To kill a wasp safely and effectively, here are several recommended methods:

• Soap and Water Spray: Mix a few drops of dish soap with water in a spray bottle and spray directly onto the wasp. The soap coats its wings, impairing its ability to fly, and usually kills it within 10-15 minutes

• Rubbing Alcohol: Applying a drop of rubbing alcohol on the wasp can kill it quickly by causing it to shrivel up within seconds

• Cold Spray (Electronics Duster): Spraying cold refrigerant or canned air (electronics duster) in droplets onto the wasp can freeze and immobilize it almost instantly, making it fall to the ground

• Hair Spray: Spraying hair spray can harden or freeze the wasp’s wings, preventing flight and allowing you to kill or trap it more easily

• Swatting: If you are confident and careful, you can wait for the wasp to land and then kill it by swatting with a shoe, rolled-up newspaper, or fly swatter. Be sure to apply enough pressure to ensure it is dead to avoid risk of stings

• Trapping and Releasing: If you prefer not to kill the wasp, you can trap it under a glass and slide a stiff piece of paper underneath, then release it outside

Additional tips:

• Turn off indoor lights and open windows or doors to encourage the wasp to fly outside on its own

• Avoid spraying harsh insecticides indoors as they can be toxic to humans and pets

• Be cautious as wasps may become aggressive if threatened, especially near their nest

Using a soap and water spray is often the safest and least toxic method for indoor wasp control, especially if you want to avoid chemical sprays