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Did you know that wasp and bee stings have killed over 1,000 people between 2000 – 2017? That’s an annual death of 62 every year! These small insects are dangerous and can ruin the perfect afternoon when they descent upon your yard. While wasps have a crucial role to play in cross-pollination, as well as insect control (they feed on other insects), they can be a menace due to their aggressive nature. Did you know wasps can hold grudges, and a wasp colony can find and attack you for killing one of their own? No wonder having them around your homestead is no fun. In this article, we’ll tell you how to get rid of wasps with vinegar.

Are Wasps Poisonous?

There are different species of wasps with some being aggressive and others docile. Wasps and their cousins, yellow jackets and hornets, can be quite aggressive, especially when provoked. Mud daubers, on the other hand, are usually docile and do not swarm like other wasp species.

A wasp sting is extremely painful, and its venom is poisonous. Anyone who falls victim can experience severe irritation and pain. Some people might experience mild to serious reactions, including the body going into shock, particularly if you’re allergic to the venom.

How to Get Rid of Wasps with Vinegar

Vinegar can help keep wasps away, albeit temporarily. This affordable home remedy is easy to make, and the process won’t even take much of your time. Below, we show you how to make a wasp repellent spray and a wasp trap.

Wasp Repellent Spray

You’ll need:

  • Water
  • Distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • Plastic spray bottle

To make the spray:

  1. Mix one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle, and that’s it.

You should know that this vinegar wasp repellent will simply repel the wasps- it won’t kill them. If wasps have already landed on your porch or around the compound, be sure to wear protective clothing before spraying them. Wasps can be unforgiving when provoked, and they can swarm, especially the hornets and yellow jackets.

You may want to spray at night or dawn when the wasps are less active to avoid getting stung. Spray around all the entry points to your home along with the garage doors, play equipment, patio furniture, and so on.

Spraying often will keep them away and prevent them from building their nests.

Vinegar, Water, Peppermint Spray

To make a more potent spray that’s deadliner to wasps, add peppermint oil to the vinegar mixture. You’ll need one tablespoon (15ml) of peppermint oil and 16 ounces (470ml) of vinegar (or a combination of water and vinegar).

Spray this solution in the same areas that wasps frequent to drive them away. A good trick is to plant peppermint near the wasps’ favorite spots. They hate the smell of peppermint!

Vinegar Wasp Trap

A trap is an effective way of getting rid of wasps. When the wasps enter the trap, they are unable to get out and drown. You can easily make the trap using materials readily available around your home.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Permanent marker
  • Knife or scissor
  • A two-liter soda bottle
  • A piece of wire or string for hanging your trap outdoors
  • 2 parts apple cider vinegar
  • 2 parts water
  • A few drops of dish soap
  • A half part sugar
  • 2 parts apple juice (or something sweet – wine, jam, etc.)

Instructions

  1. Using your marker, draw a line underneath where the curve of the bottle starts.
  2. Cut the top off the bottle using a knife or scissors.
  3. Unscrew and remove the bottle cap and invert the piece you’ve just cut. Tuck it into the bottle upside down to create a makeshift funnel. Make sure the rims of the funnel and the remaining bottle are lined up and that it doesn’t sit too low in the trap.
  4. Poke two holes on opposite sides of the bottle and tie the string or wire that you’ll use to hang the trap. If you’re making several traps, you can use these holes to string them together.
  5. Now, in a bowl or something similar, mix the apple cider, apple juice, sugar, dish soap, and water to make the bait. Stir the mixture well but slowly not to create bubbles. The dish soap makes it easier for the wasps to drown. Plus, it will dissolve the outer coating, killing them quickly.
  6. Now, pour the mixture into the trap, leaving at least one inch between the top of the mixture and the bottom of the funnel. This will prevent the wasps from latching onto the funnel and escaping.
  7. Your trap is now ready. Find a spot where the wasps like to frequent and hang your trap. You can try different areas around your home, but choose a spot that’s away from high traffic. You can make several traps and place them around your yard.
  8. If the weather is too hot, you’ll need to refill the trap every two to three days since the water will evaporate, making the trap ineffective. But before you refill, empty the trap and clean it. Likewise, you may want to check your trap after a heavy downpour in case the trap is flooded and needs to be drained and refilled.

Things to keep in mind:

  • If there are wasps inside the trap, confirm if they are dead. Wasps are smart, and they can fly back and warn the colony of the trap.
  • Remove dead wasps from the trap and burn them or seal them in a bag and throw them in the garbage. Crushing them releases a scent that will rile up the other wasps within the area.

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