As temperatures drop, rodents are on the hunt for food and a snug place to nest. But for homeowners, there is a straightforward way to keep these unwelcome visitors out.
It’s much easier to prevent rats and mice from entering your home than to try to get rid of them once they’ve started nesting, as their rapid reproduction can lead to an infestation quickly.
RSVPLive reports that Mel Lockcuff, the household expert and the brain behind Adventures of Mel, had a significant rodent problem but stumbled upon an effective natural solution.
In a video shared online, Mel said: “There were lots of little crevices, and they could get in the tiniest of holes, it seems like so and they would get in our cabinets, they would get in and just wreak havoc.”
Fed up with the situation, Mel continued her search for remedies, leading her to the discovery of a game-changing item. She continued: “So we finally got fed up, and I started looking at remedies, and that’s when I discovered peppermint oil.”
Peppermint oil acts as an outstanding rodent deterrent because its potent minty aroma is overpowering to mice and rats’ delicate noses. Mel explained: “Peppermint oil is a great deterrent, and I have read that what it does is it actually masks their pheromone trails so that other mice aren’t attracted to that area,” as reported by the Express.
“And then I’ve also read that it irritates their nasal passages. They don’t like it. And it actually worked. It worked for us in a couple of different old, really old houses that we lived in.”
Peppermint oil is an excellent natural remedy to deter rodents, as it obscures the scents of food in your home, making it more challenging for them to locate their next meal and discourages them from nesting.
So, how do you use peppermint oil to fend off rats and mice?
The cotton ball technique is a breeze – you just need some cotton balls and a bottle of pure peppermint oil, which you can find at your local pharmacy or health store.
Mel suggested: “You can put probably at least five to six drops on a cotton ball, and then put those cotton balls in different areas where you think the mice might be coming in, or where you’re finding evidence of mice.”
She continued: “So around your cabinets, around baseboards, maybe even around, like outside entrances, like your garage door, things like places like that.”
It’s also smart to position these peppermint-infused cotton balls under sinks, as rodents often infiltrate homes through openings around plumbing pipes. Make sure they are placed near windows, doors, or any potential rodent entry points.
Another clever idea is to concoct a homemade spray by blending peppermint oil with water and spritzing it throughout your house. Mel offered her ultimate advice for keeping unwanted furry guests out, saying: “I took it one step further, and I used a spray bottle, and I mixed up water with lots of peppermint oil, you want to make sure that it’s potent enough so that it will smell, so it’ll smell strong enough to deter them.
“A lot of people recommend a one-to-one mixture.”
“I didn’t go that strong. That was way too strong because it will fill your house with minty fresh smell. You could use, like 25 drops for eight ounces, or you could use two teaspoons of peppermint oil for eight ounces for maybe a cup of water.
“Just make sure that when you spray it, you can smell it really well. It’s really strong, and you’ll have to keep replenishing your cotton balls and your spray every couple of weeks. Just to keep it strong.”
Mel recommends using this homemade peppermint solution inside homes as well as in outdoor spaces like gardens and sheds, and suggests reapplying after rain or at least once a week.