17 Smells That Make Rats Say ‘Nope!’
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The CDC estimates that rodents transmit more than 35 diseases worldwide, most of which can be transmitted directly to humans by contact or contamination. The estimated cost of rodent damage in the United States is $19 billion, affecting homes, businesses, and agricultural industries.
“Rats are opportunistic, and once they figure out they’ve got access to warmth, food, or nesting materials, they’re tough to get rid of without intervention,” says Nick Pulsonetti, Director of Business and Pest Expert at Excel Pest Services.
Rats possess an acute sense of smell, which can be leveraged to deter them. Certain scents are particularly offensive to these rodents, prompting them to avoid areas with such odors. Here are 17 smells that repel rats.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil gives out an intense menthol-like scent that rats detest. The National Institutes of Health has proven that its strong smell can interfere with a rat’s sensory ability to detect an area, thus making areas of treatment less appealing.
Eucalyptus is used as a repellent by soaking cotton balls in oil and placing them in areas where rat activity occurs. This should be reapplied often because the scent will fade away quickly. Planting eucalyptus trees around your yard could also act as a barrier to these pests.
Mothballs
Mothballs contain naphthalene, a chemical with a strong odor that is repulsive to rats. These are effective in enclosed places, where the smell of the chemical can prevent infestation or entrance by the rats.
However, most mothballs contain naphthalene at a concentration too low to effectively repel rats. If inhaled for extended periods, mothballs are hazardous to humans and pets.
Pine-Sol
Pine-Sol is a cleaning agent with a strong pine scent detestable to rats. Its strong smell can mask food odors that attract rats, reducing the likelihood of an infestation.
To use Pine-Sol as a deterrent, clean surfaces and floors with a solution diluted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Be certain to ventilate well areas cleaned with Pine-Sol as the aroma may be too strong and pungent for people and animals alike.
Clover
Rats are averse to clover; therefore, if you have clover plants in your garden, consider harvesting some of the flowers and distributing them throughout your home, particularly in areas where you have observed rodent activity.
Research published in the EKB Journal Management System showed that fermented clover juice was more repellent than fresh juice for rats. After 4 days of treatment, it attained 92.6% repellency compared with 38.7% for fresh juice.
Capsaicin
The chemical that gives chili peppers their heat, capsaicin, is distasteful to rats. Sprinkle cayenne pepper into rat-prone areas, or apply a commercial capsaicin-based spray in the same places. As rats are about keeping themselves clean, they should end up ingesting it, which will cause pain and make them avoid those places.
However, capsaicin may be applied to the area with caution, as it also affects humans and pets. It requires wearing gloves during application; the substance mustn’t touch one’s eyes or skin.
Onions
Onions release a strong smell that can be very unfavorable to rats. If some sliced onions are kept in such places, rats’ entry will be avoided. Since onions rot quickly, their exchange has to be done at short intervals.
Moreover, onions are toxic to pets upon consumption and should be used cautiously in homes where animals are kept. With all these limitations, onions might not be practical or reliable in providing long-term rat control.
Garlic
Garlic possesses a strong, pungent smell that rats are known to detest. Fabulous Associate Editor Rebecca Miller advises placing it around decks, garden structures, and around the perimeter of your garden where rats might be attracted.
Mixing garlic with water to create a spray can be applied to surfaces to deter rats. While garlic can serve as a natural repellent, its scent may also be noticeable to humans and may not be suitable for indoor use.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a strong, spicy aroma that rats find unpleasant. Sprinkling ground cinnamon or placing cinnamon sticks in areas of rat activity can act as a deterrent. Using cinnamon oil on cotton balls and placing them strategically can enhance the repellent effect.
However, like other scent-based repellents, cinnamon’s effectiveness may diminish, requiring regular reapplication. It is also good to remember that while cinnamon is generally safe, it can be irritating, especially to humans and pets in extreme uses.
Predator Scents
Rats fear predators instinctively, and the smell of predator urine will send them running. Predator urine, including the commercial variety from cats or raccoons, can create a perimeter barrier around your home that rats will seldom cross.
This fragrance may not last after rainfall or could wear off with time and need reapplication. Again, predator scents may not be appropriate in all places, especially urban areas, where such odors might be considered repulsive to other people.
Wintergreen
Wintergreen oil is a potent fragrance with a strong minty smell that could help keep rats away. Rats find the scent overpowering and are likely to avoid areas treated with it. To use it effectively, apply a few drops to cotton balls and place them near entry points or rat-prone zones.
Regular replacement of the cotton balls ensures the scent remains potent and effective. Like other essential oils, wintergreen oil should be part of an overall approach to pest management for any long-term real effectiveness.
Peppermint Oil
“Using peppermint oil is one of the more novel ways you can keep rats at bay this summer,” says Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner of Adams Selfstore. Its strong scent overwhelms rats’ sensitive olfactory systems, making treated areas less inviting.
To use peppermint oil effectively, apply a few drops to cotton balls and place them near entry points or where rat activity is suspected. Regular reapplication is necessary, as the scent dissipates over time.
Bleach
Bleach has a strong, pungent smell that rats detest. The scent interferes with their ability to sniff food and makes the surrounding area caustic. Cleaning areas prone to rats using a bleach solution can also help repel these pests, as it sanitizes spaces.
However, bleach should be used cautiously because it can be hazardous to one’s health if inhaled in large quantities or combined with other cleaning agents, such as ammonia. Keep the area well-ventilated and avoid overuse.
Cloves
Cloves are yet another natural remedy for repelling rats. Their strong, spicy aroma makes them ideal for this purpose. To use them more effectively, place whole cloves in rat-prone areas or apply clove oil.
Combining the clove oil with other essential oils like eucalyptus amplifies its repellent effect. Cloves are non-toxic in most environments but may not remain potent for a very long period and thus require periodic refreshment.
Coffee Grounds
“Rats, unlike us, aren’t fans of the strong smell of coffee. It’s not their cup of tea – or, should I say, coffee. So, if you’ve been pondering whether to use coffee grounds in your compost bin or scatter them around your yard, go ahead,” Kelsey Todd explains.
The bitter and strong smell of used coffee grounds will make rats think twice about their habitat choice. Sprinkle some coffee grounds around areas where they enter or are problematic. If sprinkled outdoors, the added benefit is that they will biodegrade and further enrich the soil.
Oranges
Rats detest the acidic smell; hence, orange peels are a non-toxic and easy-to-use repellent. The Enviro Safe Pest Control Melbourne notes that placing peels or spritzing citrus-scented oils around rat entry points can deter them from entering, which ultimately helps in effective rat removal.
Another alternative is to use orange oil in targeted applications, but it should be diluted, as an undiluted solution may damage the surface. While effective, orange-based methods are best employed alongside other repellents.
Vinegar
The pungent smell of vinegar can overpower rats’ sensitive noses and keep them away. White vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be applied by wiping surfaces or spraying in problem areas.
The smell can interfere with the rats’ scent trails and make them not want to return. The odor can also be unpleasant for humans, so vinegar is best used in well-ventilated areas.
Household Ammonia
Ammonia has a similar smell to predator urine, which rats find very frightening. As an effective repellent, ammonia can be mixed with water in solution form and sprayed around the perimeter or at the points of entry.
Its strong and potentially hazardous fumes should be used cautiously to avoid overexposure, and it should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. Ammonia must not be used in confined areas and should never be mixed with other chemicals, such as bleach.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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