But what exactly do mice and rats hate to smell? Mice can be kept away by using the smells of peppermint oil, cinnamon, vinegar, citronella, ammonia, bleach, and mothballs.
The article by Apartment Guide (2020) also tells how rats hate the sound of aluminum foil and hence making balls of aluminum foil and spreading it out throughout the house keeps them away. Another simple technique to get rid of rats is to use repellents which are not poisonous.
Steel wool - Mice are known to be able to chew through almost anything, especially if they think food is on the other side. However, one thing they can't chew through is steel wool. Fill any holes in your home with this material - air vents, kitchen cupboards, etc.
Peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, pepper and cloves.
Mice are said to hate the smell of these. Lightly soak some cotton balls in oils from one or more of these foods and leave the cotton balls in places where you've had problems with mice.
Sprinkle scents they don't like
Mice don't like the smell of garlic, onions, cayenne pepper, cloves, ammonia and alcohol. If you don't want to be driven out your home by unpleasant smells either, peppermint is another scent that repels mice.
Baking soda is one of the most effective ways to kill mice and rats. It works by producing gas in their bellies. They cannot pass through burping or farting. It finishes off these pests painfully!
Mothballs - Contain naphthalene and may deter mice when used in strong enough doses. Ammonia - Mimics the odor of predators' urine and can act as a repellent. Peppermint Oil, Cayenne Pepper, or Cloves - Have strong scents that may repel mice.
Strong and durable, mice teeth cause a great deal of damage in homes. A mouse can chew through wood, plastic, soft vinyl, rubber and even low gauge aluminum or fiberglass-based screening.
They can even get through softer metals like aluminum sheeting, lead, copper, iron, and gold. That means you shouldn't try to keep rats out of your home with gold! Since they can chew through softer metals, they can definitely chew through even the hardest of woods.
They are scared of bright lights and noises too. Mice have poor eyesight and thus rely on their sense of smell. They are repelled by the scent of cheese, for one.
Unfortunately, the light inside your house is not a very effective deterrent to mice. Once inside a house or a building, they can easily look for dark areas to hide until such time as all lights are turned off. Places they can hide include inside the walls, crawl spaces, attics, and ceilings.
Repel rodents and insects
Rats, mice and other insect don't like the smell of peppermint, lemon, and cinnamon. Make tea with these rodent irritants and place the used teabags in places like the back of your pantry, under the kitchen sink or behind the refrigerator to repel these unwanted pests.
It is proven that the eucalyptus scent is a strong mice repellent. You can easily mix up a DIY eucalyptus oil spray using two teaspoons of eucalyptus oil, one cup of water and a couple of drops of liquid detergent.
Peppermint Oil
On a cotton ball use no more than 5 drops of 100% peppermint essential oil. Spread the oil on areas that you want rats to avoid, in your case, around the garden.
Grapes/raisins, chocolate, avocado, garlic, onion, rhubarb, coffee, tea, alcohol, and walnuts must not be fed as they are toxic to mice. Lettuce should be avoided as it can cause diarrhoea in mice [4].
Rat and Mice Poison - One part flour or sugar & one part baking soda (do not have to use both sugar and flour, just one or the other mixed with baking soda). Mix together and put out for rodents. Safe if the kids or pets get into it but makes rodents insides bubble up & explode.
The theory is that the mice will inadvertently eat the snack thinking that it is a treat. Once they consume enough toothpaste with fluorine and ethylene glycol, they will eventually die.
Mice are nocturnal creatures, so they are most active between dusk and dawn. They don't usually like bright lights, but a mouse may sometimes be seen during the day, especially if its nest has been disturbed or it is seeking food.
Mice are small, agile creatures that are skilled at scurrying and climbing. However, they are not typically interested in crawling on people while they are sleeping. In fact, mice are generally afraid of humans and will do their best to avoid contact with us.