If youd like more info on just using black pepper, take a peak at our guide on using black pepper to repel mice! In particular, garlic has a number of sulphur compounds. Get rid of mice and rats with the help of these common plants. For what its worth, this could be a much more difficult-to-solve situation, but we hope that you can make use of these 9 scents to quickly get back on track! Peppermint tea is the most highly recommended option. So when purchasing pet safe rodenticides, always check the active ingredients to determine the risk of poisoning and the type of treatment needed. Now, well get to our top ways to scare mice and use the scents they hate. There was always enough mice to feed the cat and when she had kittens, she taught them how to catch mice. It isnt really an ideal scent to have all over your house for a prolonged period, nor is the dispersal of vinegar in every nook and cranny going to be a fun process. Nollet, L. M., & Rathore, H. S. (2017). A second, more obvious sign, is looking where you had any insulation. A little goes a long way! Refresh about once a week. Uh-oh. This will repel mice and will also give a nice aroma to your home without needing to buy lots of expensive candles and wall plug-ins. Garlic. They can also be moved quite easily. Mix some water and vinegar in a spray bottle to mist any areas where you have seen mice as well as locations you expect them to go. Bum bum bum the moment you have been waiting for is here. A surgical mask isnt a bad idea either, as it can cause some respiratory irritation in some individuals. To discourage mice and rats from invading your home, ensure all possible entry points are completely sealed. The reason is because mice can smell it. Another household item, tea bags can be used in the same way as oils, cinnamon sticks, and dryer sheets. Needless to say, a mouse will enjoy milk chocolate the most and white chocolate the second most. Or you can opt for spraying lavender essential oils around the home. To kill mice, Mix in two packets of artificial sweetener into two teaspoons of creamy peanut butter. Luckily for me, Vito isnt the biggest pest in my life. Youll notice seeds, droppings, and youll probably have a certain strong smell if the mice have been nesting there long enough. Of course you cant cover your whole house, but if youre finding them on the countertops, for example, cover those with the foil. 1.Garlic and onions (Image: Shutterstock) We all have garlic and onions in our homes, and such smells are repulsive to mice and rats. Firstly, mice are sometimes quite vulnerable to the toxins that some types of cookies have in them. But lo and behold, the next morning, not a thing had been touched. they only want to work in the dark???? That means that the more honey you feed them, the more you're risking them to start choking. Remember to change the onion for another one as they decompose. Heres an example of rat droppings (these were on my apartment bed a while ago, yippie!). You Caught 3 Mice, How Many More Are There? Being outside though, its probably a bit less of an issue in your case but if theyre routinely near your car, theyre definitely nesting somewhere nearby. Flea or tick products. Interestingly enough, mice also have exceptionally strong livers, but their small size and enormous appetites for delicious chocolate puts them at high risk for theobromine poisoning if they consume too much of it. Coffee. So, if youre looking for alternative, natural repellents, try one of these 9 plants that will keep rats and mice from invading your home. Homemade Remedies to Kill Mice If you are dealing with a mice infestation, there are better alternatives for getting rid of the mice and rats than poisoning them with harsh chemicals or trapping them. A win-win! HELP!!! Required fields are marked *. Whats more, these natural repellents are non-toxic, inexpensive and safe to use (unlike some traps), which is ideal for using around children or pets. I put a bag in my trunk. Peppermint Essential Oil Mice, while nowhere near as impressive as say, dogs, still have a fairly acute sense of smell that beats our own. The amount you use, where it is located, how often you reapply the scent, how strong the oil, powder, or other material is, to begin with, all greatly impact the effectiveness of these approaches. NY 10036. I wouldnt dream of killing them outdoors but I absolutely have to when they come in so go to great lengths to keep them out, I have sealed velcro nets at the windows I open and seal every hole and gap I find but still have to deal with them. I refuse to park under that tree anymore. Step 1. It makes sense that they wouldnt like going into plain sight. -2 tablespoons hot pepper flakes Rats in particular hate the smells of both the green and white sage varieties. It takes some more work, dedication, and thought than other methods, but you can manage without using toxic chemicals, which makes it far superior in my opinion. Similarly, rodents hate the fresh scents of the mint variety. The mice spent the most time near the white chocolate, but actually ate milk chocolate the most, indicating that while white chocolate may be the most appealing to mice, they prefer to eat