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Wasps. Yikes! Just the name gives me goosebumps. However, did you know that most wasps will not cause you any harm? Wasps only attack when they detect danger. The bad thing about their attack is that, unlike bees who sting you once, wasps sting you continuously. And so, do you really want these scary flying creatures near your kids’ playsets? I think not! How can you keep wasps away from playsets? There are a number of pesticides on sale both online and in-stores that you can use to get rid of these creatures. If you want a greener approach, then you can use decoy wasp nests, wasp traps, and other regular household items (example dish soap, essential oils, etc.). Wasps tend to build their nests in any dark and warm areas and crevices they can find; eaves, rafters, under the deck, inside or under your child’s playset, etc. I don’t mind them building their nests in nature, in fact I’m all for it. But when they start hanging around near you and your kids, that can be very dangerous. Related: How to Keep Spiders Off Playsets? So, How Do You to Get Rid of Them? As I was researching this online, I found quite a few things that people tried that have worked. Some of these things are chemicals and pesticides – and I can understand how these would work – while others are using regular household items. At the end of the day, it’s about what works to keep these venomous creatures out of your child’s playset and play area. Having said that, I am not the authority on wasp riddance and if you have a major issue, you may want to consult a professional. Pesticides: This was by far the most suggested way of getting rid of wasps. Be it from your home’s eaves or under your deck area, pesticides seemed to work for most people. Notice I didn’t mention playset, I’d like to highly dissuade you from using pesticides in areas where your kids frequent. Unless, it’s an infestation and you have no other choice but to use the pesticides. You may want to look at green products if available. These might be a safer option. Just make sure that you go in and clean up the chemicals after a couple of days. And do not allow your kids to play on the playset. There are plenty of pesticides on the market. You’d be surprised at how many different names come up when you do a search for wasps control pesticide. Just pick one and go to town with it. Alternatively, you can hire a pest control specialist and have them take care of the problem for you. This might be expensive, but, if you’re allergic to or terrified of wasps then that might be the way to go. You can also ask them to use green products, to be on the safe side. Chemicals: I didn’t combine these with the pesticides, because I don’t think they fit the same category. These are commonly used chemicals the people claimed worked wonders for them. Intriguing, I know. And, it goes without saying, do not let your kids near these chemical if you are planning to set them in their playset and play area in general. Some of these items are already in aerosol form and for those that aren’t they can be put in a spray bottle. These chemicals were used individually and were sprayed directly on the wasps and their nests. The chemicals used were: Break fluid, WD40 and Gasoline. Wasp Trap: This is another popular way to get rid of wasps. You can either buy these or you can DIY your own wasp trap, see below. It’s pretty simple and very effective. Depending on the season you can lure wasps into the trap using either chunks of protein or some kind of sweet liquid. Decoy Nests: Wasps are known to be territorial. This means that if they see a nest already built, then they won’t build another one near it for a few miles. The goal is to trick them into thinking that there are wasps already present in the area by using decoy nests. You can buy readymade nests or make one yourself. To make one, all you need is a brown paper bag, scrunch it up and fill it up with some plastic bags to give it volume and hang it in an area where you don’t want wasps, i.e. playsets, eaves, etc. Regular Household Items: This is an interesting section. I am just amazed at some of the things people have used to get rid of wasps. I mean how did they even know to try it? Anyway, here are the items: Dryer sheets – Just hang these up in the playset and the wasps will disappear. Blow torch – To set the wasps on fire. That’s kinda intense, I don’t know if you’re brave enough to do that near a wooden and/or plastic playset. Dish soap – This is by far the most effective method I have seen, on YouTube as well as discussed on forums, for killing wasps on contact. Just mix one-part dish soap (in most cases Dawn brand was used) with 10-parts water in a spray bottle and spray directly on the wasps and their nests and you’ll see them dropping dead instantaneously. How to Prevent Wasps I am sure you have heard of the phrase prevention is better than cure. Well, we’ve discussed above what to do if you already have wasps buzzing around your yard, your