Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Sandwich Home? Common Causes and Solutions
With children at home all day, sticky hands, open doors and snacks in every room can bring wasps in, but a simple routine keeps things under control.
Summer holidays and wasps
The school holidays and the wasp season overlap almost exactly. Colonies are growing through July and August, and children are at home, in and out of the garden, with drinks and snacks in hand. Doors stand open, sandals are kicked off in the hall, and half-finished cartons of juice are left on the sill.
A little routine goes a long way. In Sandwich or anywhere else, the aim is not to ban snacks but to make sure they stay in places where wasps are less likely to find them.
Holiday visitors add to the mix. Cousins, friends and grandparents all arrive with their own habits, and not all of them will have heard the rules. A note on the fridge door, or a quick word as people arrive, keeps everyone on the same page.
Snacks and drinks
Agree some simple rules with the children:
- Eat and drink at the table, not wandering through the house.
- Use cups with lids, and check the rim before sipping.
- Put empty cartons and wrappers straight into a lidded bin.
- Wash sticky hands and faces after ice lollies and fruit.
- Keep fruit in a covered bowl or the fridge.
- Take cups and plates back to the kitchen, not the garden.
Children respond well to a clear rule and a short explanation. Tell them that wasps like sweet things, and that a wasp in a cup is better off left alone.
Picnics and days out deserve a mention. A cool bag with juice, sandwiches and fruit is a feast for wasps if left open in the car boot. Keep lids on, wipe the rims, and shake out the bag before it goes back into the house. Wash lunch boxes outside if you can.
Ice lollies and juice pouches deserve a special rule. Give them out at the table, on a tray or a plate, and collect the sticks and wrappers at once. A dropped lolly stick on the patio is enough to draw wasps for the rest of the afternoon, and a juice pouch squeezed in a hand leaves a sweet trail.
Keep a damp cloth by the back door in the holidays, so that sticky hands can be wiped before anyone comes back inside. It is a small habit that removes the sweet smell from children's fingers before it reaches the sofa, the stairs or the bedrooms.
Doors and the back garden
Back doors are the main route in. Use a fly screen or a bead curtain if the door must stand open. Make a habit of closing the door when someone comes in, and tell children not to prop it with a shoe.
In the garden, keep paddling pools covered, since wasps look for water on hot days. Clear toys that have sweet residue, and don't leave picnic things on the grass. Sit away from the bin when you eat outside.
If the family has a trampoline, a playhouse or a den in the garden, check them before use. A wasp that has settled in a dark corner of a playhouse can be a nasty surprise for a child who crawls in. Look through the door and the windows first, and shake out any cushions or blankets.
What to do when a wasp comes in
Teach everyone the same response. Stay still. Do not shout or swat. Open a window or door and step back. An adult can use a tumbler and card to carry a wasp outside if it settles on a wall or window. Younger children should leave the room.
Having a calm routine makes a big difference, because children copy what they see.
A short family conversation at the start of the holidays pays off. Explain that wasps are only dangerous if they feel threatened, that staying calm is the best defence and that an adult should always be told about a nest.
When it is more than a visitor
If wasps are arriving in numbers, or keep coming even when snacks are cleared away, a nest may be near. Numbers in a nest range from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps by the peak of the season. Keep children away from any place where wasps are entering a gap.
Wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it then cool it with a cold pack. A serious reaction, with swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, means a 999 call. If anyone in the family is allergic, they should speak to their GP, and you should tell us when booking so that the visit can be prioritised.
Be ready for the long days. Evenings are when families sit outside with a drink, and wasps are still about. Keep sweet drinks covered and clear plates before dusk.
Look at your garden toys and outdoor furniture too. Cushions on garden chairs, a hammock and a sun lounger can hide a sleeping wasp. Shake them out before use. A quick check takes seconds and avoids a sharp surprise.
Booking during the holidays
Each nest is dealt with for a fixed £120 by Wasp Exterminator Kent, one visit guaranteed, and a second nest on the same property is £60 extra. Our technicians are fully insured and qualified, and we cover homes and businesses seven days a week, including evenings and weekends, so a visit can fit around a family day out.
Telephone 01622 410 019 or send an enquiry through the contact page form. Same-day service is available. Ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down.
If you are out for the day on the day of the visit, say who will be at home and where the children and pets will be. Evening and weekend appointments are available, and the technician can work around the household's plans.
Wasps on your property in Sandwich?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.