milk chocolate instead. Mop the floors in affected areas, too. This could result in diarrhea, vomiting and salvation for small animals. If you know where the mice are breaking in, wad up some foil and firmly jam it in the hole. High quality steel wool is a popular item used to block entrances that mice use to get in and out of your house, and it can work quite well. When I first noticed that I had rats in my garage, I freaked out so I looked online and I found mix sweet cornmeal and baking soda one to one mixture, I use the paper plate and just put it under my car. It warns them that a preditor is present. Viewers assume all risk and liability associated with the use of the content on our site, and must agree to our terms and conditions. A mouses ability to chew through all of these different materials makes them very apt to cause significant damage to your home, outdoor space, and anywhere they end up staking a claim. According to Victor Pest, peppermint contains very potent menthol compounds that irritate their nasal cavities. Why Do You Need to Repel Mice? Chocolate is actually so poisonous that it can cause foaming in the mouth if fed in big amounts. Well discuss a few ways to deter mice and repel them a bit later on. 1. In a large pot, bring water to a boil. This method will help prevent them from coming back since they will think of your space as somewhere that hosts predators and is no longer a safe place to return to. You might have once heard or read that cheese is the most effective type of bait for mice, but chocolate is actually much more effective, for mice cannot resist the high sugar content. These foods are considered poisonous and toxic to mice: Again, chocolate is only poisonous to mice in large enough amounts, so it is possible for you to still occasionally feed your mouse a small amount. ), 8 Bugs And Insects That Eat Apple Trees (How To Repel Them). Rodenticides can be toxic for your cat, either by coming into contact with the poison directly or by eating a mouse that has been poisoned. However, it is entirely possible that this was because there was both milk chocolate and white chocolate in the same room of the test, and so they choose to exclusively eat the more sugary chocolates. Wild mice eat a wide variety of seeds, grains and other plant material, as well as invertebrates, small vertebrates and carrion. In addition, if you mix lemongrass extract oil with other essential oils, this will be even more potent for rodents. I have a real phobia but dont like spraying chemicals indoors everywhere. Many foods that are safe for people can be deadly to pets. This is great news because this is another product you might already have laying around. You can re-use it, but I recommend against it, on the off-hand chance that a mouse did track its little mitts all over it! So do these best mouse repellents, by the way. The scents, the smells, the solutions. I am trying to grow a few veggies and flowers on my deck. Many essential oils can be toxic to them. . In the fall and spring those pesky little mice seem to think that because we are not using the RV they can move in and squat. 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If you prefer a different scent, combine clove oil with lavender, pepper, or peppermint for a similarly effective mixture with a bit of a twist. Is Cheese Bad or Toxic to Pet Mice? Furthermore, you may want to avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar, such as candies, ice cream, and fast food, as they are not great for their health, and mice like to eat them a lot. I'm Zack DeAngelis, the creator of Pest Pointers. As we all are aware, it is nearly impossible to cover your area fully with this mixture. Shes only 5 miles away so I think a couple of rats came home in my engine and started chewing on some rubber cowl gaskets on my firewall, thankfully, no wires or nothing else. One of the most common scents that we use in daily household items is also the one that mice truly cannot stand. -A large pot. Although, just be mindful or using baits. You can do this by hand, but I find it less irritating to the eyes to use the food processor. It is provided with the understanding that the expert is not engaged in rendering any medical or professional services in the information provided below. -16 cups (1 gallon) of fresh water After inhaling, the poison will slowly begin to work and spread throughout the body of the mice. Be sure you dont have any pets wandering around that would gulp it down. I had a small interior bathroom I found droppings in I put a nite-lite in there & kept it on 24/7 No more droppings I guess mice do NOT like lit-up places (??) Amanita. It seems slightly counterintuitive that a smell that reminds us of holiday baking would be so unappealing to a mouse, but the strong essential oil in cloves encourages is irritating to them. Which makes sense as to why mice typically go for a large chunk of stinky cheese, right? This can be done indoors and out, wherever your problem is occurring. -Cheesecloth Go to your local animal shelter and get a furry friend. Plus, here's 7 ways to get rid of earwigs and keep them away. IPM involves pest proofing your home by sealing up any potential entrances, keeping food well sealed and securely locked away, knowing your pests habits, likes/dislikes, and eliminating any water sources. 