How to Get Rid of Wasps

16 Aug 2022

Wasp stings may cause severe allergic reactions such as breathing difficulties, nausea, loss of consciousness, racing pulse and severe swelling of the face, lips or throat. 

Because of the potential danger and for your peace of mind, it’s good to learn how to effectively get rid of wasps. To accomplish this, there are steps you can take on your own. But the most effective approach is to hire a pest professional for a full treatment and ongoing prevention. 

Getting rid of wasps 

First, it helps to prevent wasps from coming or roaming in your area. You can do this by: 

  • Trimming back bushes and overhanging trees 
  • Looking for signs of wasp nests in your garden 
  • Attacking the wasp nest directly (only if necessary, and wear protective gear and clothing) 

You might find a wasp nest in these areas: 

  • Under an old dog house or furniture 
  • Holes in the ground 
  • Around the trees’ bases 
  • Concealed sites (wasp usually build their nest in protected and undisturbed sites) 
  • Sheltered parts of a building 
  • Within retaining walls 
  • In wall cavities 

Many have used a pesticide spray to attack the wasp nest (make sure that the product can kill wasps). Others have used boiling water and water with soap. However, these are hard to do if the wasp nests are in inaccessible areas. 

Notice that this approach requires you to expose yourself to the wasps (and increase the chances of getting stung). If you don’t want to take the risk, it’s wise to hire a pest professional. 

Most likely, the pest professional will use chemical treatment (use of an insecticide registered for the purpose). The professional may also advise you or take the action themselves in preventing the wasps from coming and roaming in your area. Some of these ways to discourage wasps are: 

  • Keeping waste bins tightly covered 
  • Covering exposed food in outdoor kitchens 
  • Cleaning up after left over pet food 
  • Maintaining a clean yard (the site should always be clear of fallen fruit and food scraps) 

Both ongoing prevention and a one-time effective treatment (succeeding occasional treatments in the future might be necessary) will help reduce the risk of getting stung by wasps. This will also help you gain peace of mind whenever you’re in the yard or relaxing inside your home.