Latest news with #wasps
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The easy cotton wool hack that keeps wasps out of your home this summer & it takes seconds to do
AS the summer months approach, more and more insects make their way into our homes. While most of them are totally harmless, there's one we'd all rather avoid - wasps. 2 Thankfully, a pest control expert has shared a simple way to keep them out for good without using harsh chemicals. And all you will need to keep them deterred from entering your home is some peppermint oil and some cotton wool. Wasps and hornets are known to have a hatred for mint - and so sprinkling mint around your property might be just the repellent you need. Clancy Bros Pest Control also suggests using peppermint oil as an alternative. To complete the hack all you need to do is put a few drops of the oil into the cotton wool, reports the Express. In addition, cleaning sensation Chantel Mila has shared her tactic of placing peppermint oil-infused cotton balls under bin liners to ward off insects while also keeping odours at bay. She also suggested vacuuming the cotton wool dabbed in oil up so the scent permeates the house to keep wasps out. Mila, who shared the advice with her 1.6 million followers, also noted that she places a mint in jars full of water near windows to block fly entry. The cleaning whizz also combats spider invasion by wiping down walls and floors with orange oil as spiders detest its smell. Chantel also revealed that doorways are a critical point of entry for insects. Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Garden Pest-Free "Dirty door tracks can be a breeding ground for bugs, so wrap a cloth around a blunt knife to clean them easily," she said. Wasps also detest the smell of cayenne pepper, according to Eliminate Solutions. To create a repellent, mix one teaspoon of pepper with one cup of water and spray it around your home to keep these pests at bay. Citronella, a citrus scent commonly found in perfumes and soaps, is renowned for its insect-repelling properties, particularly against mosquitos, but it's also effective in warding off wasps. The pest control firm suggests "burning citronella candles to infuse the outdoor area" as a deterrent. In addition, keeping homes free of exposed food and drinks is crucial to prevent these insects from venturing indoors. Timothy Wong, a director at MandM Pest Control, shared with the Martha Stewart website that wasps are attracted to carbohydrates found in fruits, sugary drinks, and sweets, which explains their presence near picnic areas, rubbish bins, and inside homes. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Genius 45p ‘bait' will banish wasps from your garden for good this summer – and you probably have it in your cupboard
WITH temperatures rocketing across the UK in recent weeks, it's been the perfect excuse to enjoy some al fresco dining. But along with the lovely weather comes a familiar nuisance, with wasps often crashing the BBQ, picnic or meal. Wasp season began in April, and this year's prolonged warm weather has created perfect conditions for them to thrive. Painful stings can quickly ruin a sunny afternoon, and for those with allergies, they can even trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis. There's also the risk of infestation. If wasps decide to build a nest in your home or garden, their numbers can multiply rapidly and removal by pest control professionals can cost as much as £200. But thankfully, there's an inexpensive items which most Brits will have lying around in their fruit bowl or in the fridge. Fruits like pears or mango or even sugary fizzy drinks out in your can act as a sort of lightning rod for wasps, drawing them away from where you are and over to a safe place out of your way. The former can be nabbed from Sainsbury's for 45p each. This 'bait' should be placed about 10ft-20ft away from where you are, effectively creating a safe zone for the wasps to buzz around, keeping them away from you. ANOTHER USEFUL TIP Another household item which can be used to repel the pesky insects is garlic. Garden expert at Polhill Garden Centre, Josh Novell lifted the lid on why the pungent bulbs are so effective. 'Place minced garlic in a small bowl near outdoor seating or food,' Josh recommends. How to Keep Wasps, Bees, and Flies Out of Your Home with a 5p Onion Hack Or, you can fill a spray bottle with water and two teaspoons of garlic powder, and then spray it around patios, doors and bins. The garlic odour will linger and deter wasps. Josh's other nugget of advice was to consider growing garlic in garden beds or containers - it's a win-win for repelling wasps and ensuring you're always stocked up on the culinary essential. Many people's first instinct is to set out a jar of jam or sugary water to lure wasps, but Josh warns this can actually make things worse. 'Sweet traps can attract wasps from neighbouring areas, increasing activity rather than reducing it,' he says. 'You're unintentionally drawing them in.'
