Natural Remedies for Mice

To keep mice away, which are present in the homes of 1 in 4 Italians, with natural remedies, it is useful to combine odors unpleasant to rodents, thorough cleaning and especially closure of accessesAmong the smells most unpleasant to mice are those of peppermint, white vinegar, bay leaves, cloves, and cinnamon. It's also essential to eliminate anything that might attract them: flour, pasta, cereals, and animal feed should be kept in closed containers; don't leave crumbs or pet food out overnight. It's also important to empty the garbage regularly and keep the areas under furniture and appliances clean.

Index of topics

Clean house

First, you need to keep your home clean , as mice prefer dirty and messy environments. Then, try to seal any cracks they might enter through, such as pipes, ventilation ducts, and small holes in walls, using fiberglass, available at the hardware store, or abrasive sponges that mice can't corrode. Remember to close the garbage can tightly and place any food scraps in designated containers.

Peppermint

Using peppermint oil is one of the most effective natural methods for repelling mice, as they can't stand the scent. Place a cotton ball soaked in peppermint oil where you think mice are hiding , and they'll immediately run away; or rub peppermint toothpaste on the hole you think the rodents entered, and they'll run in the opposite direction. Eucalyptus oil and camphor will achieve the same effect.

Chili pepper, vinegar and black pepper

Chili pepper, black pepper, and vinegar contain substances that greatly annoy mice's sense of smell, driving them far away from places where they might cause problems.

Prepare a spray solution with water and chili pepper or with vinegar and black pepper.
Spray in corners, behind furniture and near potential entry points for mice (doors, windows, cracks in walls).

White vinegar

The pungent, strong smell of white vinegar keeps mice at a safe distance. Simply spray it along baseboards and in areas where mice might pass. Avoid overdoing it, and use the correct amount and frequency based on the type of home and the risk of rodents.

Garlic and onion

Mice hate the pungent smell of these foods.

You can place garlic cloves or onion slices near the entry points.
Be careful though replace them often: they rot easily.

Baking soda

Baking soda is an excellent mouse deterrent; simply sprinkle a little around the house and let it do its job, without posing any danger to people or pets.

Bay leaves

Bay leaves crumbled or placed in cupboards, furniture and windowsills help keep mice away.

Rue plant

Grow rue in your garden , with its characteristic yellow flowers. Its strong scent will keep mice away. You can also place its sprigs around your home, in infested areas.

Ammonia

Take some bowls and fill them with one part water and two parts ammonia. Place them near the infested areas and outside your home, obviously in high places where children and pets can't reach them, and never near vents, to avoid making the air unbreathable. The smell of ammonia will keep rats away, as it reminds them of the smell of some of their natural predators, scaring them away and forcing them to flee.

The cat

If you have a cat , it is not necessary for it to hunt mice but it is sufficient to place its litter box in front of the rodents' entry points to dissuade their arrival: the rodents will immediately understand that there is a feline in the house and will be induced to run away.

Ultrasound

You can also find ultrasonic emitters on the market that are annoying to mice, capable of disorienting them without causing them any harm.

Chocolate trap

You can make a trap yourself that won't kill the mouse. Take a glass bowl and a coin. Turn the bowl upside down and place a piece of chocolate underneath. Balance one edge of the bowl on the coin, so that the mouse, attracted by the chocolate , will crawl underneath and, dropping the coin, will be trapped inside this glass bell-shaped container.

When do the mice come out?

To best organize your defenses against mice, you also need to know their movement schedule. The mobility of mice It's low during the day, when there's plenty of light. They prefer to stay in their burrows until dusk, when they emerge and can enter our home. The peak periods for mice's movements are from 6 PM to 18 PM and between 4 AM and 22 AM. These rhythms are very habitual, so we can plan accordingly.

How long do mice live?

Mice don't live long. Their lifespan is very short, even compared to that of other rodents. The average lifespan of mice is from 1 to 3 years, but the problem is that males and females can mate after just 5 weeks of life.

How to keep mice away with only natural remedies