Use these tips from rodent experts to rid your home of rats without introducing toxic chemicals.
As much as we hate to think about it, rodents are incredibly common.
We spoke with experts about natural rat repellents to find out which ones are worth trying.
Credit:Adam Albright
Consider putting the following measures in place to prevent unwanted guests from entering your home.
This is why, especially if you have furry family members, rat bait is risky.
The purpose of natural rat repellents is to discourage them from returning, rather than trapping or killing them.
Repellents, on the other hand, keep them away.
These are the top natural rat repellants.
Essential Oils
Some of the best oils to repel rats include peppermint, eucalyptus,citronella, and lavender.
The smell will fade after awhile, so repeat the process or resoak the cotton balls occasionally.
Garlic and Onion
Unlike most humans, rats detest the smell of onions and garlic.
Placing a few slices of fresh onion or crushed garlic in corners where rats could enter will deter them.
Vinegar and Ammonia
Most humans would agree that vinegar and ammonia have a harsh, unpleasant scent.
Be careful using the ammonia method if you have pets.
If you have a garden, plant the sources of the scents mentioned earlier, like mint or onions.
But again, note that many, such aslavender, can be toxic to dogs and cats.
Rats consider cats to be their predators and are highly sensitive to their pheromones.
So, having one as a pet doubles as a companion and natural rat repeller.
It contains odors that trick rats into thinking a predator is nearby and, therefore, will stay away.
Predator urine comes in pellet or liquid form and can be placed at entry points or in the garden.
Ultrasonic Devices
Generally silent to human ears,ultrasonic devicesemit a high-frequency sound that rats cant stand.
They can be plugged into outlets near possible access points to repel rats from entering in the first place.
Regularly moving devices around or using them in conjunction with other methods can help.
If your home is pet-free, most of the above methods are perfectly safe.
Additionally, the time commitment to several methods is often too much for busy households.
While this might seem easy, they require constant reapplication due to the oils quickly dissipating scent.
