Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Ampthill? Here's What to Do
Once the wasps have gone, the loft still needs sorting out. Here is how to deal with dead insects, paper debris and stored items safely and sensibly.
The job after the job
Treatment of the nest is not quite the end of the story. A wasp nest in a loft leaves things behind: dead insects, fragments of the grey paper wasps build with and, sometimes, a stain or a mess on the insulation or boxes beneath it. None of it is dangerous once the colony has been dealt with, but it deserves a methodical clear-up.
The first step is to ask the technician what to do and when. Do not rush straight up the ladder. Ask whether it is safe to enter, and whether they have left anything in the loft that you should avoid.
Plan for the clear-up to take longer than you expect. Lofts are awkward to work in, and you cannot do much in poor light or with the headroom lowered. Pick a dry, cooler part of the day, and give yourself time to take regular breaks. A warm roof space in August is an uncomfortable place to be wearing gloves and long sleeves.
What you will need
You do not need specialist kit, but a few basics make the job safer and quicker.
- Rubber or work gloves that cover the wrists.
- Long sleeves and trousers, and closed shoes.
- A dustpan and brush, or a vacuum with a bag you can seal.
- Strong rubbish bags, ideally two, one inside the other.
- A good torch, since lofts are often dim.
- A face covering if the loft is dusty.
Wasps that appear dead can still sting if they are pressed, so handle them as if they were alive.
Lay out your kit before you start, so you are not searching for a bag halfway through. A bucket with a lid is handy for collecting debris as you go. Keep one hand free for the ladder and never carry a loaded dustpan up or down it; pass the bags down through the hatch or ask someone below to take them.
Dead wasps indoors and in the loft
After treatment, wasps may be found on the landing, on window sills and on the loft floor. They are usually concentrated near the nest and near the hatch. Sweep or vacuum them up and put them straight into a bag. Seal it, and put it in the outside bin.
If you find large numbers in the days that follow, or live wasps, tell the business. A few stragglers are common, and a lot of activity is worth a phone call. Keep pets and children out of the area until it has been cleared.
Windows are the second spot to check. Wasps that wandered into the house during the weeks before the treatment often die on the sill, behind curtains or in the corners of the room beneath the loft. Move furniture carefully so you do not startle one that is still alive, and shake out the curtains outdoors.
The nest itself
Ask the technician, ideally when you book, whether the empty nest can be taken down. This depends on where it is, and it is not always practical. If it is left in place, do not break it up or take it apart yourself, as that can release more debris.
If the nest has been removed, ask whether it was bagged and whether anything remains attached to the roof timbers. Paper fragments can usually be brushed up. Damp insulation or timber needs a different approach, and a builder or roofer is the right person to ask.
Some people ask whether they need to wipe down surfaces with anything special. For general purposes, a damp cloth and ordinary household cleaner are enough for sills and floors, and you do not need to buy anything particular. Do not use anything that makes the area unpleasant to be in. Product advice is beyond the scope of this page, and the technician can answer questions about the specific job.
Boxes, insulation and stored items
Check your belongings in daylight. Shake out fabric, open boxes carefully and wipe down plastic. Cardboard that is stained or soft can be thrown away. Items that were in contact with the nest paper may need a good brush down.
If there is anything you are concerned about, such as insulation that has been disturbed, take photographs and ask a professional. If you hold insurance, check what your policy says about damage rather than guessing. Nobody at the business can advise on that.
A good habit is to photograph the loft before you put things back, so you can see afterwards whether any area has altered. If you find damp patches on the underside of the roof, or tiles that look loose, that is a separate matter for a roofer.
Do not worry if the loft smells slightly musty or papery afterwards. That is normal for an area that has been sealed for a while. Open the hatch, let some air through, and keep any door to the landing closed until you have finished. A mild smell that fades is not a reason to ring anyone, but a smell that grows stronger after several days is worth mentioning to the business or to a builder.
Staying vigilant and booking
For the rest of the season, glance at the roof edge from a distance every so often. Wasps start building in early April, so that is the time to look. If you see wasps going in and out of a gap, ring early, as same-day service is offered.
Phone 07852 111 437, or use the booking form or contact page, and a visit can be arranged from there. An additional nest on the same property is £30 extra, against a fixed £70 per nest, and the price is confirmed first.
Finally, keep a note of what you found, including the dead wasps and the size of the nest, in case you need to describe it to anyone later. This is useful if wasps return next year.
Wasps on your property in Ampthill?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.