A rodent or mice infestation can be an annoying problem. This common pest simply wreaks havoc in your home and destroys everything including your furniture, pantry items—or heaven forbid, your clothes or books!

These pests can multiply quickly if you don’t act fast. A pair of mice can easily produce 20 or many more offsprings in a short span of time. Once those pups grow older and start breeding, it’s easy for things to get out of hand.

RELATED: How to get rid of rats in your home?

Rats have a powerful sense of smell. Just as some scents attract rats, there are also scents that rats dislike. One of the most common ways to prevent rats from infesting your home is by taking advantage of natural scents that any mouse won’t be able to stand.

1. Garlic

Garlic is a common ingredient in every kitchen and has long been used as a flavour booster for any dish. Garlic not only makes our meals more delicious, it can also serve as a pest deterrent. Rodents and mice can’t stand the strong smell of garlic. 

How do you use garlic to prevent a mice infestation?

You can sprinkle a dash of garlic powder around your house to prevent mice infestations. Sprinkle garlic powder in wall cracks, holes, and other hard-to-reach areas.

2. Peppermint

Peppermint is widely used for its flavour and fragrance. It’s used in common products such as toothpaste and candies. Another important use of peppermint that not everyone may know is that it can be used as a pest deterrent. The smell of peppermint is known to scare away mice. 

How do you use peppermint to prevent mice?

Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil. Place the cotton balls in dark, hidden areas that are susceptible to mice infestations. You may also spray a peppermint solution around your house which can deter rodents from entering or infesting your house.

3. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is often used in creams and ointments aimed at relieving muscle and joint pain. It is also used to reduce symptoms of coughs, colds, and congestion. When it comes to pest control, the minty, pine scent of eucalyptus can be used to scare away mice.

How do you use eucalyptus for DIY mice control?

Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil in a cotton ball and place it inside the pantry, your wardrobe or even under the bed.

4. Citronella

Citronella is known as a natural insect repellent, but its benefits extend beyond that. The smell of citronella is known to be off-putting to rodents. 

How do you use citronella to prevent a rodent infestation?

Citronella can act as a natural rodent deterrent. Plant citronella in your garden and use the leaves as natural pest control. Crush the leaves and leave it around your home. Alternatively, you can also spray a citronella solution around your house to scare away pests.

5. Ammonia 

The smell of urine repels rats. Ammonia often gets rid of rats because it mimics the smell of urine. When rats smell this, they think a fox or a cat may be nearby.

How do you safely use ammonia to scare mice away?

Fill bottle caps with ammonia, and place them in strategic positions away from children and pets. Place ammonia in places that mice may appear, such as the basement and up in the attic.

6. Peppers

Do you know that you can use peppers to deter mice? This spice scares rats away as it could injure their lungs. 

How do you use peppers to prevent a rat infestation?

Sprinkle peppers near any holes or cracks in walls and around the foundation of your house.

7. Vinegar

We already know that rats hate strong scents, but the one they absolutely hate may be the smell of white vinegar. 

How do you use vinegar to stop mice?

Use a vinegar solution to clean the area where mice often go. To make things even unbearable for these pests, leave vinegar-soaked cotton balls inside cupboards, under the sink, inside cabinets, and other infested areas.

8. The scent of household pets

Animals are divided into prey and predators. It’s only natural for mice to be scared of cats and any would-be prey. Mice have a remarkable sense of smell and can use it to detect predators. Keeping a cat or a dog as a house pet may prevent mice from multiplying in your house. 

Note from pest control professionals:

These home remedies, although popular, may not fully stop a pest infestation. Rodents are stubborn pests and may find a way to continue infesting your house. The best solution to any problem will always be prevention and mice control done by professionals. 

Are you someone who scratches your head over ways to get rid of rats and mice? If the answer is yes, chances are you might have heard about rodent baiting. 

Bad weather such as heavy rains and hailstorms create ideal conditions for harmful rodents to thrive and affect human life. Besides spreading diseases, rats and mice also trigger asthma and other severe health issues. Rats and mice are a big health concern. As a result, there is an urgent need for rat and mouse control measures.

Rodent baiting, favored by both rat control specialists and homeowners, is one of the most advanced control methods for rats and mice. So what is rodent baiting and how to use it?

How does it work?

Most domestic rat and mouse rodenticides prevent blood clots. They affect the ability of blood to clot so that exposed rodents die from internal bleeding. A rat or mouse that has absorbed a lethal dose of single feed rodent bait will die in 4-6 days. 

There is also another kind of bait which varies in the ways it kills rats and mice. A bait causes death by disrupting energy cells within the body. Another bait mobilises calcium, leading to rodents’ death. Meanwhile, some types of bait enter the circulatory system as a gas, causing heart failure and liver damage. Some kill with a single dose, while others must be absorbed over 2-4 days.

Related: How to get rid of rats or mice? DIY Guide

What are the most significant advantages of rodent baiting?

