MIRROR
A pest control expert has shared four simple methods to stop rodents entering your home – and the items you need are probably already in your cupboards.
David, from Eliminate Solutions, has revealed there are really effective ways to get rid of mice and rats that are easier than using traps or poison. He explained the pests can only handle certain smells, and find other scents too overwhelming. According to the expert, smells that we tend to love have the opposite effect on rodents.
David shared that some spicy seasonings in your kitchen are enough to drive away rats. Another tip was to try using juice or essential oils. Speaking about why certain smells deter rats more than others, David said: “Mice are very sensitive to smell. The reason for this is that they have a poor sense of vision so their other senses must be heightened in order for them to survive.
“If you want to repel mice from an area, you will need to use strong scents that will overpower their sense of smell. Having powerful smells in an area can confuse rodents and make it much more difficult for them to find food so they are less likely to stay on your property. Not only will strong scents overwhelm and disorientate them but can also affect their ability to smell out predators so they both rats and mice will weary of staying in the same place too long.”
The best smells to deter rats and mice:
Pineapple juice
Pineapple juice not only has a strong smell, but is also acidic and contains compounds that rodents will find extremely irritating if placed near their nest. All you need to do is soak some cotton balls in pineapple juice and put them in areas where rodents have been spotted around your home. David said: “You can also put a couple of tablespoons in a spray bottle full of water and spray down areas where they’ve been seen before using other methods. This is not only very effective but it’s also cheap and easy.”
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is one of the most popular natural solutions to get rid of rodents as it contains menthol, which gives it a powerful scent that makes both rats and mice uncomfortable. David said: “Peppermint oil is effective at keeping mice away because they dislike the smell of menthol. When mice come across the scent of this essential oil, they associate it with danger and fear. As a result, they’ll avoid areas where it’s present or try to stay away from it as much as possible.”
Like with pineapple juice, simply coat peppermint oil in cotton balls or pour it into an empty spray bottle, then use it around your home if you suspect rodents are nesting. However, it should be noted that peppermint oil, like most essential oils, is harmful to pets.
Lavender
If you want a solution that not only works but makes your home look beautiful, then consider buying a lavender plant as its highly fragrant scent will also overwhelm rodents. David said: “If you want to keep mice away, then one of the best things you can do is plant lavender plants in your garden or have some in your house.
“Mice hate the smell of lavender and will avoid it at all costs! If there’s a lot of lavender around your home, then you’re less likely to have problems with mice coming inside.” Many strong-smelling herbs such as eucalyptus, rosemary and thyme also work as a natural deterrent to keep rodents away if you want to have a beautiful but practical houseplant display in your home.
Cayenne pepper or chilli powder
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