3. From essential oils to common household items, many odors will send mice and rats running in the other direction. This will instantly repel mice due to the strong scent of the tea. I had a small hole on my back porch, so I wadded up some foil and poked it in the hole and no more mice on my back porch. So while we find the smell of peppermint refreshing, tangy, and pleasant, mice find it overwhelming and offensive. I hope this piece helps you in keeping these little critters away from your space so that you can enjoy your home without any trouble. The test used milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and very dark chocolate: The results are quite interesting. Another great way to get rid of mice, or at least halt their progress. Source. With all that being said, you may be wondering if it is still safe for your mice or mouse to eat chocolate. Best of luck! You will need Rodenticide, or rat poison, is highly toxic to cats. Instead, you can try mixing 10-15 drops of the oil with water to create a spray. American yew. It's salt! Over time the mouse population dwindles to nothing. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Mice have a very keen sense of smell that is much stronger than what humans experience You can use this trait to naturally repel mice and use specific scents mice hate like: Before we continue our discussion of what exactly mice hate and how to use them in the correct way to repel these little nuisances, lets dive into why you need to keep mice away from your property to begin with. You will need Spray the droppings with a bleach solution or disinfectant until the droppings . Our first recommendation of smells mice hate is a scent with a strong, spicy aroma and strong smell that mice hate and you probably already have in your pantry. Put 20-30 drops onto a cotton ball and place strategically around the house. Required fields are marked *. Homemade Lavender Lemonade with Fresh Squeezed Lemons & Raw Honey, 6 Home Remedies to Reduce Scars and Nourish Your Skin, All Natural Scar Butter with Shea and Avocado Oil, 18 Helpful Remedies to Relieve Headache Pain & Tension, 22 Home Remedies for Acne & Pesky Pimples, 14 Soothing Remedies for Nausea & Morning Sickness, 22 Natural Sore Throat Remedies to Help Soothe the Pain, 12 Ways to Help You Snooze Without Snoring, 6 Ways to Naturally Prevent and Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs. While we might like a little heat to our food, think about when you get hit with something too spicy. These little guys simply can't resist the buttery sweetness of this substance. -peppermint essential oil. Why mice and rats shouldn't be the default lab animal : . 1. Here are some practical ways you can use to keep mice from getting into your space in the first place. Consider growing these aromatic herbs in your backyard, or placing them in pots to deter mice and rats. So after all that had my HOA bring a rat bait to my bushes. 7 things that attract rats and mice to your home. Many scientists will use chocolate as a treat or bait during research. Now, I say dont use apple cider vinegar simply because the scent can actually be sweet and attract mice. Always test a small area first to make sure it doesnt affect the color. I could use more hints and will try them all. Apply in the same way as the peppermint oil. This spray uses habanero peppers, which have a scoville rating of 100,000-350,000 units, and cayenne peppers, which rate at 30,000-50,000 units. Basically, stick a dryer sheet under furniture, in closets or cupboards, and anywhere you suspect that your furry frenemies may try to show up. Similarly, it is not going to be an easy feat to keep your area smelling like white vinegar. Aside from the above, mice are also quite pesky little critters. Everyday Roots will not be held liable or responsible in any way for any harm, injury, illness, or death that may result from the use of its content or anything related to it. They eat the soap and get an upset stomach and supposedly leave to go on to a bigger and better place. With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior design blog for style inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). Those powerful scents that work against mice are highly recommended as effective solutions. You put said cage far away, and when the mouse chews through the cracker, the door opens. It deters mice completely. Mice and rat poison. As the Homes Content Editor, Cynthia Lawrence covers all things homes, interior decorating, and garden-related. MouseTrapGuide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon(.com, .co.uk, .ca etc) and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. To us, dryer sheets give off a pretty mild smell but to mice, it is pungent and unavoidable. It was very much alive afterwards. And if ingested, this can cause instant anaemic symptoms in rats, depriving their cells of oxygen. Copper wool, or copper wire mesh, on the other hand, wont rust or degrade, and is woven finely to make it that much harder to chew through or pull out. The