How to get rid of an infestation of wasps or bees or actually any flying insects

We recently had an infestation of what looked like wasps, though the pest control guy told me it was bees. Anyway, I didn't care what they were—I wanted them gone. They were swarming in my house and literally covered half the house outside flying around. It was awful.

I called a few pest control services who weirdly said to leave them. Eh, no, that wasn't going to happen. I didn't have any pest control sprays and didn't know what to do. I had a hysterical child (she is OK with a few but this was many hundreds) and my 81-year-old mum. I wasn't leaving them to swarm.

So I did two things. Both are dangerous to humans, so if you try either, do it exactly as outlined.

For inside (be ready to leave as soon as you mix this—it is very harmful to humans): get everyone out of the house for at least an hour. Mix equal parts of Viakal and bleach, then run. This releases a toxic gas which kills them all.

For outside, I couldn't get high enough to do anything—I had a broken foot, so ladders were not an option.

I lit our barbecue and burned damp cardboard under where they were swarming, which produced a lot of smoke. I'd wear a mask for this to protect your lungs. I did, however, have our hosepipe on standby and hosed down shrubs and walls before starting just in case, as the barbecue needed to be near the wall. I used tissues and paper to start the cardboard burning. Just keep tearing small amounts of cardboard, then use a larger piece to direct the smoke.

Within an hour of doing this, there wasn't a single swarming insect anywhere near, and they haven't been back since. If others want swarming buzzing insects in their houses, let them. I'm OK without. Our garden is full of flowers, and I am fine with them in the garden—just not in my house. The odd one is fine, but not hundreds.

So if you have a swarm you want rid of, try these methods—but please be cautious. As soon as you mix the blend, run out. While using the barbecue or another fire pit, have a hosepipe on hand or at least a bucket of water. Wet down walls and shrubs to stop them from catching fire.

How to get rid of an infestation of wasps or bees or actually any flying insects

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