How to Keep Wasps Away from Playsets?

The wasps. Holy cow! Even just hearing the term makes my skin crawl. Did you know that the vast majority of wasps won’t bother you or do you any harm? Wasps will only sting when they perceive a threat to their nest. The problem with being attacked by them is that, unlike bees, which only sting you once, wasps will continue to sting you during the assault. Do you want these terrifying flying monsters to be so close to the playsets that your children use? I don’t think so!

How can you prevent wasps from getting inside the playsets? You may get rid of these animals by using one of the many insecticides available for purchase in physical places and on the internet. If you want to take a more environmentally friendly approach, you may use fake wasp nests, wasp traps, and other common home goods (such as dish soap, aromatic oils, and other things).

Wasps tend to construct their nests in whatever dark and warm nooks and crannies they can locate, such as eaves, rafters, beneath the deck, under or under your child’s playhouse, etc. I have no problem with them putting their nests in the wild; I encourage them to do so. However, if they begin loitering close to you and your children, this may become a precarious situation.

So, How Do You Get Rid of Them?

When I researched this topic online, I came across several things individuals had tried and found successful. Some of these things include chemicals and pesticides, and although I can see how these things might function, others involve using everyday materials from the home.

Ultimately, it prevents these poisonous animals from entering the playground and play area you have put up for skids. I am not an expert in getting rid of wasps, and if you have a severe problem, you should go to someone trained in this area.

Pesticides:

This was the most common advice for removing wasps from a home.

Most respondents reported success when using pesticides, whether they applied them beneath their decks or from the overhangs of their homes. You may have noticed that I didn’t mention playsets, but I want to strongly advise you against spraying pesticides in locations that your children frequent.

Unless there is an infestation and you have no alternative but to use pesticides because you have no other option. You may wish to investigate environmentally friendly options if they are accessible. They may be the more secure choice.

After a couple of days, wipe up the chemicals there. This is the only precaution you need to take. And under no circumstances should you let your children play on the playground.

There is an abundant supply of insecticides now available. When you search for “wasps control pesticide,” you are presented with many brand and product names. Choose one and go with it to its logical conclusion.

You also have the option of employing a professional in pest control and having them take care of the issue on your behalf. If you have an allergy to wasps or fear them, this could be the best option, even though it might be more costly. You may also suggest that they make use of environmentally friendly items to be on the safe side.

Chemicals:

I did not group them because I do not believe they should be included in the same category as the pesticides. These are popular drugs that individuals take, and many claim that using them has done wonders for them. I’m sure you will find it intriguing.

In addition, it should go without saying that you should never allow your children to come into contact with any chemical if you want to install it in their playground or anywhere else in their play area.

Some of these things already come in an aerosol form, and others that don’t may be transferred into a spray bottle and used the same way.

These poisons were employed independently and sprayed directly on the wasps and their nests to kill them. Gasoline, WD-40, and brake fluid were the substances that were used.

Wasp Trap:

This is yet another common strategy for removing wasps from a home. You may purchase one or follow the instructions below to make your wasp trap. It’s simple, but it does a great job. You may use either protein or some sweet liquid to entice wasps into the trap, but your chosen method will depend on the time of year.

Decoy Nests:

Wasps have a reputation for being quite territorial. This implies that if they come upon an existing nest, they will avoid the area for many kilometers and not construct another one.

By placing fake nests throughout the region, the objective is to give the impression that real wasps are living there while, in reality, there are none.

Nests may be crafted by hand or purchased already assembled. Both options are available. To build one, you only need a brown paper bag, which you will crumple before filling with plastic bags to give it volume. Then, you will hang it where you do not want wasps, such as playsets, eaves, or other areas.

Regular Household Items:

This is an engaging portion of the text. It blows my mind that humans have tried to eliminate wasps with such a wide variety of methods. I mean, how were they even aware to give it a shot? In any case, the following are the items:

• Wasps will be gone when you put some dryer sheets in the playground where they nest.
• To light the wasps on fire, you may use a blow torch. Since it’s severe, I don’t know if you have the intestinal fortitude to try that close to a playground made of wood or plastic.
• Using dish soap to kill wasps on contact is the most successful approach I’ve seen on YouTube and online discussion boards where the topic has been brought up. Combine one part dish soap (the brand Dawn was used in most instances) with ten parts water in a spray bottle, then spray the solution directly on the wasps and their nests. You will see that the wasps die instantly after being exposed to the solution.

How to Prevent Wasps

I do not doubt you are familiar with the adage “prevention is better than cure.” If you already have wasps buzzing about your yard, your child’s playhouse, or simply around your home, the solution to this problem was mentioned in the previous section.

On the other hand, there are measures that you may take to thwart their attempts to enter your territory in the first place. Some are the tried-and-true methods you employ to eliminate them, while others are brand-new approaches.

