With numerous pest control home remedies being sworn by these days, it can be hard to determine which DIY treatment will be worthwhile or not. One popular home remedy is the use of peppermint oil to repel mice. If you’re tired of seeing rodents scurry across your kitchen floor, you may want to try your hand at the natural remedy of peppermint oil. However, with all the DIY trends nowadays, you may wonder how effective peppermint oil is against mice.
In this article, we’re going to discuss if peppermint oil works to repel mice and how to use it in 3 simple steps. If you want to get rid of pesky rodents the natural way, this article is the perfect read for you!
Does Peppermint Oil Repel Mice?
The smell of peppermint oil disturbs rodents and usually keeps them off your property. Why does peppermint oil bother mice and rats? Since rodents heavily rely on their strong sense of smell over weak vision, the commanding scent of peppermint is irritating and overbearing to their nasal cavities. While it’s not guaranteed that peppermint oil will get rid of every rodent in your home for good, it can be a helpful home remedy to try before calling the professionals.
The success of peppermint oil as a DIY pest control method generally hinges on the quality of the product. For example, you can use a home-brewed recipe, but be warned that these versions of oil tend to be messy and require constant application. Store-bought brands, on the other hand, have professional standards applied to them ensuring optimal effectiveness. If you’d like to give peppermint oil a shot, here’s how to use peppermint oil as a DIY pest control method.
How to Use Peppermint Oil to Repel Mice in 3 Steps
Are you curious about using peppermint oil for mice? Here are 3 easy steps to follow if you’d like to try peppermint oil as a DIY treatment against rodents:
1. Assemble the Mice Repellent
There are two different ways we recommend using peppermint oil as a rodent repellent. First, you can use peppermint balls to fight off mice. For this method, soak cotton balls in the liquid peppermint oil and place them around the house.
Alternatively, you can use a spray or plug-in version to treat tight spaces. If you’d like to make your peppermint spray, use 1 cup of water for every 2 tablespoons of peppermint oil. To make it easier, you can also purchase a spray that uses mint as the primary ingredient. Plug-in devices are also an effective substitute that can last up to 45 days.
2. Place the Peppermint Oil in Targeted Regions
Depending on the intensity of your rodent problem, you’ll use peppermint oil in various areas around your property. If you are preventing mice with mint, use the peppermint oil in places where rodents commonly hang out. Inside kitchen cabinets, on top of counters, behind the fridge, and under the sink or furniture are a few good places to start. We also advise spraying outside to safeguard your home against rodent infestations. Use the peppermint repellent along the edge of your property, around the fence line, and within sheds or storage areas. Preventive’s team recommends using both the spray and peppermint balls for extra protection. For example, you can spray counters and outdoor spaces with mint spray and place peppermint balls underneath the sink or behind the fridge for mice prevention.
If you already have a rodent problem, use peppermint oil in the problem areas. In these cases, it’s important to use extra repellent and change out peppermint balls more often.
3. Refresh the Peppermint Balls
If you use the peppermint ball method, you’ll need to replace the cotton balls consistently and use fresh oil with each new ball. For existing mice problems, replace the peppermint balls twice a week or more. However, if you’re only preventing rodents, you may need to refresh the cotton balls every two weeks. If you keep up with replacing these peppermint balls and constantly using spray to ward off mice, you might just have success repelling other types of pests as well.
Is Peppermint Oil Effective Against Other Pests?
You may be surprised to hear that peppermint oil isn’t only effective for eliminating mice, but it can also be used to keep other pests at bay. Here are a few common pests that peppermint oil works against:
- Ticks
- Spiders
- Moths
- Roaches
- Ants
- Beetles
- Fleas
While peppermint balls, spray, and plug-ins can irritate these pests, it’s not 100% guaranteed that your property will be completely protected from costly infestations. It’s vital that you know when it’s time to hire professionals for expert pest control services.
When to Call a Professional
Even though peppermint oil partially guards against pest invasions, this strategy won’t keep your house 100% safeguarded. You’ll need to take additional measures to repel the mice and other pests to ensure that rodents stay away even when the peppermint oil’s scent begins to fade.
If you’ve found yourself with a rodent problem that can’t seem to be solved with peppermint oil alone, it’s time to call an extermination team that will clear out those nasty critters for good. That’s what Preventive Pest Control does best! For over 20 years, we’ve provided residents in Orange County and the Inland Empire with affordable pest control plans that work. With so many years of experience, we’re not scared of anything. Whether you have a full-blown mice takeover or need us to inspect your property for a potential pest threat, Preventive’s team is here to help. Contact us today to partner with SoCal’s trusted pest control technicians.