baking soda is what is poisonous to the mice and the sugar is the bait. -Clove essential oil OR whole cloves But its not, Read More 9 Scents That Prairie Dogs Hate (And How To Use Them)Continue, Typically with warmer weather were likely to see an increase in all sorts of bug activity from busy bees pollinating, annoying mosquitoes biting, and so, Read More 6 Plants That Mealybugs Love (Plant These Instead)Continue, Eggplants, aubergines, or brinjals depending on where you are from are all names for the delicious purple fruit that is a popular ingredient in many, Read More 7 Bugs and Insects That Love Eating Eggplants (And How To Repel Them! Directions So, when this method is successful and you no longer need a mouse repellent, you can continue to make use of your clove essential oil (or crush whole cloves yourself!). Then, one day, you go to plug in your decorative outdoor string lights to enjoy a nice evening get-together with friends. I know it did me. Visit our corporate site. For more information on this one, take a look at our in-depth guide on using mint toothpaste to repel mice! Its not pretty) or rodenticides that pose serious risk to children, pets, other wildlife, and the environment. Its harmless ti, I mean nothing will get sick or die from it. This site is owned and operated by Pest Pointers LLC | pestpointers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The last thing you want is for a rat or mouse to take bait and then crawl into an inaccessible area where the bait then takes effect. By Timothy Dale | Updated Apr 12, 2023 1:13 PM We may earn revenue from the products. Thats okay, there are many other methods you can use that mice dislike. #2. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. In small amounts, caffeine is not harmful to mice. Feel free to experiment with other essential oils/oil blends in addition to peppermint. You can then collect the now empty cage. I like to apply around the outside perimeter of my house, but if you want to apply it indoors, after a day or two wipe the old spray up with some water and reapply. We all have garlic and onions in our homes, and such smells are repulsive to mice and rats. As a bonus, you can harvest this peppermint from time to time to season your favorite dishes! We are in process of buying a home that I know has been taken over with mice and other desert creatures. Your email address will not be published. Directions -Cotton balls. If you have a mouse infestation, or perhaps just a pet mouse or two, you may be wondering if its safe or dangerous for them to eat chocolate. This website primarily references personal learning experiences. Keep the following toxic foods away from your beloved companion: Chocolate Xylitol (often found in sugar-free gum) Macadamia nuts Grapes and raisins Onions Garlic Alcohol Caffeinated drinks Raw yeast dough Raw or undercooked meat Rat droppings are about double the size of mouse droppings, and are rounded on both ends. Simply boil water and make the tea, let it sit, and place the teabag in different corners of your home. A test conducted by the admin at Rentokil, a pest control blog, discovered that mice are more attracted to and prefer to eat chocolates with a high sugar content. Thanks for the great tips :-). Dont use this on carpets as it may discolor the surface. You can use this smell to keep them out of your house or get rid of them if they have already moved in. Again, it is surprising (and frustrating) that there isnt more specific information on this matter. Find out what are the 7 things that attract rats and mice to your home. Obviously the kitties have lost their desire to hunt as this is the first year Ive had this problem. After numerous reviews and trials, customers regularly come back to certain brands of mouse poison time and time again. Ideally, grow or place lemongrass plants outdoors to ward off any pests. Yes, thats right, peppermint. A repellent to reduce mouse damage to longleaf pine seed. If you just cant resist treating your mouse to more chocolate more frequently, a safer alternative is feeding him white chocolate, which has a much lower theobromine concentration and is less likely to cause poisoning. I will be trying anything I can to discourage them from being neighbors. In fact, lemongrass and citronella are the most effective forms of repellents, also known for getting rid of mosquitos, and other common pests. A few mornings later, after wed gone blueberry picking, I woke up early to make my blueberry muffins that (not to toot my horn or anything) everyone had been looking forward to. Super glad that solution worked for you the cat liter works similar to other predator urines (like if you had fox issues and used coyote urine around your property to repel them.) Chocolate, in small quantities, is ok for mice to eat. Be generous with disinfectant. You will need Simply take four or five cloves to make a puree, and add that to a pint of water in a spray bottle. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. MIX EQUAL AMOUNT OF BORAX WITH SYRUP. Antifreeze can cause kidney failure and death if swallowed. I dont know why the cats are letting the mice share their space, food and water, but they are.