How to keep wasps away from you, your home and your deck

Getting stung by a wasp is more than painful. For some, it can lead to anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening emergency where breathing becomes difficult. I was stung once in the neck and only the swelling was urgent. I have learned a lot about how to keep wasps out of my house and out since then.

So whether you want wasp repellants, want to avoid attracting them to your premises, or want to keep wasps and stinging pests away when you’re out and about, here are the methods and tricks that have worked for me for decades.

Know the different types of wasps

Not all wasps are the same. Most fall into two groups: social wasps and solitary wasps. Solitary wasps, like Mud Daubers, usually live alone and rarely sting unless grabbed. Social wasps live in large groups with a queen and are the ones who will attack to protect their nest.

Here are some common types of wasps to watch out for:

• Yellow jackets: These are the biggest troublemakers. They have yellow and black stripes and build nests on the ground, in walls or behind siding.
• Paper wasps: They have long bodies and build umbrella-shaped nests under eaves or in mailboxes.
• European wasps: These are brown and yellow and often hunt at night near outdoor lights.
• Wedges with a bald face: They have black and white markings and build football-shaped nests high in trees.

What attracts them (and what to avoid)

• Food: Wasps love protein like meat and fish, as well as sweets like fruit and soda. Your hummingbird feeder is also a favorite.
• Junk: Food rotting in unsealed garbage cans is their favorite spot.
• Water: Wasps need water to build their nests, so they are attracted to birdbaths, pools and plant containers with full drip trays.
• Bright colors: Brightly colored clothing and pool toys can look like food sources.

How to keep wasps out of the house

You can drive wasps out of your home with a combination of natural methods and household items.

• Use baits: Since wasps are territorial, they will not build a nest near another. Hanging fake nests from paper bags or bamboo can trick them into leaving. (These Amazon decoy nests works too.)
• WD-40: Spraying WD-40 on the eaves of your home can repel wasps because they hate the smell. Be careful not to get the spray on unpainted wood or it will stain.
• Plant a defense: Grow mint, lemongrass, citronella or eucalyptus near your deck or pool. Keep pots of them growing near your doors and windows. These scents also naturally deter other pests such as spiders and ants.

How to keep wasps away from you

Whether you’re sitting on the patio, playing in the pool, or working in the yard, you can stay bite-free with these methods.

• Place traps: Mix 4 ounces warm water, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon dish soap in a long-necked bottle. (An empty wine bottle works well.) Place it 8 feet away from where you’re sitting to entice them. The wasps will enter the bottle to get the nectar, but the long, narrow neck prevents them from escaping.
• The meat trick: Hang a piece of raw meat, such as a chicken leg, from a tree away from your barbecue. The wasps will go to the meat instead of your lunch.
• Cover food sources: Use mesh lids on all food trays when eating outdoors or on a picnic and never leave soda cans open. Keep trash cans covered, too.
• Use a travel mug: Pour your drink into a cup with a lid that can’t be dragged into a box and bite your lip when you take a sip.
• Remove or care for fruit trees: Pests of all kinds are attracted to overripe and rotten fruit. Plant fruit trees away from living areas and ensure that fallen fruit is picked up immediately.

Homemade Wasp Repellent

A study supported by science found that mixing clove, geranium, lemongrass, and rosemary oils can almost completely stop wasps from approaching.

So, put them to work on a DIY wasp spray: Mix 1 cup of warm water, 2 drops of dish soap, and 2 drops of each oil in a spray bottle. Shake to combine and then spray around your living room every hour. Warning: Do not use on your skin, your pets or their bedding.

How to get rid of wasp nests

• Inspect early and often: Regularly inspect the exterior of your home, under eaves and in corners, for signs of wasp activity so you can deal with nests before they become well established. Wasps usually start their nests in April, but if disturbed they may attempt to rebuild later.
• Time your attack: If you find a nest, wait until dusk or darkness to deal with it. These are periods of lower activity.
• Use soapy water or hair spray: For very small, new nests in the spring, you can use a bottle of soapy water to block the breathing passages (coils) and suffocate them. However, be careful because wasps can still sting while they are dying.
• Or a commercial spray: For large nests, use an aerosol spray that can reach 10 feet away.

Signs of offense

While the above methods will take care of random wasps, if you see more than one wasp at a time or find dead ones in your living space, you may have an infestation. Other signs include noises inside your walls or damage to the wood on your deck, which wasps chew to make paper for their nests. It is best to let professionals deal with infestations as they have the equipment to safely isolate and remove the nest without damaging your home.