It turns out there is a "cheap and easy" way to stop rats and mice from becoming an infestation, and all you need is a handful of natural items you likely already have at home.
Rats and mice tend to burrow inside homes during the winter to survive the cold, and it can be alarming to see these pesky rodents scurrying around in search of food.
Many people can decide to lay down traps or poison to try get rid of rodents but this can be extremely risky if there will be any pets or children coming into your home during the holiday season.
David, a pest controlexpert from Eliminate Solutions, has shared that instead one of the most effective ways to drive rats or mice away is to overwhelm their sense of smell.
He explained: "Mice are very sensitive to smell. The reason for this is that they have a poor sense of vision so their other senses must be heightened in order for them to survive.
"If you want to repel mice from an area, you will need to use strong scents that will overpower their sense of s UK mell."
Having powerful smells in an area can confuse rodents and make it much more difficult for them to find food so they are less likely to stay on your property.
Not only will strong scents overwhelm and disorientate them but can also affect their ability to smell out predators so they both rats and mice will weary of staying in the same place too long.
What smells do rats and mice hate?
Pineapple juice
This may seem unusual but pineapple juice not only has a strong smell but is acidic and contains compounds that rodents will find extremely irritating if placed near their nest.
All you need to do is soak some cotton balls in pineapple juice and put them in areas where rodents have been spotted around your home.
David said: "You can also put a couple of tablespoons in a spray bottle full of water and spray down areas where they've been seen before using other methods. This is not only very effective but it's also cheap and easy."
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is one of the most popular natural solutions to get rid of rodents as it contains menthol, which gives it a powerful scent that can make both rats and mice uncomfortable.
David said: "Peppermint oil is effective at keeping mice away because they dislike the smell of menthol.
"When mice come across the scent of this essential oil, they associate it with danger and fear. As a result, they'll avoid areas where it's present or try to stay away from it as much as possible."
Like with pineapple juice, simply coat peppermint oil in cotton balls or pour it into an empty spray bottle, then use it around your home if you suspect rodents are nesting.
However, it should be noted that peppermint oil, like most essential oils, is harmful to pets if they come into contact with it so you should avoid this solution if you own cats or dogs.
Lavender
If you want a solution that not only works but makes your home look beautiful then consider buying a lavender plant as its highly fragrant scent will also overwhelm rodents.
David said: "If you want to keep mice away, then one of the best things you can do is plant lavender plants in your garden or have some in your house.
"Mice hate the smell of lavender and will avoid it at all costs! If there's a lot of lavender around your home, then you're less likely to have problems with mice coming inside."
Many strong-smelling herbs such as eucalyptus, rosemary and thyme also work as a natural deterrent to keep rodents away if you want to have a beautiful but practical houseplant display in your home.
Cayenne pepper or chilli powder
You should consider having a lot at your spice rack as both cayenne pepper and chilli powder can be used due to their strong spicy scent.
David said: "This is an effective home remedy for getting rid of mice because it smells terrible to them and they won't stay around long enough for their sense of smell to become accustomed to it.
"Simply sprinkle some chilli powder in areas where you suspect there may be mice, such as behind cupboards or under furniture."
It is better to mix the solution with water in a spray bottle instead of scattering the spices around your home as it can risk the powder going into the rodents' eyes which can be considered cruel due to how much it will distress them.
Both cayenne pepper and chilli powder contain capsaicin, a compound which will greatly irritate mice or rats if they smell it so it will drive them away without causing the animals harm.
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