People develop new strategies to get rid of insects in and around their homes daily. One of them is hairspray.
It’s widely available in most houses and may contain compounds that some people believe would harm insects. Using hairspray to kill wasps has been mentioned as one of the methods.
Getting near enough to spray the wasp is the difficult part. If you get too close, you can get a few stings because they think you’re an enemy.
It is quite uncomfortable to get stung by a wasp. When wasp lands on you, remain calm and wait for it to disappear. You can also use a piece of paper to sweep it away gently. To avoid aggravating the stinger further, resist jerking or swatting it.
Will Hairspray Kill a Wasp?
No, hairspray will not kill wasps, but it will stick their wings and bodies together. The hairspray will limit their mobility, allowing you to kill them.
Hairspray is a sticky substance that most people use to keep their hair in place after styling it. For the same reason, hairspray will make the wasps stick together by their wings sticking together.
Once they are stuck together, it becomes impossible for them to fly; you can then go ahead and kill them using other means. But be careful; the scent of hairspray can attract other wasps that were loitering about and attack you.
Because hairspray is used on people, the chemicals utilized to manufacture it are typically non-toxic. That is to say; the hairspray will be less dangerous to insects.
How Does Hairspray Work on Wasps?
Since we’ve proved that hairspray doesn’t kill wasps, you might be asking how hairspray affects them. Hairspray attracts wasps, which is a good thing.
The majority of hairsprays have a fruity scent. Because nectar is a wasp’s primary source of nutrition, the odor attracts them.
Hairspray will not kill the wasps, but it will knock them down. Hairspray works so quickly that it can even knock them down while they’re flying.
However, you must be cautious when applying hairspray since if other wasps smell it, they may assemble and attack you. When wasps detect danger, they produce a pheromone, which serves as a signal to other wasps.
If you don’t kill the wasps right after immobilizing them, the spray will dissipate, allowing the wasps to fly again.
Some people go ahead and use hairsprays to burn wasps since hairsprays are flammable. This method is dangerous as not only will you harm yourself and others, but it’s also very inhumane for insects.
Can Hairspray Kill Wasp Nests?
When dealing with a wasp nest, it is recommended to hire a professional exterminator. Hairspray isn’t used to kill wasps because it isn’t harmful.
The hairspray’s only effect is to immobilize the wasps. You can employ this method if wasps are buzzing around your house or compound.
Spraying a wasp nest, on the other hand, might not be the best choice. Once you start spraying the nest, the wasps may see you as a threat and attack you.
Besides, it will be quite impossible to spray every wasp in the nest to immobilize it. Those wasps that escape will be flying around and may attack you, your kids, and your pets.
Plant some herbs around your outdoor areas if you want something to keep the wasps away. Wasps detest the smell of herbs, especially those with strong scents like thyme, spearmint, and eucalyptus.
Spray the inside of your house with a vinegar-water mixture. Vinegar is a powerful wasp repellant.
Wasps are most aggressive during the day or when there is light, so avoid approaching their nest during these times. To keep the wasps from seeing the red light, wrap your flashlight over it with red cellophane at night.
Nest drenching is another efficient method of destroying a wasp nest. Drench the wasp’s nest with an insecticide spray. Destroy the wasp nest once the wasps have been reduced.
You can dust the nest with pesticide dust powder, but make sure to get away as soon as possible. Wasp nests on the ground and those that don’t offer an immediate threat are perfect for pesticide dust powder.
If you can’t find the wasps’ nest, you can utilize the baiting method. Remove the cap from a soda bottle and cut off the bottle head. Turn its head upside down and add some soda, vinegar, and meat.
The cut-off neck of the bottle bait should be facing the bottom. Then, using a rope, hang it outside.
What Kills Wasps Instantly?
You can use store-bought insecticides to kill the wasps instantly, like Raid Wasp Hornet Killer Spray. This spray will allow you to spray 22 feet away, killing the entire nest.
Wd-40 is used to kill wasps and keep them from making nests around your property.
A homemade solution can be as simple as water and soap if you’re dealing with a little wasp nest. You can mix in a spray bottle, water, and two tablespoons of dish soap.
Spray the nests with the solution. The mixture will clog the wasps breathing pores, killing them instantly.
Another natural way to get rid of wasps is to use household bleach( be careful when using undiluted bleach). Fill a spray bottle halfway with bleach and spray straight on the wasps. To avoid stings, wear protective clothing.
Two cups of sugar, two cups of cider, and one cup of water are other natural wasp killers. Mix them in a mixing basin until the sugar is dissolved, then add 1/2 or 1/4 cup of a liquid soap dish. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray the wasps.
Does Listerine Keep Wasps Away?
Listerine is an antibacterial mouthwash that destroys bacteria and prevents foul odors in the mouth. Eucalyptol, menthol, thymol, and salicylate are the main components.
Wasps, for example, are sensitive to menthol, thymol, and eucalyptol. Most chemical-free insect repellents contain eucalyptol, a eucalyptus and lemon oil blend.
First, spray the area with water and garlic powder for more effectiveness. You can then spray your mixture of Listerine and white vinegar. The original-yellow colored Listerine is considered the most effective.
On the other hand, Listerine does not work as well as natural or commercial insect repellents. It may kill a few wasps and keep them away for a while, but it is unlikely to work on a large number of them.
Does Deodorant Kill Wasps?
No, deodorants, just like hairsprays, don’t contain ingredients capable of killing wasps. Deodrants are primarily used to reduce sweating and hide scents by altering sweat glands.
They can, however, paralyze wasps when used as spray deodorants rather than roll-ons. After that, you can go ahead and kill the wasp.
Some deodorants attract wasps due to their fragrances. Rather than repelling or killing wasps, you may find yourself attracting a swarm of angry wasps.
So, if you can’t spray a wasp and kill it quickly enough, deodorant might not be the greatest option. If you’re not sure if there’s a wasp nest nearby, don’t apply deodorant on it because the wasp may signal danger to others.
When wasps sense danger, they may not always flee but can gang on you to protect themselves and the nest.
Does Hairspray Kill Insects?
How well hairspray can kill insects will depend on a few factors: the size, toughness, and resistance level of a bug. Insects of a smaller size may not be able to withstand hairspray.
Most hairsprays will simply freeze the insect and may not even kill it. Although the bug is not poisoned, its wings become useless, allowing you to kill it.
As the hairspray dries, the insect’s legs and body become stuck, air obstructed, finally killing the insect.
Some insects that will have a hard time surviving hair spray are spiders and roaches. They breathe through spiracles which are located in different parts of their body. Hairspray will obstruct the spiracles, causing the two insects to suffocate and die.
Gnats are another type of insect that can be killed using hairspray. Sprays will suffocate them before killing them. But you can only use this method when dealing with a few gnats, not a colony.
Should they be hardy enough to survive being killed by the hairspray, it will still make them immobile for you to kill them.
Hairspray isn’t a great bug killer because it doesn’t always work, but it can be used as an insect repellent. Try it out the next time insects are bothering you to see how effective it is.
Conclusion
When you come across a wasp, it’s normal that your first instinct is to kill it with whatever you have on hand to avoid being stung. One of the first things that may come to your mind is hairspray.
Hairspray is unlikely to harm the wasp in the long run. It will usually paralyze the wasp, preventing it from flying, and the effect will wear off quickly.
You should take advantage of the wasp’s weakness due to the hairspray effect and kill it. You can use hairspray to kill various insects such as spiders, gnats, and roaches.
You may get rid of wasps with several simple natural solutions. However, hiring a professional insect exterminator is the best option.