Gardening Plant Problems

Natural Methods: How to Keep Wasps Away From Your Home

11 home remedies to get rid of wasps in your outdoor space

By
Stacy Fisher
Stacy Fisher, Writer
Stacy Fisher

Stacy is an expert writer for The Spruce covering home DIY projects and crafts. She has over 18 years of journalistic experience, appearing as a DIY expert on the Dr. Oz Show and several radio shows. She has published hundreds of articles and co-authored a book.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 07/29/24
In This Article

Keeping wasps away from your home and outdoor areas can be accomplished with a few simple home remedies. Without using pesticides, these natural wasp repellents actually work to rid your home of these unwanted pests and their nests or prevent them from making nests at all.

Read on to discover natural ways to get rid of these pesky insects.

Natural Wasp Repellent Tips

The Spruce / Ellen Lindner

Tip

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.

Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!

Types of Wasps

Various types of wasps look similar, and sometimes it's difficult to differentiate them from bees. Wasps are generally more aggressive than bees when threatened but a couple types of wasps are typically non-aggressive towards humans.

Here are the common types of wasps you might find in your yard:

  • European hornets: Slightly larger than yellow jackets; They are not the most aggressive stingers and they consume insects and leaves rather than food so they may be harmless unless threatened. The nests are usually sheltered on trees and other structures and unsheltered nests are completely covered in a papery substance.
  • Paper wasps: Black and yellow with orange-tipped antennae; Not the most aggressive towards humans. Their inverted and umbrella-shaped nests are often exposed hanging from twigs and branches, porch ceilings, and under other sheltered areas.
  • Mud dauber wasps: Black and yellow or metallic blue and black, with slender waist; Prefers to eat spiders so they are the least aggressive wasps to humans. They construct nests of slender tubes of hardened mud that hang on the sides of buildings.
  • Bald-faced hornets: Black and white bodies; Aggressive stingers, especially in the fall as they search for sugary foods and defend their nests. Their papery nests are found on trees, overhangs, and shrubs.
  • Yellow jackets: Often mistaken for bees, these wasps have black and yellow stripes but their bodies are much thinner than bees; Very aggressive towards humans, especially when scavenging for food. They construct ground nests of layers of comb, or build nests in tree hollows and under eaves.

Natural Remedies

  • 01 of 11

    Use a Homemade Wasp Trap

    A wasp caught in a glass

    Fernando Trabanco Fotograffia / Getty Images

    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.

  • 02 of 11

    Blend Essential Oils

    Brown essential oil containers and droppers on white cutting board

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    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.

  • 03 of 11

    Mix a Peppermint Oil Solution

    Peppermint essential oil next to spray bottle and pink dishwashing liquid

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    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.

  • 04 of 11

    Toss Food Scraps

    Unwanted corn on the cob thrown into trash bag

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    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.

    Continue to 5 of 11 below
  • 05 of 11

    Seal Trash Cans

    Black outdoor trashcan sealed after throwing away food

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    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.

    Tip

    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.

  • 06 of 11

    Patch Up Cracks

    Wooden porch railing patched up with flat knife

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    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.

  • 07 of 11

    Add Wasp-Repellent Plants

    Eucalyptus and thyme branches laid on white surface

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    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.

    There are a few plants to avoid planting that attract wasps, such as sweet fennel, Queen Anne's lace, and yarrow.

  • 08 of 11

    Use Soap and Water

    Pink dishwashing soap next to spray bottle and glass container with water

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    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.

    Tip

    It's best to spray nests after dusk when all the wasps have come home for the night.

    Continue to 9 of 11 below
  • 09 of 11

    Hang a False Nest

    a fake hornets nest hangs outside house to prevent wasps and hornets from making real nest

    The Spruce / Jordan Provost

    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.

  • 10 of 11

    Hang Dryer Sheets

    dryer sheets

    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

    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.

  • 11 of 11

    Spray Down Decks and Patios

    Spraying vinegar between deck floor boards to remove odor

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

    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.

How to Get Rid of Wasp Nests

Oftentimes it's best to leave a wasp's nest alone and undisturbed. Wasps should be encouraged to nest in low-traffic areas of your yard because they can be beneficial predators of other unwelcome insects, such as aphids and Japanese beetles.

But if you are bothered by a wasp's nest located in a precarious place that poses danger to humans or pets, you may want to have it removed by a professional pest control service or try to destroy it yourself.

If you choose the DIY approach to removing a wasp's nest, use a simple dish soap and water mixture and spray it in the evening once the wasps are back inside the nest. To avoid stings of agitated wasps, always wear protective clothing when spraying a nest. Take these steps:

  1. Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap and water in a large spray bottle that has a far-ranging spray.
  2. Stand as far away as possible from the nest when spraying and saturate the entire nest with the mixture.
  3. Once the wasps die, remove the nest by placing a garbage bag over it, loosening it up so it falls inside, sealing it up, and tossing it in the garbage.

Tip

Not all wasps are the same. There are families of parasitic wasps used for biological pest control. These types of wasps are tiny and look nothing like social wasps. They are also generally harmless, do not sting, and are not a threat to humans.

FAQ
  • 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. 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.

  • How long can peppermint oil repel wasps for?

    Peppermint oil will generally repel wasps for about two weeks. However, its effectiveness will decrease over time. Re-apply peppermint oil at least once a week to maintain its efficacy.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Controlling Wasps, Hornets, and Yellowjackets. Entomology.

  2. Controlling Wasps, Bees and Hornets Around Your Home. University of New Hampshire Extension.

  3. Yellowjackets and other social wasps. University of California.

  4. Getting rid of wasps nests. Michigan State University Extension.

  5. Yellowjackets and other social wasps. University of California.