Is Using A Vacuum Cleaner To Remove A Wasp Nest A Genius Idea Or One To Avoid?

When it comes to wasps, especially their nests, you want to do just about everything you can to keep yourself safe and get rid of the buzzing menaces as quickly as possible. That can mean resorting to all sorts of DIY methods to remove a wasp nest, one being using a long-handled vacuum to suck up nests so you can dispose of them.

But is that safe and effective? The honest truth is both yes and no, depending on several factors. If the nest is smaller and you have a disposable bag inside your vacuum, you could very well get away with sucking up a wasp nest, sealing the bag, and disposing of it properly, but if the nest is on the larger side or you have an open vacuum, you could wind up doing more harm to yourself than good. If the wasp nest is too large, it simply won't fit in the vacuum, and if you don't have a sealed vacuum, then you are setting yourself up for a bag full of angry wasps that could easily escape and sting.

So, before you go about dragging your vacuum cleaner into a battle against wasps, ask yourself this: will this wasp nest safely fit into my vacuum without issue? If so, is the vacuum completely sealed so that you can reach in and seal the bag without any of the wasps escaping? If the answer to either of those questions is "no," then you might want to choose another method of wasp removal instead.

So, if you've decided that a vacuum cleaner isn't going to be your best weapon against a wasp's nest, what are some other safe methods to get rid of wasps? First up, let's talk about soap and water, an excellent eco-friendly alternative. Mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap with a spray bottle full of water, then carefully spray it directly onto the nest and the wasps, making sure to stand a good distance away. The soap works its magic by clogging their breathing pores, sending wasps to an early grave. They won't know what hit them, and you'll be one step closer to a wasp-free zone!

If soap isn't your style or you want to keep wasps away from your home and not directly kill them, you can use vinegar instead. A mixture of equal parts vinegar and water will deter those pesky wasps from building a nest or coming inside your home by providing a pungent aroma that they can't stand. Spray it generously around the nest in the early evening when they're least active. Just as you would with the soap method, make sure you are well-equipped with goggles and gloves — safety first! Once you've bravely dispatched the wasps, take down the now-abandoned nest to prevent any future squatter incidents.

However, if you don't feel quite ready to step into this wasp-wrangling adventure (and who could blame you?), it's always a smart choice to contact a local pest removal agency. They have the tools, expertise, and experience to handle the situation safely and professionally, leaving you to enjoy your space without worry.