

Note: Make sure you do not pinch the stinger because it will result in more venom being injected into the skin.

24. Applying Ice on the Site

After removing the stinger, apply some ice on the sting site. This will provide immediate relief from the symptoms of the wasp bite, including itching, pain and inflammation.

• Place the ice compress (ice cubes wrapped in a piece of cloth) on the site for 10 seconds and for 10 minute intervals.
• Continue doing it for a few hours until the pain and inflammation subside.

Note: Avoid putting ice on the skin directly as it can lead to frostbite.

25. Applying Baking Soda Paste on the Site

The alkaline properties of baking soda can help to neutralize the effects of the acidic venom, providing instant relief from the pain and swelling caused by the wasp sting.

Method:

• Make a paste of baking soda with water (1tsp. baking soda with a few drops of paste).
• Apply this paste on the injured area for about 10 minutes after which you can wash it off with lukewarm water.
• Repeat twice every day until the pain and inflammation subside completely.

26. Applying Apple Cider Vinegar on the site

Apple cider vinegar helps to neutralize the acidic venom of the sting, thus reducing the pain and swelling caused by the same.

Method:

• Soak a small cotton ball in raw apple cider vinegar.
• Place the cotton ball on the sting site and secure it with a bandage.
• Remove the cotton ball once it has dried up and replace it with a fresh one.
• Repeat this process until the pain and swelling subside.

27. Applying Honey on the site

Honey helps to dilute the acidic venom and has antibacterial properties that keep infections at bay.

It also has soothing properties that help to provide relief from the symptoms of a wasp bite quickly and effectively.

Method:

• Remove the stinger and dab some honey in the area.
• Wash off the honey with lukewarm water after it has dried completely.
• Keep repeating this process throughout the day until you feel better.

28. Applying Aloe Vera Paste on the Site

Aloe Vera can help alleviate the symptoms of a wasp bite while ensuring that your skin stays safe from repair and infection.

Method:

• Collect the gel from an Aloe Vera leaf.
• Apply a small amount of this gel on the sting site and allow it to dry.
• Keep reapplying fresh gel on the sting site multiple times a day until the pain, itching and inflammation reduce.

29. Applying Toothpaste on the site

Don’t have time to whip up any remedy? Simply apply toothpaste on the sting site to reduce the pain instantly.

Method:

• Smear white toothpaste on and around the sting site.
• Allow it to dry following which you can wipe it off with a damp cloth.
• Reapply the toothpaste on the affected area multiple times a day until you no longer feel the pain and itchiness caused by the wasp sting.

Note: Make it a point to avoid colored or gel toothpaste as it can cause irritation in the affected area.

General Guidelines to adopt while dealing with wasps

In addition to trying the remedies mentioned above, here are some guidelines that can help keep you and your family safe from these pests.

Ensure to follow these guidelines when searching for how to get rid of wasps and hornets.

• If you notice wasps flying around in the immediate vicinity, stay calm. Do not panic as the wasps can sense your agitation and get agitated themselves. Close your nose and mouth, and walk away, taking slow and steady steps.
• Do not swat the wasps without wearing protective gear. Any action from your side will trigger a defensive response from their end.
• Always make sure to have an escape route planned out before disturbing a wasp’s nest. This makes it easier for you to run to a safe cover when the wasps emerge from the nest.
• Make it a point to destroy the wasp’s nest as soon as you notice them in your garden. The smaller the wasp colony, the easier it will be to handle. Wasps are typically less aggressive in a smaller colony as well. Also ensure to remove or relocate a wasp’s nest only during the night as the wasps are less aggressive at this time of the day.
• If you are stung by a wasp, do not scratch the sting site as it may lead to further infection.
• If you are wearing tight fitting jewelry at the area of the sting, remove it as this may be difficult to do when the area swells up.
• Avoid wearing bright colors or perfumes while moving outdoors as this can attract the wasps. Do this until the wasps are removed from your property completely. Wear long sleeved clothes to avoid getting stung by the wasps.
• Consider growing wasp repellant plants around your home. Some varieties you can try include eucalyptus, wormwood, spearmint and thyme are some plants that act as natural wasp repellants. Plant them around the home, adding natural beauty to your home while chasing away wasps.
• Repair any fixtures in your home which might have attained damages. Broken panels, siding and crevices can become places for wasps to build their nests. Fix the doors and windows, fill out rodent holes and burrows with dirt to keep wasps from building their nests in these areas.
• If your DIY wasp nests do not work well, consider buying decorative wasp decoys from a shop. Hang these around the home to trick the wasps into thinking that they are existing wasp nests. This will keep the wasps away from your home.
• If you find it difficult to get rid of the wasps from your home, consider calling in a professional to remove them.

Summary

So there you have it. Hope you have found out how to get rid of red wasps from your home.

These are some of the most common and effective ways to get rid of a wasp’s nest from your home.

Ensure to follow the guidelines when trying to remove and relocate the nests.

These natural remedies will help you and your loved ones stay safe from wasp infestations without the need to resort to synthetic pest control alternatives for the same purpose.