Are There Any Natural Mouse Repellents that Actually Work?

When mice or rodents get into your home, you want to act quickly. For many, the first option may be to reach for poison to get rid of the problem. However, others may want to use a more natural solution. Perhaps you have pets or small children, and you don’t want harmful chemicals within their reach. No matter how carefully you use poison there is still risk involved. But do natural mouse repellents really work? 

In this article we will discuss some reasons why you might prefer going down the natural repellent route, what the options are and the pros and cons of each of them. We hope that after reading this you will have all that you need to make an informed decision regarding your pest control methods. 

Why might you want to choose natural repellents over poison? 

It may seem obvious, but chemical repellents contain harmful toxins, which are needed to kill the pests, but are dangerous to humans. On the other hand, natural repellents come from essential oils or plant extracts which are safe for pets, the environment and humans.

Cost is another factor; you may already have most natural repellents at home or they can be purchased reasonably cheaply. On the other hand, employing a pest exterminator can result in a large bill.

For some, the idea of killing mice with poison does not sit right, using natural repellents means that you can keep the rodents out of buildings, such as horse stables, barns and garages, without needing to kill them. 

What are some natural repellents you can use? 

So, after some consideration, you have decided to go down the natural repellent route, but what are your choices? How effective are they? Let’s look at the pros and cons of each. 

Peppermint oil, used for decades as a natural repellent but how does it work? Mice use scent for communication, to navigate their environment and for social interactions. The strong smell of peppermint can confuse them, deterring them from entering your home. Additionally, peppermint oil contains menthol, this irritates the mouse’s nose which can also result in driving them away. 

Pros

• Non-toxic - safe to use in the home with pets or children

• Easy to use - a few drops can easily be spread about, or a used in a diffuser 

• A pleasant smell - unlike poisons or chemical repellents, peppermint has a natural and fresh smell 

Cons

• Although causing confusion and irritation, not all mice are equally repelled  

•  For just a few mice peppermint oil may work, but for a larger infestation more extreme measures may be needed 

• Mouse removal is not guaranteed. Mice are resilient, and it is possible that they could adapt to the smell that at first repels them 

Citronella is already a well-known natural repellent for mosquitoes, but did you know that it can also work for mice and rats? Like peppermint oil, the strong scent can disrupt the pest’s ability to communicate and travel. Citronella comes in a variety of forms, oil or candles can be easily purchased. Alternatively, soak cotton balls in the oil and apply it to areas where mice have been seen. You could also fill a spray bottle and spray your rooms. Citronella oil can also suppress a rat’s appetite. The pros and cons of citronella are very similar to peppermint and other essential oils. They are non-toxic but their effectiveness on larger infestations is questionable. 

Distilled White Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar, with its acidic smell, is another natural way to repel rats and mice. Vinegar is also a good product to use when cleaning up after rodents as it is strong enough to remove the rat’s scent, which can deter them from returning. The biggest issue with using vinegar over oils is that the smell can also be too pungent for the humans living in the same space. 

In conclusion, do natural repellents really work? Yes they can work, but the real question is, how big is your pest problem? Mice breed quickly so if natural repellents aren’t working and the mice keep multiplying, you may end up with a much bigger problem. If you have a small number of pests, it could be worth trying the natural way first. If the problem persists or gets worse, you know it’s time for professional products, such as bait boxes and traps.

Sources: https://www.jcehrlich.com/pest-insights/mice/myth-busting-natural-mice-repellents

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