Nothing is more worrying than spotting a rodent darting around your house or garden, and it’s crucial to take action as swiftly as possible to eliminate them before an infestation takes hold. Mice and rats are more inclined to invade your property once the chilly weather arrives as they’ll be searching for somewhere cosy with abundant food to settle in before winter.
Nevertheless, rather than relying on chemical pellets or harsh traps there is a remarkably straightforward method to deter these pests using only natural products that possess a powerful fragrant aroma. An expert from Earth Kind said: “Mice dislike strong, fresh odours. They tend to overwhelm rodents and their sense of smell, which scares them off. They avoid danger by relying on their keen sense of smell, which makes up for their weak eyesight. They rely on this sense to find food, detect danger, and follow scent trails as a way of navigation.”
Lavender
Lavender stands as one of the finest natural deterrents for warding off both mice and rats as it contains essential oils that create a particularly potent scent that smells delightful to humans but irritating to rodents.
The expert said: “Mice can find the strong floral scent of lavender overwhelming and unpleasant.”
You can purchase a lavender houseplant to position in your kitchen or cultivate these gorgeous flowers in your garden, or you can acquire dried lavender sachets to distribute around your home. It is advisable to position your lavender close to any food sources within your home as it can disguise the aroma of food so rodents are less inclined to remain in the vicinity to forage.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil can prove remarkably successful at deterring rodents as they equally despise the fragrance. The expert said: “The potent aroma of peppermint oil and similar essential oils can irritate a rodent’s sensitive nose.”
Simply soak cotton wool balls or tissues in peppermint oil and distribute the saturated items near access points in your property such as windows or doors.
Vinegar
Vinegar proves consistently handy to store in your kitchen as it serves as a natural cleaning agent that can eliminate marks but it also excels at repelling rodents too. The expert said: “The sharp, acrid smell of vinegar solutions can cause pests to avoid areas where it is used.”
You can create a DIY mixture by combining vinegar and water in an empty spray container and applying it in locations where you believe rodents may be hiding.
Cinnamon
As autumn approaches, most candles available in shops will probably feature cinnamon fragrances, and this warming aroma is also potent enough to prevent rats entering your property or garden.
The expert said: “The strong, spicy scent of cinnamon can overwhelm a rodent’s strong sense of smell.”
Place cinnamon candles or sticks around your property or soak cotton balls with cinnamon oil to help keep rodents at bay and also make your home smell incredible.
A previous version of this article mistakenly attributed quotes recommending the use of natural scents as pest control methods to expert Dr Janet Kintz-Early. We are pleased to clarify that the quotes are, in fact, attributable to EarthKind, not Dr Kintz-Early, and we apologise for any confusion caused.