Many people assume rats and mice are only a problem in winter, but summer is their peak breeding time, and they can often creep into homes to search for food. While using traps or poison might seem like an obvious solution, they can pose serious risks, especially in homes with pets or children.
Instead, Robyn Dockendorf, an expert from Pest Pointers, has shared it is best to deter rodents and make your home unappealing to them by using cayenne pepper. Robyn said: “Mice have a keen sense of smell that they use to find food, establish social hierarchies, and find mates. You can use this to your advantage by using the irritating scent of cayenne peppers to repel mice.”
Both rats and mice have highly sensitive noses and are often attracted to homes by the smell of uncovered food in rubbish bins or cupboards.
Cayenne pepper has a strong scent that can mask the odours rodents are drawn to, making it harder for them to find food.
Since cayenne pepper is very spicy, it also causes a burning sensation in their noses and mouths once they smell it, which will make them uncomfortable.
This irritation overwhelms their senses and disrupts their ability to navigate, causing them to avoid areas treated with cayenne pepper.
However, it should be noted that cayenne pepper is a natural repellent that will discourage mice and rats coming into a home. While it cannot kill rodents or resolve a full infestation, cayenne pepper will not help keep curious rats and mice away when they are more likely seeking food during the summer.
How to use cayenne pepper to keep mice and rats away
All you need to do is mix two tablespoons of cayenne pepper with a gallon of water and a few drops of washing up liquid. Washing up liquid is needed to make the spicy solution stick to surfaces so the scent will last much longer.
Place the cayenne pepper mixture into a empty spray bottle, then spray it around any place rodents could enter you home. Spray it on window stills, near doorways and on any cracks.
You can also use this mixture in your garden and it is recommended to use it if you have had any food in outside such as after a barbecue or picnic.
This hot pepper repellent is a simple yet effective way to keep rodents out of your home this summer. However, if you wish to keep mice and rats away for even longer, then make sure to combine cayenne pepper with peppermint oil or even rosemary to make a even stronger deterrent.