Mice and rats are pests that we see in our homes, especially when there is a conducive environment for them. Mice are usually attracted to and around our homes by food and shelter.
If you consume your meal and don’t clean up properly, these rodents are likely to be seen around you. More so, they need shelter, especially during the cold season to help shield them and maintain temperature.
To keep mice out of your house, you should first maintain proper hygiene by covering your food properly. You can also implement the habit of planting some mice-deterring plants in and around your environment as their strong smell will help to keep mice away.
Mice do not only infest dirty environments, so do not feel that because your house is clean, they will not be around. All necessary precautions to ward off mice should be implemented.
What smells will keep mice away?
Rodents have a very sensitive sense of smell, meaning that by just smelling, they know what they need and also what they do not need. With this strong sense of smell, they are able to perceive food smells and make themselves right in our homes.
The most essential precautions so as to keep mice away from our home are to maintain proper hygiene, proper storage and disposal of waste food, and seal rodent holes. Professionals also implement the use of foul smells to keep these tiny rodents off.
The aroma of cinnamon is very potent and spicy and is probably detested by rodents. Also, mixing vinegar with water and spraying at the entry point will likely do the job. Also, soaking cotton balls in clove oil and placing them in areas where these problems are helps to repel mice.
Other smells that are also effective to keep mice away include ammonia, cedarwood oil, eucalyptus, tea bags, peppermint, chili powder, cayenne, etc.
What do mice hate the most?
Due to the fact that they hunt food at night, mice are described as nocturnal and are most active at that time. Although they sometimes leave their dwellings during the day.
Leaving their dwelling during the night fulfills their purpose because they are safe from predators. In the same vein, they are also protected from human confrontation since they are easily scared of humans.
Mice depend on their sense of smell due to their poor vision. One repellent smell for mice is cheese, contrary to what we have been made to believe by popular culture. Cheese is in no way appealing to rodents, so they also like the smell of other mice.
Light inside your house is not very effective in keeping away mice because they can easily look for dark areas, though it helps. But lighting around the perimeter of your home is very effective in deterring mice. If your home is infested with mice and it’s beyond your control, you should call pest control.
Will vinegar repel mice?
No matter how clean your home and its environment are, you still stand the chance of a mouse invasion. When you ever observe chewed substances in your home and food droppings, you need to be on the alert because it is a potential mice problem.
Mice have very strong perception and will always notice, no matter the quantity of repellant available. The smell of white vinegar is a natural repellent for mice, and this will ward them off.
It is very necessary to bear in mind that not all mice will respond favorably to the smell of white vinegar. So you may need to test out other approaches to scare them off before you know the one that works best for you. But vinegar is a wonderful start.
Apart from mice, white vinegar also works for other rodents like rats, cockroaches, spiders, e.t.c.
Does bleach keep mice away?
Bleach’s smell is pungent and is hated by mice. As you know, mice and other rodents are not compatible with overpowering smells.
Hence, the overpowering offensive smell may help keep mice away from our home. To an extent, they can also be killed by a massive dose of bleach.
Using bleach to ward off or kill mice is unsustainable as you may need to use it in enormous quantities. Applying bleach around your home may be dangerous to your fabrics and other properties. They break down the finish of furniture or even wood floors; distort wall paint; and stain fabric.
What plant keeps mice away?
Apart from maintaining proper hygiene and the use of chemicals, natural plants also help to ward off mice from a house and immediate environment.
Use of plants like sweet peas, amaryllis, lavender, daffodils, squill or wood hyacinth, euphorbia, camphor plants, elderberry, oakwood, and any type of mint plant to repel mice can be implemented as they are somewhat effective.
Plants that repel mice include
- Flowers: Very strong scented flowers have proven really unpleasant for mice. They include daffodils, lavender, and marigolds. The odor of all three flowers is appreciated by humans, with their beautiful forms that give our garden an addition.
