Keeping wasps away when you’re outdoors may seem like an insurmountable task, but you’ve actually got a ton of options at your disposal. From simple preventative measures to full-blown nest removal, we’ve compiled a list of solutions for you. Keep in mind, if you suspect there’s a wasp nest nearby and you can’t find it (or it’s underneath your porch and you can’t reach it), contact a professional exterminator. They’ll be able to handle the problem for you.

1

Keep food indoors.

  1. Enjoying a snack on your deck can be fun, but it might attract wasps. The easiest thing you can do to keep wasps from showing up is avoid giving them an incentive to show up in the first place. If you’re entertaining guests or just hanging out for the night with family, have dinner indoors before you head out on the deck and don’t leave that bowl of chips out.[1]
    • It’s a myth that wasps will only be attracted to sugary drinks and foods. They definitely hold a preference for items that are high in sugar, but they’ll look into basically any food odor and poke around to see if they like it.[2]
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2

Remove access to the trash.

  1. Keep foraging wasps away by storing trash in the garage. If you keep a garbage bin outdoors, the wasps may pick up on the scent and start hanging around to look for food scraps. Open trash containers also attract flies and other bugs that will attract wasps. If possible, store your trash in the garage or mud room. If it has to stay outside, keep lids on the bins and store them on the opposite side of your home to keep wasps away from your deck.[3]
    • Compost can also attract wasps, so if you keep a compost pile outdoors, aim to place it far away from your deck.
3

Remove open water sources.

5

Set out wasp traps.

  1. Laying traps will catch wasps before they become a problem. You can purchase these traps at any home improvement or gardening store.[5] Set them down around the edges of your porch. If you want to make your own traps, hang a piece of raw fish, liver, or bologna from a string and set it just barely above a container filled with soapy water. The wasps will fall into the water and die.[6]
    • These traps work, but be aware that you’re probably going to kill some beneficial insects in the process. If you notice that you’re killing more honey bees and ladybugs than wasps, stop using the traps.
    • This may have an unintended consequence of attracting more wasps than you’d otherwise see. If you feel like the number of wasps you run into is increasing after you put the traps out, opt for another solution.
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7

Spot-treat wasps with soapy water.

  1. Keep a spray bottle with you on the porch to kill wasps on site. Fill a spray bottle ¾ of the way with water and add a few squirts of dish soap. Shake the mixture up and spritz any wayward wasps who stumble onto your porch. The soapy water will cause the wasps to die on the spot.[8]
    • If it’s just a lone wasp, the soapy water should kill the wasp immediately. If you’ve got a ton of wasps on your deck though, spraying them may cause them to fly into a frenzy, so be careful!
    • You can use a can of insecticide if you really want, but this is probably going to be the safer option if you’re hanging out on your porch with other people.
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8

Clear a nest out with commercial wasp spray.

  1. If you find a nest near your porch, clear it out late at night. Wasps are most active during the day, so wait until it’s dark out to destroy it. Buy a can of commercial wasp spray and unload the entire thing into the entrance of the wasp nest.[9] If it kills the queen (and it should), the colony will die. If the wasps are still hanging out the next day, repeat the process.[10]
    • For colonies that burrow underground, fill the entrance with a silica aerogel dust.[11]
    • Don’t get closer than you have to. Read the label on the can to see how far back you can stay when spraying the insecticide.

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    Where should I apply an insecticide if wasp nests are inside the wall cavity?
    Chris Parker
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Expert Answer
    If the insecticide is a dry powder, you can put it directly into the wall void or apply it around the exterior of the hole they are using to climb in there.
  • Question
    What can you use to get rid of wasps on the exterior of your home?
    Chris Parker
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Expert Answer
    You can spray an eco-friendly product that contains peppermint oil. It is easy to use because you can reach up to 20 feet with the aerosol canister.
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Warnings

  • If you’re allergic to wasps, don’t try to handle a nest yourself. Call a professional and have them do it. If you do happen to be allergic and a wasp stings you, see a doctor immediately.[17]
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About This Article

Chris Parker
Co-authored by:
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
This article was co-authored by Chris Parker and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington. This article has been viewed 9,701 times.
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: August 23, 2022
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