How to Clean a Wasp Nest's Stem

Papery wasp nests are built out of chewed wood and the wasps' spit.

It is not difficult to preserve a wasp's nest, whether for decorative, scientific or educational purposes. Once the nest is emptied and in your home, there is little that you need to do to clean it or preserve it. If you do need to clean the stem or any other part of it, a paper towel and a small bit of water should do the trick. Rain, snow, ice and winds destroy the nests outside after the wasps have died off, leaving the queen to rebuild the next year; your home protects against these elements.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towel
• Cotton swab

Instructions

1. Hold the nest carefully as the papery shell may easily be damaged by too much pressure from your hands.

2. Dampen a paper towel and wring out thoroughly; you don't want to get the nest wet as water may deteriorate the papery material the wasps made.

3. Wipe the stem lightly with the barely damp paper towel.

4. Dampen a cotton swab and use it for areas of the stem that may be protected by the rest of the nest.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to clean a stem off of your home or somewhere else, use high-pressured water and a little exterior grade cleaner if needed.

References

• Iowa State University; Preserving and Displaying a Hornet's Nest; Donald Lewis; October 2006