Is Windex An Effective Treatment Against Wasps? Here's What We Know

If you've ever been faced with an enraged wasp buzzing around your home, you probably will find yourself reaching for the bug spray. But what if you've run out or aren't able to usher the stinging insect outside? Some sources claim that you can use a common household item that is present in many American homes — Windex — but is it really effective?

Although it's not necessarily a well-known killer of wasps, Windex may aid in your battle against a wasp in a pinch. It's important to note that it is not as immediately lethal as bug sprays that are specifically meant to eliminate wasps, but some pest prevention companies or individuals on forum-based sites say that it can kill wasps when sprayed on them. If they do not die from the Windex, however, the spray may slow them down for long enough to let you figure out how to get the wasp out of your house. Remember that trying to solve a wasp infestation on your own can be difficult, not to mention dangerous. If you see wasps in the home regularly or have noticed a wasp nest in a corner of a room, it's best to reach out to a professional pest control company before trying to remedy the situation on your own.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of using Windex to get rid of wasps is that you probably already have it in your bathroom. No more diving into the garage or under the sink to retrieve your noxious-smelling wasp spray while trying to keep eyes on where it has flown to. Another benefit of Windex is that it contains more innocuous ingredients than bug killing sprays that can be dangerous when sprayed around children and animals. Given that Windex is not as potent as traditional wasp sprays, this could be viewed as a benefit if you prefer to take a less-violent approach to handling rogue bugs that make it into the home (bear in mind, however, that this can be a double-edged sword if it means an angry wasp chasing you).

Even though there are good things to be said about the use of Windex against wasps, some of these pros can just as easily be seen as cons. Given that it's not effective against wasps, you may be wasting a lot more Windex than makes sense if killing the wasp is your goal. If you are concerned about Windex simply making a wasp more angry, it may be better to use actual wasp spray and handle it once and for all. While Windex may not be as nasty as wasp sprays, it's hardly natural, with ingredients like 2-Hexoxyethanol, Ammonium Hydroxide, and blue dye; however, there are many natural alternatives, such as Zevo, which is safe around people and animals and works with the help of essential oils. When battling wasps, remember to also look into what may be attracting them to your home in the first place.