Rats are a pest to any home, but they can be especially dangerous when they get into your food. Rats love to chew through plastic bags and containers, which can lead to contamination of your food.
In this article, we’ll discuss how you can keep rats out of your house without relying on toxic chemicals or messy traps that involve bait or poison.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Rat infestations can be prevented with simple tips and knowledge. |
| Using natural solutions such as peppermint oil and boric acid can be effective for pest control. |
| Cleaning and tidying your home can help prevent pests from invading your living space. |
| Professional pest control companies can provide effective and long-lasting solutions for pest problems. |
| Regular inspections and maintenance can help identify and prevent pest infestations before they become a major problem. |
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a natural repellent for rats. It can be used in many commercial products designed to repel rats, mice and cockroaches.
If you do not want to use peppermint oil in your home, there are other options that work just as well:
Place mint leaves around your home (and keep them fresh by replacing them every few days). Mint leaves have the same effect as peppermint oil on rodents.
Add some lemon peel or orange peel (or both) to your food waste bin so that it smells nice when it’s full of trash and doesn’t attract any pests!
Rats can be a nuisance to deal with, but with the right tips and knowledge, you can keep them away from your property. Check out our guide on How To Keep Rats Away: Pro Tips to learn some effective ways to keep rats out of your space.
Ultrasonic Sound Machines
Ultrasonic sound machines are very effective in scaring away rodents. These devices use a high-frequency sound that is inaudible to humans but can be heard by rats and other pests, causing them to flee the area.
Rat repellent systems must be strategically placed at entrances where rats enter your home or garden, such as under doors or around windowsills.
This will help prevent infestation of your property by rodents or other unwanted pests such as ants, cockroaches and even mosquitoes!
Moth Balls
Moth balls are toxic to humans, pets and the environment. They may smell bad to rats, but they won’t kill them like you’d hope.
Moth balls are ineffective because rats do not react negatively to the smell of mothballs. Moth balls also cause other problems:
- They can be harmful to the environment
- They release fumes that are dangerous for children and pets if they get into your home
Fire ants can be harmful to your health and property, but using boric acid as a natural solution can help you get rid of them. Check out our guide on Boric Acid: The Natural Solution to Your Fire Ant Woes to learn how to use boric acid to eliminate fire ants.
Spices
Spices are a great way to repel rats. You can use spices on the surface of your home, or add them to bait traps. The strong smell of spices will make it hard for rats to come anywhere near your house!
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Sage
- Peppermint oil (if you want to go all out)
Cat Litter
As you probably know, cats are natural predators of rats. They can be trained to hunt rats and kill them, but it’s important that you get a cat that’s been specifically trained in this way. If your cat is not trained, it may hurt your pet or even yourself!
If a cat is properly trained and knows what to do when presented with a rat, it will use its claws to grab the rodent and then bite down on its neck until it dies.
Rats chewing on car wires is a common problem that can lead to electrical damage and expensive repairs. Check out our guide on How to Prevent Rats from Eating Car Wires: Explained to learn how to protect your car from rat damage.
Ammonia
Ammonia is one of the most popular natural rat repellents. It’s cheap, effective and easy to use.
It works by irritating the mucous membranes in rats’ noses, mouths and respiratory systems. This makes it uncomfortable for them to be around ammonia-soaked areas, which will eventually lead them to leave that area alone.
Ammonia fumes can also be harmful to humans if you’re exposed to large amounts over an extended period of time so it should not be used indoors unless you absolutely don’t have another option (and even then it should only be used sparingly).
Ammonia is safe for outdoor use but may stain concrete or other surfaces when applied directly on those materials.
You can buy bulk quantities of household ammonia at hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s for about $4 per gallon (much cheaper than buying individual bottles).
Cockroaches are one of the most common pests that invade homes, but with some simple techniques, you can keep them out. Check out our guide on How to Keep Cockroaches Out: Simple Tricks to learn how to prevent cockroaches from making your home their own.
Garlic
Garlic is a natural repellent, and you can use it to keep rats away in either powder or oil form. You can use minced garlic or garlic oil as a topical remedy, or add it to your food for extra protection.
Garlic is so effective at keeping rodents away that researchers have even used it to protect against rats on ships!
If you want to grow your own garlic plants, just be sure that they are not planted near other plants that may be damaged by the strong smell of garlic (I’m looking at you, tomato plants).
If you have an outdoor area where rats have been seen before, consider planting some garlic plants there—but be aware that if they do make contact with your lawn grasses or other delicate plants while they’re growing they will take over those areas as well!