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I'm a gardening expert, my 22p hack will banish wasps from your garden and it's probably already in your cupboard
WITH summer on the way Brits will be looking forward to al fresco dining. But along with the lovely weather comes a familiar nuisance, wasps - the last thing anyone wants crashing their BBQ or picnic. 1 Wasp season began in April, and this year's prolonged warm weather has created perfect conditions for them to thrive. Painful stings can quickly ruin a sunny afternoon, and for those with allergies, they can even trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis. There's also the risk of infestation. If wasps decide to build a nest in your home or garden, their numbers can multiply rapidly and removal by pest control professionals can cost as much as £200. However, Josh Novell, garden expert at Polhill Garden Centre, says there's a simple, natural solution that could cost as little as 22p, and it's probably already in your kitchen. 'Garlic is a surprisingly effective wasp repellent,' explains Josh. 'Its strong smell overwhelms a wasp's senses and naturally drives them away. It's safe, cheap, and easy to use.' Explaining how to use the allium to repel wasps, he adds: 'Place minced garlic in a small bowl near outdoor seating or food. 'You can also fill a spray bottle with water and 1-2 teaspoons of garlic powder. Then shake well, and spray around patios, doors, and bins. 'Or, consider growing garlic in garden beds or containers.' Many people's first instinct is to set out a jar of jam or sugary water to lure wasps, but Josh warns this can actually make things worse. How to Keep Wasps, Bees, and Flies Out of Your Home with a 5p Onion Hack 'Sweet traps can attract wasps from neighbouring areas, increasing activity rather than reducing it,' he explains. 'You're unintentionally drawing them in.' Other natural, low-cost ways to keep wasps away include burning coffee grounds. 'Just place some dry grounds in a heatproof bowl and light them like incense,' Josh says. 'Fresh mint or peppermint oil can also work really well. Wasps hate the scent, so place a few mint sprigs on the table or dab peppermint oil around doorframes. 'And of course, always clean up spills and cover food and drink when eating outside. Even a half-empty glass can quickly draw them in.' IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
The simple 22p trick to keep wasps out of your garden using a natural ingredient they ‘hate'
WITH temperatures rocketing across the UK in recent weeks, it's been the perfect excuse to enjoy some al fresco dining. But along with the lovely weather comes a familiar nuisance, with wasps often crashing the BBQ, picnic or meal. Wasp season began in April, and this year's prolonged warm weather has created perfect conditions for them to thrive. Painful stings can quickly ruin a sunny afternoon, and for those with allergies, they can even trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis. There's also the risk of infestation. If wasps decide to build a nest in your home or garden, their numbers can multiply rapidly and removal by pest control professionals can cost as much as £200. Thankfully, Josh Novell, garden expert at Polhill Garden Centre, has revealed a simple, natural solution to deter wasps. It could cost as little as 22p, and it's probably already in your kitchen. 'Garlic is a surprisingly effective wasp repellent,' explains Josh. 'Its strong smell overwhelms a wasp's senses and naturally drives them away. It's safe, cheap, and easy to use.' And there are three ways you can make use of the smelly ingredient to get rid of the garden pests. Josh continues: 'Place minced garlic in a small bowl near outdoor seating or food. 'Fill a spray bottle with water and 1-2 teaspoons of garlic powder. Then shake well, and spray around patios, doors, and bins. I made a DIY fence for £68 with pallets from Facebook Marketplace - it gives more privacy & people say it's 'fantastic' 'Or, consider growing garlic in garden beds or containers.' Many people's first instinct is to set out a jar of jam or sugary water to lure wasps, but Josh warns this can actually make things worse. 'Sweet traps can attract wasps from neighbouring areas, increasing activity rather than reducing it,' he explains. 'You're unintentionally drawing them in.' But if you don't want the stench of garlic in your outdoor space, there are other natural and low-cost ways to keep wasps away. Josh says: 'Burning coffee grounds is a great wasp deterrent. Just place some dry grounds in a heatproof bowl and light them like incense. 'Fresh mint or peppermint oil can also work really well. Wasps hate the scent, so place a few mint sprigs on the table or dab peppermint oil around doorframes. 'And of course, always clean up spills and cover food and drink when eating outside. Even a half-empty glass can quickly draw them in.'
The Sun
16-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
The 22p Tesco buy to stop wasps from coming inside your house this summer – and why to steer clear of ‘sweet traps'
WE'RE having an unseasonably warm May. So much so, millions of Brits have been warned they face a potential drought after some areas experienced the driest start to a year for nearly a century. Mercury rising means that we sun-loving Brits will be spending as much time soaking up the weather as possible. From al fresco dining and getting the paddling pool inflated, to simply having the backdoor open for 12 hours a day, we all have our preferences. But along with the lovely weather comes a familiar nuisance: wasps. These flying critters are the last thing anyone wants crashing their BBQ or garden shenanigans. Wasp season began in April, and this year's uncharacteristically warm spring has created perfect conditions for them to thrive. Painful stings can quickly ruin a sunny afternoon, and for those with allergies can even trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis. There's also the risk of infestation. If wasps decide to build a nest in your home or garden, their numbers can multiply rapidly and removal by pest control professionals can cost as much as £200. You don't need to suffer, though. There's a simple, natural solution that could cost as little as 22p sitting in your kitchen that'll send wasps packing, according to garden expert at Polhill Garden Centre, Josh Novell. 'Garlic is a surprisingly effective wasp repellent,' he says. 'Its strong smell overwhelms a wasp's senses and naturally drives them away. 'It's safe, cheap, and easy to use.' How to use garlic to repel wasps 2 'Place minced garlic in a small bowl near outdoor seating or food,' Josh recommends. Or, you can fill a spray bottle with water and two teaspoons of garlic powder, and then spray it around patios, doors and bins. The garlic odour will linger and deter wasps. Josh's other nugget of advice was to consider growing garlic in garden beds or containers - it's a win-win for repelling wasps and ensuring you're always stocked up on the culinary essential. Many people's first instinct is to set out a jar of jam or sugary water to lure wasps, but Josh warns this can actually make things worse. 'Sweet traps can attract wasps from neighbouring areas, increasing activity rather than reducing it,' he says. 'You're unintentionally drawing them in.'
