Your kids are running in and out of the playhouse in your backyard, laughing and tearing their way through the playhouse. But you notice a lot of wasps and bugs buzzing inside the playhouse with them, and it’s making you nervous. So here are the best methods to keep bugs and wasps out of the outdoor playhouse.
Always keep the playhouse clean and use a soft, natural repellent is a safe and non-toxic way to discourage insects in the playhouse. The combination of essential oils used in Coco-Be-Gone is known to deter bugs and wasps. This unique blend of essential oils has been formulated using pure ingredients that are completely safe for children and pets.
Bugs, wasps, and other unwanted critters often find their way into our outdoor playhouses or are attracted to the sugary treats we keep on hand for the kids. The wasps pester us as we snack, and is it not uncommon to come upon a nest of baby hornets in a back corner of the playhouse. So how can we stop this from happening? Below are some tips I have found useful in keeping them at bay.
How to keep bugs and wasps out of the outdoor playhouse
Keep your outdoor playhouse clean.
The best way to keep bugs out of your outdoor playhouse is to keep it clean. If you don’t clean your playhouse regularly, the bugs will quickly find it and make it their home.
If there are, they will continue to multiply and get quite annoying. So here are some tips on how to keep the playhouse clean and them out:
- Spray the playhouse with insecticide every month to prevent bugs from settling in.
- Wash the outside down with soap and water every few weeks (or more often if it looks dirty). You can also use vinegar or lemon juice in the mix if you have them on hand. This will help kill any bugs that have made their way into your playhouse. Ensure that all doors and windows are open during the day so that sunlight can come in and kill off any remaining bugs inside before closing them up at nightfall!
- Sweep up any dirt or leaves that may have fallen into the playhouse.
- Ensure all doors are closed when not in use so no insects can come in from outside during those times either.
- Also, ensure that you vacuum up any dust or dirt. This will help keep bugs from nesting in the corners and cracks of your outdoor playhouse.
- Keep pets away from your playhouse; Pets can carry fleas and ticks inside if they do so.
Secure food and fruit debris in covered trash cans
Make sure to keep food and fruit debris covered in covered trash cans. Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fruit and will follow the scent around until they find it. If you have any fruit or other food waste that can’t be composted, make sure it’s sealed uptight.
This will keep bugs, wasps, and other insects away from your outdoor space. This behavior should also be practiced indoors to keep these pesky insects away from your home.
Trim grasses, hedges, and other plants around the playhouse
To keep bugs out, you should trim bushes, hedges, and other plants around the playhouse. These plants provide shelter for bugs, so cutting them back will reduce their infestation.
Also, remember that most bugs tend not to climb over six feet high, so keeping the roof of your playhouse clean means you can avoid most pests that are looking to set up camp on a warm surface next door.
If branches are hanging over the playhouse low enough for kids to reach them without a ladder, you should also prune those branches.
Plant flowers or herbs that repel bugs
Plant flowers or herbs that repel bugs. Bugs are attracted to various things, but one thing they can’t stand is the smell of a particular plant. Planting these plants around your outdoor playhouse will keep bugs at bay and make your outdoor space more enjoyable for everyone.
Here are some plants that will help you keep bugs out of your outdoor playhouse:
Lavender: Lavender has long been used as an insect repellent because it smells like mothballs, which bugs don’t like. Suppose you want to keep mosquitoes away from your outdoor playhouse, plant lavender in pots or around it. You can also use lavender oil as an insect repellent by mixing it with water and spraying it on yourself before going outside.
Catnip: is another plant that insects dislike because of its strong scent, which makes them want to stay away from it. Plant catnip around your outdoor playhouse to keep bugs out of it and make sure your kids aren’t bitten while playing outside.
Other plants include
- Marigolds
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Thyme
- Mints
- Nepeta.
Use a bug zapper.
Bug zappers are great because they are easy to install and work well. You just put them in the area where you want to keep bugs away, plug them in, and let them do their job.
This device is powered by electricity, attracts bugs with its light, and kills them. It’s a good way to keep bugs away if you don’t want to use chemicals or spray repellents.
If you have a small child who likes to play outside during the day, this is something that should be on your radar.
