Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Dagenham? Here's What to Do

Treatment ends the nest, but a household still has dead wasps and debris to deal with, and doing it carefully avoids a last-minute sting.

The quiet after the visit

Once the technician has treated the nest, the colony stops being a threat. But the evidence remains. There may be dead or dying wasps on window sills, floors and light fittings, and the nest itself will still be in the loft unless it is removed. A little care with the clear-up makes the difference between a tidy ending and a nasty surprise.

It is worth knowing what to expect so that you are not alarmed. Wasps do not all die at once. For a short while you may see sluggish wasps in the room, especially on a warm day.

Many people want to see the job finished, and the temptation is to start at once. A calm, careful approach is far better. There is no deadline except your own patience, and a day or two of waiting costs nothing.

Treat the whole job as a short, quiet chore and not an emergency. The wasps that matter are gone; what is left is housekeeping, and a measured pace keeps everybody safe.

Wait a little before you start

Do not rush in. Keep the loft hatch closed and ask the technician when it is sensible to start clearing up. Open a window in any room where wasps have been so that stragglers can leave, and close the door while you do something else.

A short wait, such as the rest of the day, lets most of the activity pass. Leave any room where wasps are still moving. Pick it up again once things are quiet.

If you have to enter a room where wasps have been seen to fetch something, move slowly, keep your arms close to your body and watch where you step. Fast, flailing movements are what get people stung.

Dealing with dead and dying wasps

A dying wasp can still sting, so treat each one with caution. Wear shoes, and do not pick them up with bare fingers. Use a vacuum with a hose attachment, or a hand brush and pan, and tip the contents into a bag. Tie the bag and put it in the outside bin.

• Check window sills, curtain folds and the tops of curtain rails.
• Look inside light shades, which collect insects.
• Check the floor along skirting boards, below the hatch and under furniture.
• Look in shoes and bedding in affected rooms.

Keep children and pets away while you work, and do not let them pick up wasps, dead or alive.

Do not use the household vacuum cleaner bag without emptying it afterwards. A wasp that survives inside can crawl out again, so empty it into an outdoor bin, or seal it in a bag, as soon as you have finished.

Wash your hands after the job, and check floors for anything you might step on in bare feet.

The nest paper

The nest is made of thin grey paper in layers, built from chewed wood fibre. After treatment it stays where it was, unless the technician has taken it down. Ask them at booking whether the empty nest can be removed.

If it stays in the loft, there is usually no urgency. Leave it alone for a good while, and do not go in just to look. When you do enter, wear closed shoes and long sleeves, and take a vacuum with a hose. Some fragments of paper may have fallen to the floor, along with dead wasps.

The paper is light and brittle, and it can be bagged and put in the household waste. Wash your hands afterwards.

Photographs of the nest in place, taken from the hatch with the lid just lifted, are not necessary, so do not risk it. The technician can describe what they saw, and you can ask for their advice on whether to leave it where it is.

One further point is that the paper has a faint, dry smell that fades. If an odd smell persists, mention it to the business.

When to go back into the loft

A few days is a sensible wait. If you hear nothing and see no wasps, you can open the hatch carefully. Look from the top of the ladder before stepping in. If wasps are still moving, close the hatch and contact the business.

When you go in, check stored items for damp, chewed edges and nest scraps. Replace anything damaged. Consider moving boxes slightly away from the eaves so that air can circulate and you can see the roof edge more easily next year.

If you find a patch of damp or staining on the ceiling after the nest has gone, take a photograph and speak to a roofer or builder about it. It may have an unrelated cause, and it is best looked at once the roof space is safe.

Booking and next steps

If you are reading this before treatment, the business works seven days a week and offers same-day service, covering Dagenham and the surrounding area, for homes and commercial premises. Treating a nest costs a fixed £90 in all, and one visit is guaranteed. Each additional nest found on the same property is charged at £35 each.

Ring 01245 327274 or use the online form on the contact page. Mention at booking if anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, so the booking can be prioritised. Afterwards, once the clear-up is finished, arrange for any gaps at the roof edge to be repaired.

Once everything is clear, take five minutes to walk round the outside of the house and look up at the roof edge. If you can spot the gap that was used, make a note of it for the builder.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Dagenham