Dealing with wasps indoors is one of the negative effects of summer – but it doesn’t have to be so difficult thanks to a pest control hack that uses a simple ingredient
With temperatures rising and warmer weather heading our way, one problem many households face is dealing with wasps finding their way inside homes. Fortunately, a pest control expert has revealed a simple tip to repelling the critters and being able to enjoy a wasp-free home this summer.
Wasps and hornets hate the smell of mint, which means that placing mint around your house could be a great way to naturally repel them. Clancy Bros Pest Control also suggested using peppermint oil for the same effect – and all it requires is a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball.
Cleaning expert Chantel Mila explained that she uses peppermint oil on cotton balls placed under her bin liner to repel bugs and odours. She has also suggested placing them in your vacuum cleaner to make your whole home smell like peppermint – which bugs, including wasps, hate.
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Mila told her £1.6 million TikTok followers that she placed mint in jars of water around her windows to keep flies from entering her home, and washed her walls and floors with orange oil to keep spiders away, as they detest the scent.
Another key area of the home which could attract bugs is doorways, she explained. “Dirty door tracks can be a breeding ground for bugs, so wrap a cloth around a blunt knife to clean them easily.”
Wasps are also repelled by the scent of cayenne pepper, Eliminate Solutions, explained. You can make a mixture by adding one teaspoon of pepper to one cup of water – which can then be sprayed around your home to keep wasps away.
Citronella, a popular ingredient in perfumes and soaps, has long been considered an effective insect-repellent and while it is mostly used to deter mosquitos, it can also repel wasps. You could also try “burning citronella candles to infuse the outdoor area”, the pest control company advised.
There are also things you can do to prevent wasps from being attracted to the inside of your home, such as tidy away any food or drinks that have been left out. Timothy Wong, a director at M&M Pest Control, told the Martha Stewart website: “Wasps can get the carbohydrates they need from fruits, sugary drinks, and other sweets, which is why they’re seen foraging for food around picnic tables, garbage cans, and inside people’s homes.”
Wasps are also drawn in by flowers, particularly those with bright colours and sweet scents – and they will often seek light and warmth which leads to them finding their way indoors. Wong said: “Many species have a life cycle where they seek out protected nesting sites to overwinter, then re-emerge during the spring to build new nests.”