Attracts Predators
Birds are natural predators of bugs. So if you can attract birds to your yard, they’ll feed on the insects on playhouse. Once you’ve attracted some birds, you’ll have a regular pest control service for free.
You can provide birdhouses with nests inside them and put out bird feeders. Having bird feeders and birdbaths is a good way to attracts birds to your yard. Birds will eat most types of insects, including mosquitoes.
You can also plant lots of flowers and shrubs that provide bird food and shelter, which will keep them coming back. Paint birdhouses blue, red and yellow to attract nesting birds, which will then help eliminate the bugs for you.
Drain and cover standing water
This will eliminate their breeding grounds, often found in reservoirs or other small bodies of water. Mosquitoes thrive in ponds and other sources of stagnant water, so make sure that any pools and bodies of water are properly taken care of
Ensure you don’t have any standing water in the yard around the playhouse, including puddles and water from rainstorms.
If there’s a drainage ditch near your house, you might want to consider moving the playhouse so it’s not on the edge of the ditch where mosquitoes can breed.
Set up fly tape around the outside of the playhouse.
Fly tape is sticky and covered in a substance that attracts flies and other insects, which get stuck to it when they land on it.
This type of fly tape can be hung up anywhere where flies are likely to be found—around doorways, windowsills, walls, or even on trees. It does not kill the insects but traps them until you return to remove them.
The best time to hang up fly tape is in the evening or early morning hours when fewer flying insects are around (although some may arrive later).
It would be best to replace the fly tape every few weeks because it will eventually become less effective at attracting flies due to dust buildup on its sticky surface.
Use a mosquito fogging machine.
This will cover your yard with an insecticide mist that will kill any insects in the area. You must follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer when using this product, as it can be harmful if not used correctly.
Use insect repellent
Spraying insect repellent on the surfaces of your playhouse can help keep insects away from you and keep them from building nests in your playhouse.
If you want to use insect repellent spray, it’s important to ensure that you use the right insect repellent for your particular situation. Many different sprays are available to help keep insects away from you and your family.
In addition to spraying insect repellent on the exterior surface of your playhouse, you should also consider using it inside. This can help prevent wasps and bugs from entering the playhouse.
Use fragrances and lotions that repel insects.
Put on the bug spray when you’re about to step out, and reapply every few hours.
If you don’t want to use chemical-based bug sprays, you can also try using fragrances that repel bugs. Citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, and lavender oil are good options for keeping bugs away from your outdoor playhouse.
Don’t apply these oils directly to your skin—they’re too strong. Instead, mix them into a solution in equal parts water and witch hazel or rubbing alcohol before applying it directly onto your skin as needed.
Adjust the lighting around the playhouse
Light attracts bugs, so you’ll have fewer bugs in your playhouse if you can minimize that attraction. Try switching out your light bulbs for dim lights, emitting less heat and drawing less attention from bugs. You can also use motion-activated lights, which will only come on when someone walks by the playhouse.
How to Get Rid of Wasps with Vinegar
Wasps are a menace. They can be tough to get rid of, but it is possible. If you find yourself with wasp problems and don’t have time to call in professional help, try these tips for getting rid of wasps.
- Set out a plate of vinegar: This is one of the most effective ways to get rid of wasps. Set a plate with vinegar on it and leave it out for 24 hours or so during the day when you know the wasps will be active (usually during daylight hours). The smell alone should drive them away, but if not, there are other steps you can take.
- Spray them with vinegar: If the smell doesn’t work, try spraying your yard or garden with vinegar. It will kill any insects it touches and keeps them away from your plants and vegetables; it won’t harm them as pesticides might! Just spray it directly on any wasp nests that you see as well.
To use vinegar to kill wasps, mix one cup of white vinegar with three cups of water in a spray bottle. Then, spray directly onto the nest or swarm of wasps.
- Try using dish soap: Dish soap is another effective way to get rid of wasps because they hate its smell so much that they’ll fly away immediately upon smelling even.
When using vinegar to get rid of wasps from your home or yard, make sure you’re using white distilled vinegar rather than apple cider vinegar. This is because apple cider vinegar contains natural sugars, which could attract other insects such as ants or bees and cause problems later.
