Mice can pose many risks when they enter our homes, from property damage to health problems. And while conventional pest control methods can be effective, they are also expensive and potentially dangerous to humans and pets.
Fortunately, there are many natural repellents to keep mice away. We’ll explore eight expert tips for repelling mice using common, eco-friendly home remedies.
Whether you’re concerned about your family’s safety or simply looking for environmentally safe alternatives, these homemade mouse repellents can help you keep your home mouse-free without damage to the environment or your wallet.
8 home remedies to get rid of mice naturally
It is important to rely on safe, eco-friendly methods whenever possible to keep mice away from your home. Here is our selection of 8 effective solutions that do not require the use of harmful chemicals. Keep mice away in a natural and healthy way.
1. Essential oils
Although mice do not have good vision, they have an exceptional sense of smell. In fact, they can sniff out odors from miles away. This makes essential oils a good natural way to keep rodents away from your home. Plants containing these oils can also be an effective repellent.
Of course, not all essential oils or aromatic plants will keep mice away. Here are the most effective essential oils for repelling mice according to our Montreal exterminators:
- Peppermint
- Sage
- Lavandin
- Eucalyptus
- Laurel
- Clove
How to use essential oils to get rid of mice
To chase mice away with essential oil, soak a cotton ball in the oil and place it where the pest is most likely to settle or trespass: in closets and hallways, along floorboards, behind large pieces of furniture, in dark corners, or even directly in the mouse’s nest, if possible.
2. Aluminum foil
It may seem like a folk remedy, but aluminum foil is actually an effective natural mouse repellent.
Mice dislike the sound and smell of aluminum foil. And even though they are good climbers, they just can’t cling to it. To use aluminum foil to repel mice, wrap it around the objects you want to protect. You can also place balls of foil in strategic areas within your home.
3. Baking soda
Baking soda is a common household product that is poisonous to mice. Simply sprinkle the product in areas where the intruder likes to go.
You could mix the baking soda in with mouse bait: cereal, dried fruit, peanut butter, etc. However, you should avoid using this method if you have children or pets, as they may be tempted to eat the bait.
4. A cat
If we’ve learned anything from animated movies, it’s that cats and mice are sworn enemies, worse than Batman and the Joker. It’s no wonder that people often rely on felines as a natural method for getting rid of mice.
However, not all cats have an appetite for mice. In fact, most domestic cats are usually well-fed and fairly lazy. They won’t bother to hunt down a mouse for a meal.
Despite this, the mere presence of a cat will help keep mice away. Cats that have an active temperament and a bit of an attitude are best suited for the job. Of course, it is not always possible to determine the temperament of a domestic cat in advance.
5. Cat litter
Another natural way to repel mice is with contaminated cat litter. Strange, you may say, but not considering that cats and mice have been natural enemies since the world began.
Used cat litter is a natural mouse repellent. As soon as the mouse smells the litter, it will scamper off in the opposite direction and you won’t see it again – at least for now.
To chase a mouse away with cat litter, sprinkle it along the walls where the rodent usually goes. The more fragrant or scented the litter, the more effective it will be at repelling mice. Mix in a few drops of white vinegar to make the litter smell even stronger.
6. Ultrasonic device
Image: Rona.ca
There are many ultrasonic devices on the market. They are often listed among natural ways to catch a mouse, but they in fact act like a repellent.
As its name suggests, an ultrasonic device sends ultrasonic waves into the immediate environment at a frequency that the mouse finds absolutely unbearable. For optimal results, we suggest choosing a device with a sound frequency of 10,000 Hz.
7. Seal any entry points
One of the best ways to keep mice out of your home is to block all possible entry points. Mice can enter through openings only a quarter of an inch wide, so it’s important to scan every nook and cranny when looking for ways a mouse could get in.
Look for cracks, holes, vents and openings in the walls, floors and ceilings. Check areas where pipes and wires enter, as mice often sneak in through the openings around these fixtures.
8. Keep storage areas clean and organized
It’s obvious but important to remember: mice come into your home to eat and sleep. If you leave open garbage cans or food waste on your balcony, or if there is food behind your stove or open cereal boxes in your cupboards, mice will use their exceptional sense of smell to sniff out the potential feast and invade your space.
Always store garbage in tightly sealed garbage cans and keep food containers closed and inaccessible to rodents to keep mice out of your home.
Mothballs: an effective natural solution to keep mice away?
Mothballs are also known to repel mice. However, they are not very effective (though they do work for repelling moths). They also pose dangers to human health, as they contain toxic chemicals and are not really a ‘natural’ alternative.
To be an effective rodent-repellent, you would need a very high concentration of mothballs within a given space. Better to reserve your mothballs for uses other than mouse control.
Prevent rather than cure with preventive caulking
Mice are small, stealthy and agile. They are also very clever. Mice enter homes through every imaginable access: a hole in the roof, the chimney, the foundation, a half-open door, a damaged window screen, etc.
If you want to keep mice away naturally, start with prevention: keep them out of your home by installing preventive anti-rodent caulking. Caulking will seal any access points that mice might use to get into your home. Anti-rodent wire-mesh screens can also be an effective way to keep both mice and rats out of your building.
Interesting fact: caulking blocks openings without affecting the airflow of a house.
Keep mice away naturally with Elite Pest Control
If, despite your best efforts, mice continue to lurk around your home like a shiver of sharks, it may be time to call a mouse exterminator.
Whether for prevention or pest control, the cost of a mouse exterminator will depend on many factors. To learn how an exterminator can help you keep mice away naturally, contact our team of experts. A quick chat is all we need to understand the situation and let you know how we can help.
