A Sprinkle Of This Staple Spice Will Keep Wasps Far From Your Yard
Whether it's attached to your home, your children's playset, or elsewhere on your property, discovering a wasp nest can be alarming. Fortunately, there is a safe and accessible hack to remove wasps and avoid any unwanted encounters. Simply apply powdered cinnamon directly to the opening of a wasp nest to evict them and keep them away. If you are unsure where the nest is, you can also spread the cinnamon around areas where wasps have been seen to deter them from returning.
This do-it-yourself hack works because wasps are averted by the pungent smell of eugenol essential oil, a primary component of cinnamon bark and leaves. For the best results, be sure to reapply the cinnamon daily for at least a week. If possible, avoid deterring wasps around plants in low foot traffic areas of your property. Wasps are natural predators and eat aphids and other pests, making them allies in the garden.
How to get the job done
The main reason that homeowners remove wasp nests is because they do not want to come in contact with them. This hack requires you to be up close and personal with the insects you're trying to avoid, so there is a specific way to do it. The most important thing to account for is the time of day that you put cinnamon on a wasp nest. Wasps are typically awake during the day and sleep throughout the night, meaning that they are almost guaranteed to be in their nest after dark. However, because they are likely asleep and unsuspecting, this is the best time to initiate this hack.
Once it is completely dark, you can get to work. Be sure to wear gloves and other protective gear to ensure that, if the wasps do wake up and approach you, you are as safe as possible. While wearing your protective equipment, bring your powdered cinnamon outside with a light source. Be sure not to shine the light directly at the wasp nest, which could cause them to stir and startle them. Sprinkle the cinnamon around the opening of the nest and other areas where wasps have been sighted frequently, and you should be all set. Do this for one week. If the wasps come back, you may need to repeat this hack every week until the wasps stop returning.
Using other forms of cinnamon
If you do not have access to powdered cinnamon, there are plenty of other forms of the spice you may have sitting on a shelf. Cinnamon oil has the same effect and can also be sprinkled or sprayed around areas where wasps have been seen or directly on the opening of a nest. However, take extra caution if you opt to use cinnamon oil, as it can burn the skin and hurt your eyes, per Healthline. Cinnamon sticks can be used in a similar way by placing them near these areas or by blending them and creating your own powder.
If you are growing cinnamon on your property, you can use the bark and leaves from the tree and incorporate them into this hack instead. For the best results, grind the bark into powder and process the leaves, extracting the eugenol. As long as the substance you are using has eugenol essential oils, it will serve as a natural wasp deterrent that drives them away.