Cleanliness:

It would be best to keep your yard clean to stop wasps from using it as a breeding ground and taking over your property, whether gathering the fallen leaves with a rake and disposing of them or gathering the dead branches and twigs that have fallen.

Make sure that your trash cans are spotless and that they are kept in an organized manner. If such dumpsters become too dirty, you should wash them. If there is rubbish inside of them, ensure that the lids are securely fastened.

Make sure you clean up after yourself, whether cooking outside, having a barbecue, or even hanging out. Refrain from leaving any crumbs or scraps of food lying about.

Disorganization may lead to more pests, and given that wasps feed on other insects, if you don’t tidy up, you’re essentially setting up a banquet for the wasps.

Pesticides:

This is yet another standard precaution that people take. You may prevent wasps from getting near your house by spraying all locations where they are known to congregate and establish their nests. This will make it less likely that they will come near your home.

You must ensure that you do this in the early spring when everything is thawing out in preparation for summer and in the late autumn when wasps seek a warm location for their queens to hibernate. Timing is essential in this situation.

Decoy Nests:

If you have these around, wasps are less likely to invade your area, which is another benefit. Therefore, ensure that you hang things up in advance and watch for any harm that may have occurred to them.

Bar Soap:

It is unknown how successful this method is; nevertheless, it is said that putting bar soap all over the playset and other spots where you do not want wasps to build nests may drive them away.

Herbs:

Planting fragrant plants in your yard should help deter wasps from getting close to your home. Wasps avoid areas with intense odors, so that should be helpful.

Sealing Points of Entry:

Wasps may be able to build nests in hollow spaces, cracks, and crevices. Therefore, inspect your playground thoroughly to check for any potential nesting spots. Wasps will not be able to enter if you go ahead and seal them.

If they are not causing us any harm, then there is no need to eliminate them.

Wasps will not sting you unless they have reason to believe you will do them damage. This is a fact. However, since they tend to establish their nests in regions frequented by many people, we risk accidentally disturbing them and stung them in the process. Wasps may do damage to your property while they are establishing their nests, which is another issue.

Their Sting:

Their sting causes a localized release of venom, which may result in itching, swelling, and discomfort at the location of the sting. It is also possible for some people to have an allergic response to it, which in severe situations may lead to anaphylaxis.

When a wasp strikes you, it leaves behind a chemical that warns other wasps of your presence. As a result, you risk being stung by many wasps simultaneously. This is another reason why people need to be cautious around wasps. Therefore, it’s best to err on caution rather than regret.

Destroy Property:

Wasps are known for boring holes in wood to construct their nests. This may result in damage to your property, the repair of which may set you back a significant sum of money. If the children successfully weaken the playset in any manner, this presents another risk for them.

The colder months are the only time of year when you won’t have to worry about being bothered by them, just as with many other insects. After mating with the male wasps during the months before this period, the queen wasps hibernate at this time of year. Soon, you will see the worker wasps beginning to construct their nests as the spring season approaches.

If you have not implemented any of the preventive steps outlined before, you will almost certainly find some in the regions where you don’t want them to be. Wasps are beneficial to the environment and the general health of your garden; nevertheless, you do not wish them buzzing about your children or any adults, for that matter.

How to Treat A Wasp Sting?

If you are not allergic to a wasp sting, the most effective treatment is using a credit card to scrape out the stinger, then washing the affected area with cold water and applying ice. Honey or a paste made from baking soda may also be used to the extent that it was stung to alleviate the pain.

WebMD provides some helpful reference material on the effects of wasp stings.

If you suspect an allergy, you should seek emergency medical assistance.

DIY Wasp Trap

This is a relatively easy thing to do. Following the instructions below, you can make a wasp trap for yourself.

• You’ll need a transparent plastic soda bottle with a capacity of 2 liters or any other kind of clear container or jar with a hole in it that’s big enough for the wasps to crawl through. It would be best if you were transparent so that you can check to see whether you’ve managed to catch any wasps.
• Cut the bottle approximately a fourth down from the top to separate the bottle’s neck from the remainder of the body. This will result in the formation of a funnel.
• First, insert the funnel into the bottle’s body to assemble the bottle, holding the two cut sides together.
• Make sure there are no gaps between the two sides and that the only opening is the mouth of the bottle, with the space pointing downwards within the body of the bottle. Seal the two sides together.
• Depending on the time of year, either a sugary drink of your choosing or some protein may be added to the bottle. In the spring and early summer, wasps will build up their energy by feeding on protein, but in the late summer and autumn, they will be more drawn to the sweet liquid.

That wraps it up! You are now in possession of your very own wasp trap. Be careful to clean the web at least once every couple of days.