If a wasp or bee gets into the house, reach for the hair spray. Most insect sprays only infuriate them, but the hair spray stiffens their wings, immobilizing them immediately. This works on all winged insects.If one happens to escape and sting you, apply a poultice of baking soda and water. Or, try applying a fresh cut slice of raw onion to the sting to help draw out the poison. Hold the onion in place with tape.
A great substitute for insect repellent is white vinegar. Apply it liberally to the skin with a cotton ball. Bugs hate the way you taste and the smell of vinegar disappears once it dries. Great for kids!
To prevent ants from coming in the house or getting into cupboards, sprinkle dried mint or red pepper where they are entering the house and in the cupboards.
Source: Mary Ellen's Best of Helpful Hints
I know the hair spray trick works. Just don't do what a friend who used that trick did after a wasp was brought to the ground after being sprayed; he then picked up the wasp with a tissue and got stung on his hand through the tissue. The spray keeps a bee or wasp from flying, but not from stinging. My wife, who observed, the incident, said he had a dumbfounded look on his face when he got stung, as if he couldn't believe he had just been stung. He was only half awake when it happened and commented "Well, I'm f---ing awake now."
