Wasps love the eaves and windows in our home and so today I am sharing my tips for how to get rid of a wasps nest with you!
It is easy to get rid of them for good if you know a few tips and tricks. But you need to be careful because wasp nest removal can be tricky and dangerous.
So keep reading to learn how to get rid of wasps nests easily and in just a few minutes.
(And if you are looking for more great outdoor projects, check out my post about How to Pot a Plant HERE.)
Updated: 6/11/19
How to Get Rid of a Wasps Nest
We have dealt with wasps nests everywhere! I have found them under my eaves, in the corners of my windows and even crawling under our shutters!
As I said, we have wasps invading everywhere!
We have them crawling under our shutters:
And in the corners of our windows:
Look, we actually have two right in a row:
So let's get down to it and learn how to get rid of a wasps nest! (affiliate links included for your convenience)
Do wasps come back after nest is gone?
Not usually. Once the nest is gone, wasps will typically find a new place to call home.
Now there is nothing preventing them from coming back and rebuilding in the same spot, or close to it, but removing the wasps nest will help to eliminate any damage from the wasps nest and hopefully encourage them to move elsewhere.
I do recommend that you kill the wasps first before removing the nest to help eliminate them from coming back to the same spot.
Do wasps come back to the same nest each year?
No, they typically don't. After hibernation, wasps will typically build a new nest.
So if you have empty nests you need to remove, you can skip the first part of getting rid of a wasps nest.
How do I get rid of a small wasp nest?
I think it is important to first kill the wasps so that you don't risk being stung by the wasps.
Then you will want to remove the wasps nest, and finally, you will want to clean the space of any wasp nest residue.
I am sharing the step-by-step details on how I got rid of our wasp nests below.
Will this work for any kind of nest?
Yes, this process should work for any type of wasp nest. If you still have trouble after following my steps, I suggest that you call a professional.
Do I need to kill the wasps first?
No, but I would recommend that you do otherwise you may be met with some unhappy wasps when you start to remove their nest!
Please note that I am not responsible for any results of following my instructions. I am just sharing what worked for me. Please use proper safety precautions and try this at your own risk.
How to Get Rid of a Wasps Nest
STEP ONE
First, if you want to get rid of a wasps nest, you will want to actually kill the wasps.
So head to your local hardware store and pick up Wasp Killer.
It comes in a spray can and has a pretty good spray range.
Pick up a couple of cans, you will probably need more than you think.
We used this kind here.
Spray the affected areas with the wasp spray liberally.
This will essentially kill the wasps on contact. This is a good thing.
If you just spray them with water for example or try to knock the nest down before doing this, you will just make them mad.
And you don't want mad wasps exiting their home. So use wasp killer to kill them before doing anything else.
After you have sprayed it, let it sit for a few minutes.
STEP TWO
Next, you will want to physically remove the wasp nest.
Even though you have sprayed, there is a small chance there might be a wasp or two still alive in the back of the nest, so you will want to remove the wasp nests from a distance and preferably not on a ladder if possible. Just in case.
This is where a power washer will come in handy! A big huge thank you to Ryobi for sending us this awesome tool.
Yes, power sprayers are awesome for cleaning your driveway, sidewalks, siding, deck, windows and even getting cobwebs out of the eaves of your house! (Believe me, I also did ALL OF THAT this weekend too!)
But because they offer a high-powered stream of water, it also works great for knocking things like wasps nests out of the eaves (or windows) of your home at a safe distance!
We use the Ryobi 2000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer and it got the job done in no time!
After just a few seconds of spraying, the nest came down out of my windows. And I am officially wasp nest-free! At least for the moment...
The other thing I am really excited about is that this pressure washer has a detergent tank, so I can easily clean and rinse with this powerful 13-amp electric motor machine!
It comes with three different nozzles and a 25' high-pressure host that makes cleaning a big area fast and easy.
The frame is also built to not roll or tip and I personally found it to be extremely sturdy when I used it!
You can find out more about the Ryobi 2000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer HERE.
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Bunny
My husband uses the cans of wasp killer at work when he's cleaning pools, which requires accessing electrical panels and pumps that are usually near where wasps like to nest up. But at home we go the MUCH simpler, quicker, cheaper, and environmentally friendly way (in that there's less chemicals and much less water used): a container full of dish soapy water thrown onto the wasps (which stuns and kills them very quickly) followed by nocking down the nest with a broom. We do this around sunset when most of the wasps are back at the nest. We've used this method many times, always with success - even on a tiny apartment balcony.
Harry
The #1 thing is to attack at night - in the dark. Wasps are in the nest because they can't see without light - would have to fly blind. Not saying they would not try. Use a flashlight to train your can of 20' wasp killer on the nest, spray until the can is empty and leave. Knock it down the next day.
Sharon Marie
Hi, I just had the house power washed and they found a nest. I have a gas fireplace in the living room which means on the outside deck there is a small structure on the desk which is where they found the wasps as he was spraying the deck and the vinyl siding which is on the small structure which houses the gas fireplace. The wasps are in that structure. Its nothing I can have removed so must do something to kill them without affecting the structure. Please advise what I can do . The outside structure looks like a three sided box with a lid. The box is vinyl sided the top is roofed (which is being replaced soon so need to handle this before the workmen are attacked. Thanks so very much
cindy
I know it's not ideal, but we have had success using moth balls to deter them from building or returning to nests in certain structures. Might be worth a try?