I love summer. Almost everyone looks forward to this time of year because of the warmth, foliage, and (hopefully) abundant sunshine it brings.

Summer has few drawbacks, I suppose, but if I had god power, I’d eliminate one or two of them.

Before you say it, I know that wasps play an important role in the environment and that my fear of them wouldn’t cause a species to go extinct. However, I think we can all agree that wasps are one of the few things that can ruin a garden party, interrupt a BBQ, or make people run for cover.

Thankfully, my line of work does not frequently put me in close proximity to stinging insects like wasps, hornets, or any number of others. Because of this, I usually make an exception for mail carriers.

The problems that mail carriers encounter due to wasps were recently brought to light in a Reddit post. Because they often construct their nests inside mailboxes, yellowjackets seem to be an especially troublesome pest.

According to the post in question, wasps looking to establish a new nest can find mailboxes to be an attractive building. They’re safe from prying eyes, out of the way, and able to keep warm at night—qualities that wasps value in a home.

Now, this would be great if nobody’s job involves regularly interacting with those mailboxes. According to their Reddit post, the mail carrier frequently gets stung when they insert their hand into a mailbox that is actually a wasp nest. This happens frequently when they are delivering mail.

I hear you saying it’s a risk of the job? Sure, but it’s not required to be.

The usage of an ordinary item—a scented dryer sheet—in reality constitutes a clever hack that can be used to eliminate wasp infestations.

Wasps won’t be able to claim a mailbox as their own because the dryer sheet’s aroma is a natural deterrent.

For the avoidance of doubt, then, this is what you should be doing:

1) Pick out a dryer sheet with a perfume that you like. Keep in mind that aroma is crucial, so go for one with a robust perfume.

Stage 2: Secure the sheet to the inside of your mailbox using tape.

#3: To keep the fragrance from fading past its usefulness, change the dryer sheet at regular intervals.

Image source: Shutterstock

And that is all! If you’d want to help our dedicated mail carriers out this summer, please share this article.