How to Keep Wasps Away

Co-authored by Scott McCombe and Eric McClure

Last Updated: June 30, 2022 References

Nothing will put an end to an outdoor hangout session quicker than a swarm of wasps. Even though most wasp species won’t attack people unprovoked, it's best to use preventative measures whenever you're in an area where wasps may be so that you don't risk being stung.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Steve Downs
Live Bee Removal Specialist
Expert Interview. 23 February 2020.} There are a variety of different ways to keep wasps from hanging around, from directly dealing with them to taking passive measures to dissuade them.

Here are 10 effective ways to keep wasps away for good.

1

Clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils

Use an essential oil mixture to keep wasps from hanging around. Mix equal parts of each essential oil together. Either diffuse the oils with a carrier oil for a general repellant, or mix the oils in a small spray bottle with water and spritz any areas you want to keep wasp-free. This is basically going to be as good as any commercial repellant you could buy. Wasps actively avoid these scents, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping them away.^{[2]
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PubMed Central
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- Adding some rosemary essential oil may help as well.
- If you’re dealing specifically with paper wasps, any of the following essential oils will help keep them away: clove, pennyroyal, lemongrass, ylang ylang, spearmint, wintergreen, sage, rosemary, lavender, geranium, patchouli, citronella, Roman chamomile, thyme, fennel seed, anise, and peppermint.^{[3]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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2

Citronella candles

If you don’t feel like gardening, citronella candles will do the trick. Pick up some citronella candles at your local big box store. If you’re heading out to hang on your porch or set up a picnic, light a few of these candles. The scent keeps wasps from wandering into your area and bothering you.^{[4]
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- Citronella plants will also do the trick if you want a more permanent solution.

3

Soap and water

Spray wasps or surfaces with soapy water to dissuade the pests. Fill a regular spray bottle up with water and mix in roughly 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of dish soap. Whenever you see a wasp, spritz them with your soapy mixture to send them on their way. You can also spray any surfaces you want to keep the wasps away from.^{[5]
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- Wasps are social creatures, so if you see one wasp, the odds are high that others are nearby. Killing any wasp you see may keep others from following it.^{[6]
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4

Wasp traps

Setting traps up is a great way to handle a persistent problem. Purchase multiple commercial wasp traps and hang them up around your home. These traps look kind of like lanterns, and you can usually hang them up from a ledge, gutter, or wire. While you won’t necessary repel wasps, you may capture enough of them that you notice a decline in the number of wasps you run into.^{[7]
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- DIY wasp traps aren’t particularly effective. If you’re going to try and trap the wasps, get legit traps.^{[8]
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- This isn’t a solution if you have a nest on your home. You’ll need to contact a pest control expert for that. But if there’s some nest nearby and you don’t where it is, this may help curb the issue.

5

Citronella, thyme, and eucalyptus plants

The aromas from these plants naturally keep wasps away. If you’re a big fan of gardening and you’re looking to take some proactive steps to keep wasps from hanging around, pick up some new plants! Citronella, thyme, and eucalyptus are all pleasant-smelling for most folks, but wasps hate them. Try to plant a variety of these plants around your home to keep pesky wasps away.^{[9]
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- You don’t actually need to put these plants in the soil. You can always just buy potted herbs and leave them outside. This is a great option since you’ll be able to move the plants as needed and they won’t require much care outside of the occasional watering.

6

Food and drink covers

Wasps are attracted by food and water, so keep them covered. Use lids when you’re drinking out of a cup, and use plastic wrap or sealable containers to keep food covered. Wasps will show up to scavenge your food and water if you leave it out in the open, so don’t leave anything uncovered if you’re trying to keep your picnic or porch hangout session from being interrupted by wasps.^{[10]
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- It’s a myth that wasps are only interested in sugar. They’re going to be attracted to basically anything edible.

7

Garbage lids

Keep your garbage cans covered to avoid attracting wasps. While wasps are quite fond of uncovered food, they’re going to show up to scavenge your food scraps as well. On top of that, open trash will attract all of the other bugs that wasps feed on, so keep your garbage totally covered to keep wasps from showing up.^{[11]
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- If possible, store your garbage in a vestibule or garage. This way, the wasps won’t have any way of reaching the garbage.
- If you compost, keep your compost in a sealed bucket.

8

Home repair

If wasps are coming into your home, seal up entry points with caulk. Look for cracks near the edges of your siding or where power lines enter your home, and fill them in with caulk. If there are any holes in your window screens, either replace them or keep your window closed. This also keeps any wasps from wandering inside.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.}

9

Aerosol pesticide

It isn’t eco-friendly, but pesticide stops wasps in their tracks. Swing by your local home supply store and pick up a can of wasp spray (it should be specifically designed for wasps). Whenever you run into a wasp, spritz them with the pesticide to kill them on the spot. These sprays aren’t non-toxic, so use them sparingly and only when necessary.^{[13]
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- A lot of these aerosol sprays can be sprayed up to 20 feet (6.1 m), which is great if you’re dealing with a large number of wasps and you don’t want to get too close.

10

Professional help

Call an exterminator if you’ve got a hive on or near your home. Some wasps are basically harmless, while some breeds are extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to determine what you’re dealing with if you aren’t a trained pest expert. When in doubt, contact a pest control expert and have them take a look. You’ll need to pay them to handle the problem, but you’ll sleep well at night knowing the problem is 100% dealt with.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.}
- You can theoretically treat a wasp nest on your own, but it’s a risky process if you’re dealing with any kind of aggressive wasp.

Expert Q&A

Question

What can I use to keep wasps away?

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Scott McCombe is the CEO of Summit Environmental Solutions (SES), a family-owned local pest solutions, animal control, and home insulation company based in Northern Virginia. Founded in 1991, SES has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been awarded “Top Rated Professional,” and “Elite Service Award" by HomeAdvisor.

Scott McCombe

Pest Control Specialist

Expert Answer

Regularly applying pesticides around your home can help control wasps, but you can also try setting bait traps to catch and kill them.

Warnings

Folk remedies involving gasoline or spraying wasps with a hose don’t work.^{[18]
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There isn’t a ton of evidence that decoy wasp nests actually work.^{[19]
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Bait stations with wasp poison have not proven to be an effective way of controlling wasps.^{[20]
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If you’re allergic to wasp stings, do not approach wasps or attempt to remove them yourself. Hire a professional and stay away.^{[21]
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