Keeping wasps away from your home and outdoor areas can be accomplished with a few simple home remedies. Without using pesticides, these natural wasp deterrents actually work to rid your home of these unwanted pests and their nests or prevent them from making nests at all.
Wasps will come back to the same spot yearly. That’s because they’ve spread pheromones (secreted chemicals) in that area which continue to communicate with other wasps even after the nest is removed. Keep wasps from returning by remaining diligent in your treatments to mask the scent.
Build a simple wasp trap from a soda or water bottle filled with irresistible syrup that lures, traps, and drowns them.
To make the trap, cut the top third off of any plastic bottle, invert it with the cap off, and place it into the bottle so the cap opening points down into the bottle. The inverted top acts like a funnel to guide the wasps inside. Make a simple syrup of 1 part sugar to 2 parts water. Boil the mixture, let it cool, then fill the bottle. Or use a sugary soda, beer, or wine in place of the sugar mixture. Place the bottle in your yard away from high-traffic areas, birdfeeders, and areas where you eat, play, or socialize.
Blend Essential Oils – Wasps are naturally repelled by clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils. Mix a few drops each of each oil in a spray bottle and add a few tablespoons of dish soap, Fill the rest of the bottle with water and shake.
Spray this solution on any established wasp nests, and make sure you look under porch roofs, eaves, and any other ledges. As a good defense, spray this mixture in any spots you’ve seen nests in the past to discourage wasps from building nests there again.
Mix a Peppermint Oil Solution – Put a few drops of peppermint oil and a few tablespoons of dish soap in a spray bottle, fill the rest of the bottle with water, and shake well. Spray the mixture on any established nests or places where you’ve seen wasp nests in the past.
Toss Food Scraps – Get rid of any food scraps or crumbs outside in your yard. Wasps like to eat protein, so thoroughly clean your grill and the surrounding area to keep these insects away. Wasps also love sugar, so completely clean out any soda cans you store outdoors for recycling.
Seal Trash Cans – Trash cans with old food scraps or liquid attract wasps. If the cans are not sealed up well wasps may even try to make a nest nearby this source of food. Seal up trash bins to avoid any new visitors, and that also includes your recycling bins. Compost bins can also attract wasps, so make sure yours is well-sealed. You could also move the composting indoors if you can’t keep wasps away.
Patch Up Cracks – Seal up cracks around your home or foundation or hollows on the ground to prevent wasps from making nests in these little crevices and gaps. Pay attention to cracks found on the edges of the siding or where wires enter the home and fix those in the autumn before the next spring season when wasps will be actively staking out their territories.
Add Wasp-Repellent Plants – Wasp-repellent plants include spearmint, thyme, eucalyptus, wormwood, basil, bay leaves, lemongrass, and citronella grass. Plant these varieties near your home and especially where you have previously seen wasps. Flowering plants like marigolds, geraniums, or pennyroyals also deter wasps.2
There are a few plants to avoid planting that attract wasps, such as sweet fennel, Queen Anne’s lace, and yarrow.
Use Soap and Water – Soap and water help eliminate small wasp nests. Add 2 tablespoons of dish soap and water into a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the soap and water mixture on the nest. The mixture will suffocate the wasps, killing them instantly. It’s best to spray nests after dusk when all the wasps have come home for the night.
Hang a False Nest – A decoy wasp nest may work because wasps are very territorial and won’t live near other nests. Buy fake wasp nests or make them yourself by blowing up a simple paper lunch bag, closing it up, and hanging it under your eaves to fool uninvited wasps. This type of decoy nest looks like the type of nest made by bald-faced hornets.
Hang Dryer Sheets – Try this relatively easy fix and see if it deters wasps. Hang dryer sheets around your patio or deck or put them in your mailbox if wasps like to nest there. Some say it works like a charm while others say it doesn’t discourage wasps.
Spray Down Decks and Patios – Use a simple spray on areas of your deck and patio where you don’t want wasps to land. Mix in a spray bottle equal parts of water and white vinegar plus a couple of drops of liquid dish soap. Try not to mix to the point of making the mixture soapy. You’ll need to continually spray since the mixture loses effectiveness rather quickly but it can temporarily clear out a wasp or two from the area.
FAQ’s
What scent or smell keeps wasps away?Wasps have a strong sense of smell and dislike certain plants like peppermint, spearmint, basil, eucalyptus, cloves, geranium, thyme, citronella, bay leaves, and lemongrass. They are also repelled by vinegar, cinnamon, coffee grounds, and sliced cucumber.
How do you keep wasps from returning?To keep wasps from returning to your home, make your home less enticing. Keep your doors or windows closed. Do not keep food outside. Keep garbage cans tightly sealed. Leave out wasp traps. Remove nests when wasps are least active at dawn.4 Fill in holes in the ground since yellowjackets often make ground nests.
When is wasp season?Wasps are most active in July. They usually first start appearing in spring and continue through late fall