Compared to other methods of rodent control, rodent baiting confers plentiful noticeable benefits. Some advantages include:

• Rodents won’t feel immediate pain and would not link their condition with the bait. This means rodents will come back to feed on the poison.
• Anticoagulants are considered to pose little to no hazard to humans and pets. This means it is fairly safe for households with children, old people, pregnant women or people who have health issues.
• There is no immediate severe effects in case of poisoning. This gives enough time to deal with unexpected poisoning in people or pets. Should the poison be accidentally ingested, vitamin K1 can be used as an antidote.

How many forms of rodent baits are there?

Rodent baits are made of a special rodenticide that attracts the common mouse. It is mixed with an active rat poison and comes in different forms:

1. Pellet form baits
2. Place packs (or baits wrapped in paper or placed inside plastic bags)
3. Block baits
4. Liquid Bait

What are the common bait stations that can be installed?

Rat or rodent baits are systems that can be installed in key areas with the help of pest exterminators. There are two kinds of bait stations, namely:

1. Tamper-Resistant (TR) bait stations reduce contact of harmful chemicals to humans and pets. TR stations can be used even when there are children in the household. A TR station is typically secured to the floor, or walls, with the rat bait fixed inside the box. 
2. Non-Tamper-Resistant (NTR) bait stations are usually made of plastic and built to withstand debris, dirt or dust. NTR stations are not suitable for outdoor areas close to children.

Warning: Rodenticides are pesticides for rat and mouse control. Some rodenticides, if not used in the right way, can be toxic to humans, pets, and livestock. Therefore, it is always essential to read and adhere to safety precautions and instructions on product labels.

To find out what’s the right rat control strategy for the type of rat infestation in your home or property, please call our team on (02) 8007 4666. We offer FREE CONSULTATIONS over the phone.

Are you having trouble with rodents, but you do not know how to control them? Here are some simple ways to help fight a mouse infestation in your home.

1.

Use aromatic essential oils.

There are different ways of controlling rats inside the home. Recently, people have found scents that detract rats from entering the room. The reason why rat poisons are problematic is that when the rat consumes the chemicals, they usually die hiding in hard-to-reach areas like the ceiling or a small crack in the wall.

Scientific research proves that mice hate the smell of essential oils. Chasing away rats with natural oils can be effective. At the same time, it’s not a bad idea to make your house smell nice.

You only need to take a few drops of favourite essential oil smells (mint, lavender, chamomile) onto small pieces of cotton. Then put the cotton ball in the corners, trash cans or other the kitchen. Change the cotton pads soaked in essential oils after 5-7 days.

2.

Use cinnamon, garlic or paprika.

To save costs, you can use garlic, cinnamon or paprika to repel mice.

Sprinkle garlic powder or chilli powder (or chopped chilli pieces) in mouse holes and tunnels. The pungent smell of garlic and chilli will cause discomfort and keep rats away.

To avoid rats destroying your garden, water your plants with a mixture of paprika, dishwashing liquid diluted with water. This solution not only detracts mice but also prevents pests from destroying plants and vegetables.

3.

Block pathways and entry points.

You can use a steel wool sponge to block mouse entry points. Make to secure the steel wool to completely block rodents from re-entering. After a few days, if you still see mice, look for other holes you may have missed.

4.

Adopt a pet cat.

Although this is not a surefire way to prevent a mice infestation, it can help prevent mice from infesting your home. It is common knowledge that cats and mice are mortal enemies. A mice infestation is less likely to get worse if you have a cat.

Besides chasing rats from the house, the cat is a lovely pet. Having them in the home can help you relieve stress after a long day of work.

5.

Keep your house clean to prevent mice infestations.

Keep your house clean. Organise your pantry and seal food containers.

If there is nothing to eat, a mouse will not live in your home. You should store all food in closed containers properly and put it in safe places to avoid the attack of the mouse. Put your kitchen rubbish as far as possible because the stench will attract rats.

6.

Use a mouse trap.

A mistake that many families often make is killing the mouse using poison. This often results to a home owner wondering where a foul smell is coming from. Not to mention, after rodents die, it will be infested with parasite that could bite people and lead to diseases.

It’s better to use trap a mouse. Throw a rat at least 2 kms away from your home to prevent it from going back to your house.

7.

Scare mice with mazut oil.

You can quickly get some of this oil at motorbike repair shops or similar places. This oil has an unpleasant smell that scares away mice.

Pouring mazut oil around their nesting areas will cause them to flee. Additionally, mazut oil is poisonous and will cause mice to die.

8.

Use cotton and vinegar to prevent mice.

Rats hate vinegar. Place a cotton ball soaked in vinegar in places where you see mice. Make sure to replace the cotton balls when the cotton balls become dry and no longer smell of vinegar.

9.

Install a screen door to keep rats out.

It’s best to install a screen door to make sure that rodents can’t enter your house. Mice are most active at night, so you shouldn’t leave the door open at night.

10.

Prevent branches from reaching your roof.

Check all the trees surrounding your house. Cut branches to prevent rodents from using them as a way to reach your home.