4 tips for keeping wasps away from your home

We’ll admit it. We don’t love wasps. Not only is their buzzing a nuisance, but they’re always trying to ruin our late-summer picnics, and they can even sting! And unlike bees, wasps can sting more than once during an attack. Ouch!

If you’re looking for ways to keep wasps away from your home, check out this list of four things you can do to ensure the pests stay far away.

1. The Best Offense Is A Good Defense

Before wasps even try to lay claim to your living space, they are measures you can take to prevent them from arriving in the first place. Be sure to remove half-eaten food from around your house, and cover trash cans. This is an important step because, during this time of year, wasps feed off of fermenting fruit. If you don’t offer them a food source, they’re less likely to take up residence in your home or yard.

Wasps are also always looking for a cozy place to build their nest, so monitor your home for crevices they might hide in, like broken siding or panels. There are also decoys you can place around your home to help deter the pests.

2. Try Peppermint Oil

Wasps hate any kind of mint, including peppermint. So try planting any variety of mint in your garden, or pour a few drops of peppermint oil onto cotton balls and place them in strategic areas around the outside of your home where wasps are likely to build nests.

What’s more, if one of the little buggers does manage to sting you, peppermint oil can be used to take the sting out of the bite.

3. Try A Natural Spray

If you’re not into the idea of using commercially available sprays that may be toxic, you can whip up your own, all-natural alternative at home. All you need is is some dish soap mixed with hot water. If you’re wondering how something so simple could be effective, it’s because wasps’ skeletons are on the outside of their bodies and water can usually not penetrate them. However, soap breaks the surface tension of water. In addition to wasps, you can try this method on bees, hornets and ants.

4. Bring Out The Big Guns

If you’ve tried the natural route and find that wasps are still a problem, it may be time to call in the professionals. A pest control company like Orkin can utilize a number of methods to rid your home of wasps, including traps, light modification, mechanical and insecticidal controls, physical removal and sanitation.