child’s playset or just near your house in general. However, there are steps you can take to prevent them from invading your space in the first place. Some of these are the same ones you use to get rid of them and some are new. Cleanliness: In order to prevent wasps from taking over your territory, you have to make sure that you clean up your yard constantly. Be it raking up the leaves and disposing them off or picking up dead branches and twigs from the ground. Make sure that your garbage cans are also clean and stored neatly. Wash those bins if they get too filthy. If they have garbage in them, make sure you close the lids. If you’re cooking out, barbeques or just in general, make sure you pick up and tidy after yourself. Don’t leave any food scrapes around. Untidiness can lead to other bugs as well and since wasps feed on bugs, by not cleaning up you’re basically preparing a buffet for the wasps. Pesticides: This is another common prevention method. By pre-spraying all the areas where wasps are known to frequent and build their nests, you will deter them from coming near your home. Timing is key here; you want to make sure that you do this early spring, when everything is thawing out in preparation for summer and late fall, when wasps are looking for a warm place for their queens to hibernate. Decoy Nests: Once again having these around, can dissuade wasps from invading you space. So, make sure you hang these up in advance and keep an eye on them for any damage. Bar Soap: Not sure how effective this is, but apparently rubbing bar soap all over the playset and areas you don’t want wasps forming nests, repels them. Herbs: Planting aromatic herbs should also repel wasps from coming near your property. Wasps hate strong scents so that should help. Sealing Points of Entry: Take a look around your playset and see if there are any hollow areas, crack and crevices where wasps could possibly create a nest. Go ahead and seal those so that wasps can’t enter. If They Don’t Cause Us Harm Then Why Get Rid of Them? It’s true, wasps will not sting you unless they fear you’ll harm them. But, because they have a tendency of building their nests in high traffic areas, we might unintentionally disturb them and get stung in the process. In addition to that, wasps can damage your property while building their nests. Their Sting: Their sting releases a venom which can cause itching, swelling and pain at the sting site. For some, it can also cause an allergic reaction and, in extreme cases, Anaphylaxis. Another thing one has to be careful about is that when a wasp stings you, they leave behind a chemical that alerts other wasps of your danger and you may get stung with other wasps as well. Hence, it’s better to be safe and sorry. Destroy Property: Wasps are notorious for chewing off wood to build their nests. This can cause property damage and can cost you lots of money to repair. It’s also dangerous for the kids if they manage to weaken the playset in any way. Like many other bugs, the only time you can get reprieve from them is in the winter. This is the time the queen wasps hibernate after mating with the male wasps in the preceding months. As spring time comes around you start seeing the worker wasps start building their nests. If you haven’t taken any preventative measures, discussed above, you’re sure to see some of these in the areas where you least want them. Even though wasps are good for the nature and the overall health of your garden, you don’t want them buzzing around your kids or adults for that matter. How to Treat A Wasp Sting? If you’re not allergic to a wasp sting, the best way to treat it is to scrape out the stinger using a credit card, then wash it with cold water and ice it. Additionally, you can also apply honey, or a baking soda paste to calm the sting site. Here's a great resource on wasp stings from WebMD. If you are allergic, then seek medical attention immediately. DIY Wasp Trap This is very simple to do. Just follow the steps below and you’ll have yourself a wasp trap. You’ll need a 2-liter clear plastic soda bottle or any other clear bottle or jar that has a whole large enough for the wasps to get in. You want it to be clear so you can see if you’ve caught any wasps. Cut the bottle at about a quarter of the way down from the top, to separate the neck of the bottle from the rest of the body. This will create a funnel. Flip the funnel inside the body of the bottle holding the two cut sides together. Seal the two sides together making sure there are no gaps and the only opening is the mouth of the bottle facing downwards inside the body of the bottle. You can add your choice of sweet liquid to the bottle or protein depending on the season. Wasps will feed on protein in the spring and early summertime to build their energy while in the late summer and fall they’ll be more attracted to the sweet liquid. That’s it! Now you have your very own wasp trap. Make sure to clean the trap every couple of days.

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