To keep wasps away effectively, consider the following expert-backed methods:
Natural Repellents and Sprays
- Use essential oils such as peppermint, clove, geranium, lemongrass, and lavender. Mix a few drops of these oils with water and dish soap in a spray bottle and spray around your home’s eaves, porch roofs, and other wasp-prone areas. Peppermint oil alone is also notably effective
- Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar mixed with sugar and water, can lure wasps into a trap where they drown, or its strong odor can repel them when sprayed around
- Citrus scents from lemon, lime, orange peels, or citrus oils disrupt wasps’ sensory systems and repel them
- Burning citronella candles outdoors can help deter wasps naturally
Physical Barriers and Traps
- Seal cracks, gaps, and holes around your home’s exterior, including siding edges, window screens, and where wires enter, to prevent wasps from nesting
- Use wasp traps that lure wasps inside with sugar water or similar bait. Position traps near nest entrances or where wasps congregate
- Hang fake wasp nests or decoys under eaves to exploit wasps’ territorial behavior and discourage them from building real nests nearby
Environmental and Behavioral Tips
- Keep food and drinks covered outdoors, especially sugary drinks and protein-rich foods, as wasps are attracted to these
- Keep trash cans tightly sealed and clean to remove food residues that attract wasps
- Remove fallen fruit from gardens promptly to avoid attracting foraging wasps
- Avoid swatting at wasps, as this can provoke them and attract more wasps
Direct Control
- For small nests, spray a mixture of two tablespoons of dish soap in water directly on the nest to suffocate wasps
- Use commercial wasp sprays with a long-range jet spray to kill wasps on contact, preferably spraying nests at sunset when wasps are less active
By combining these approaches—repellents, sealing entry points, managing food sources, and using traps or sprays—you can significantly reduce wasp presence and discourage them from nesting near your home
