Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Painters Ash? Here's What to Do
Once the wasps have gone, the loft still needs sorting out. Here is a sensible order for cleaning up dead wasps, nest paper and anything stained or damaged.
Wait for the all-clear
The first rule of clear-up is to wait. After the technician has treated the nest, they will tell you when it is safe to use the loft and the rooms beneath. Do not go up before that, even if the house has gone quiet. A treated nest can still have wasps returning to it for a while, and a few survivors can sting.
Use the waiting time to get ready. Find a pair of sturdy gloves, a vacuum cleaner or a stiff brush and pan, a few bin bags and a mask. If you plan to go into the loft, a torch and a clear route to the hatch will also help. Keep children and pets away until the job is done.
Choose a good time for the job. A weekend morning works well for many households, because there are more hands to move children and pets away from the stairs. The vacuum should be clean and empty before you start, and a spare bin bag should be to hand so nothing is left lying about.
Sweeping up dead wasps
Dead wasps will turn up in several places: beneath the nest, around the hatch, along the landing and on windowsills. Pick them up with a brush and pan or a vacuum rather than bare fingers. A dead wasp can still deliver a sting if it is pressed, and a stinger remains active for a while.
- Open a window in the room first, and wear gloves.
- Vacuum along skirting boards and window ledges, where wasps gather.
- Empty the vacuum outdoors straight away, or bag it and seal it.
- Check curtains and shoes by the window, since wasps often settle there.
- Wipe down surfaces with a damp cloth once you have finished.
The empty nest
The nest is made of chewed wood fibre and looks like grey, layered paper. Once the colony has been treated it is inert, and a wasp nest is never used again, whether the technician removes it or not. Some people are happy to leave it, others want it gone.
You can ask at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down. If it stays, avoid pulling it by hand in the first few days, since it may still hold a few insects. Later, if it is in an awkward place, a builder may help you remove it. When handling nest paper, wear gloves and a mask, since it crumbles into fine particles, and bag it before putting it in the bin.
Do not be alarmed if the nest is larger or smaller than you imagined. By late summer many nests are about the size of a football or bigger, but the dimensions say nothing about how quickly the job can be done. Remember to wash your hands and any tools afterwards.
Insulation, boxes and stored items
Anything close to the nest may have been marked, chewed or covered in debris. Cardboard boxes that are stained or damaged can be thrown away. Fabric, such as old curtains or bedding, can be shaken outdoors and washed. Hard items can be wiped.
Insulation can be trickier. Small areas of staining are rarely important, but heavily soiled or wet insulation may be worth replacing. That is a question for a builder or insulation installer, and we only deal with the wasps. Take care not to scatter insulation fibres around the house when you remove it.
Check the airing cupboard, the cold water tank cupboard and any shelves near the hatch as well. Wasps that came into the house during the infestation sometimes settle in dark corners and die there. A quick look now saves finding them in a month's time.
Do not forget yourself. After a clear-up, wash your hands and any clothes you wore in the loft, since nest fragments can irritate skin and eyes. If you notice itching or a cough afterwards, rest and ventilate the house; if it persists, speak to your GP.
Put the used gloves, cloths and the vacuum bag into a sealed bin bag, and dispose of it with the household rubbish. Wipe down the ladder and any tools you carried up, and leave them to dry before putting them away.
If you plan to use the loft for storage again, wait a few days to be sure no wasps are returning, then repack with a gap along the eaves.
Bedrooms, ceilings and living areas
If wasps got into your living space, give the rooms a thorough going over. Check the tops of curtains, the gaps behind furniture and the edges of windows for dead or sluggish wasps. Look in the corners of ceilings for staining and check light fittings for dead insects.
A damp cloth with a little washing-up liquid will clean most surfaces. If the ceiling is stained, wait for it to dry before deciding whether it needs sealing and repainting. A plasterer or decorator can advise on anything that does not clean easily.
Keep an eye out for new activity in the days after treatment. A wasp or two returning to the old gap is normal. A steady stream is not, and if you see one, phone us and say what you have noticed.
Keeping on top of it
Once the loft is clear, take the chance to improve it. Leave a gap between stored items and the eaves, so you can see along the roof edge. Fit a light near the hatch, if there is none. And think about whether the hatch closes snugly.
If you need us again, the booking route is the same: phone 01622 410 019 or use the form on the contact page. The price is fixed at £120 for each nest and £60 for an additional one on the same property, with no call-out charge and one visit guaranteed. We cover Painters Ash and the surrounding villages, seven days a week, for homes and commercial premises.
Wasps on your property in Painters Ash?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.