- Catnip: Cats are attracted to catnip, but it has a completely different effect on mice and other pests. It is a member of the mint family, and its powerful odor is highly detested by mice, beetles, and spiders. The only issue is its attractiveness to cats.
- Herbs: The effect of mint on rodents is very good when it comes to keeping them away. Growing this plant close to those that mice eat frequently, like tomatoes and cabbage, will help protect this plant. Both oregano and the fragrant herb sage help to ward off mice. Since this help can also be used in the preparation of our meals, they are a pleasant addition to our garden.
- Garlic: Garlic also emits a very strong smell that is effective in deterring mice. When chopped cloves of garlic are boiled, they can be used as a pesticide to deter rodents and other pests.
What kills mice instantly with home remedies?
During cold seasons, mice tend to look for favorable shelter. Of course, there is no place more comfortable than our homes. The problem is that when they find such spots, they want to continue to stay there even as the weather gets warmer, leaving you to face problems of mice infestation.
The task of finding out how to get rid of these mice is up to you. Whether you want them dead or just want to chase them away is up to you. Traps and poison can be very effective in killing these mice, but they are very dangerous if you have kids around. Some homemade remedies to kill mice include
- Soda: When mice ingest soda, the carbonation kills them shortly after they’ve taken it. You can pour them in bowls and place them at strategic points in your home.
- Dry cement: This is a powder used to make cement that is a very effective way to eliminate mice without using harmful poison. When this dry cement is mixed with flour, it becomes really irresistible for them to consume, thus making them very thirsty. After taking water, it dries up inside them and kills them instantly.
- Using mashed potatoes: Mashed potatoes work in the same way that dry cement does. After consuming the mashed potatoes, they become very thirsty, and after drinking a lot of water, it expands in their bellies and kills them.
Is there a spray that repels mice?
Although you are a wonderful host, mice are a group you would rather not share your home with. Mice carry diseases and can put your health at risk, with the addition of the damage they cause in our homes.
Apart from the regular safety measures we implement to keep these rodents away, there are also other things we can use if they have already visited. Certain sprays, like a mixture of apple cider and water, put in a spray bottle and dispersed around the perimeter of your house and entry points, can help keep these creatures off.
When using sprays, they should be applied continually to make them effective.
Will the smell of peppermint keep mice away?
You may be wondering, does the smell of peppermint really repel mice or even kill them? You are about to get your million dollar question’s answer.
The smell of peppermint, despite being enjoyed by people, is actually detested by mice. Mice tend to find it repulsive. It is to the extent that even sprinkling a little amount on cotton balls and placing them around your home will deter these mice.
In addition, you can also grow mint in your yard to prevent mice from coming close to your property. Spider mites and other unwanted insects are also killed by mint.
Does Irish Spring keep mice away?
This is an experiment I have actually conducted. From observation, while some eat this soap, others are deterred by the aroma.
In essence, the smell of this soap actually wards off mice. It also tells chipmunks, rats, and other creatures to keep off. Irish Spring comes in several aromas, but as long as it is Irish Spring, it will work just fine.
What is the best and fastest way to get rid of mice?
We all know the various reasons why mice may be around in our homes. Some come for shelter, some come for food; they may even come to make babies.
Here are a few very effective steps to get rid of mice in your home:
- Removing all sources of food. Get rid of anything that they consume. Store pet food, grains, and other dry meals in containers with lids. It may be tedious and might not be one hundred percent, but it works.
- Using natural mouse repellent to help get rid of them due to their keen sense of smell is another option. Some natural repellents include hot pepper solutions, fabric sheets, apple cider, and water. Regular applications will make this method much more effective.
- Get rid of fabric, rugs, and heavy blankets by keeping them in heavy-duty plastic storage bins. Also pay heed to your external environment; remove tree branches within about three to four feet of your home’s foundation.
Other methods to get rid of mice include sealing entry points and the use of natural mouse predators like cats.