Chicken Wire Or Mesh Barriers
If you have a large area that is prone to rat infestations, chicken wire or mesh barriers can be used to keep rats away.
These materials are easy to install and will help protect your property from these pests. Chicken wire is a thin metal mesh that is made into fences and baskets.
Chicken wire or mesh barriers are easy to install on the ground around your garden or house so that it covers an 18 inch radius all around where you want to block off any access points for rats.
This will keep them out of your house or garden as well as preventing them from getting near any food sources such as garbage cans, compost piles and even pet food bowls outside!
| Type of Barrier | Mesh Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Wire | 1″ – 2″ | Made of galvanized wire, used to enclose gardens and protect plants from pests such as rodents and birds. |
| Mesh Barriers | Various | Made of metal or plastic, used in construction or landscaping to help control erosion and prevent the passage of small animals. |
Electronic Rat Repeller
If you’re looking to get rid of rats from your home, there are a few options available. But if you want to repel rats and make sure they haven’t been able to make their way inside your walls or attic space, an electronic rat repeller might be the best choice.
In fact, there are many different types of electronic rat repellers on the market today that emit different sounds that will scare away rats.
Some make noises like those associated with cats or dogs while others emit ultrasonic frequencies inaudible to humans but irritating enough at a high enough decibel level (over 100db) that rats won’t want anything to do with them.
These devices create waves within the range of these animals’ hearing (around 16 kHz).
One thing all electronic rat repellers have in common is how they work: They detect rodents by their movements through infrared sensors; then once detected they produce loud sounds or ultrasonic waves intended specifically for rodents’ hearing ranges thus scaring them off before they’ve had time even get close enough for possible tracking down by their sense of smell (which can occur up to several hundred meters away).
Ants can swarm your home and cause damage to property, but there are several strategies you can use to get rid of them. Check out our guide on How to Get Rid of Ants in the House Quickly to learn some effective and fast methods to eliminate ants from your living space.
Vinegar, Bleach, And Other Household Cleaners
You can also try vinegar, bleach, and other household cleaners if you have them handy. Vinegar will kill the rats’ taste buds so it won’t be as appetizing to them.
Bleach doesn’t smell very good, but it is strong enough to get rid of the fleas on your pet. If you combine these two liquids together with ammonia, this creates a potent smell that should be enough to keep rodents away from your home..
If you don’t have any vinegar or bleach on hand but still want to try using some kind of cleaner as an alternative home remedy for rats: mix equal parts water, ammonia and cat urine in a spray bottle and spritz around where their nests are located (in walls or under porches).
Fox Urine Or Coyote Urine
If you’re looking for a more natural way to scare rats away, fox urine or coyote urine can help.
Fox urine is a natural deterrent that will keep rodents at bay. It’s effective because it smells like another predator one that’s bigger and scarier than they are and it’s also been proven to be an effective repellent against other pests such as rabbits, raccoons or skunks.
There are some things you should know about using this method:
Fox urine is most often sold in the form of pellets; these pellets are soaked in the liquid and then dried out so they last longer than fresh droppings would on their own.
They’re easy enough to find online, but if your local pet store doesn’t carry them ask them if they can order some for you (many stores will do this).
Be sure not to use any fox urine that contains chemicals such as ammonia; these products may not work as well as clean ones do because they have been altered from their natural state through processing methods like mixing with chemicals or fermentation processes while still being alive (like when they were living off mice).
Cat Or Fox Poop
If you find cat or fox poop, put it in a jar and place it near the rat’s nest. Make sure that the poop is fresh and not rotten, because if it is rotten it could produce a smell that will attract other rodents. If you can find cat or fox pee as well, then use that instead of the actual feces to make sure they do not want to come back!
It may sound disgusting but this method has been used for many years with great success.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you some insights into how to scare rats away. Remember, you can’t just rely on one method or the other.
You have to be creative and think about what will work best for your situation. Also remember that it’s not always easy but don’t give up!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you may find helpful:
6 Ways to Scare Rats Away: This article provides six useful strategies to keep rats away from your property.
How to Get Rid of Rats In Your Home: This post details a variety of methods and tools for getting rid of rats in your home.
How to Scare Rats Away From Home: This article provides some useful tips for scaring rats away from your home and keeping them out.
FAQs
How do I prevent rats from chewing on car wires?
One way to prevent rats from chewing on car wires is to use a natural deterrent such as peppermint oil, which rats dislike.
How can I eliminate cockroaches from my home?
You can eliminate cockroaches from your home by using bait stations, sealing entry points, and keeping your living space clean and clutter-free.
What is the best way to get rid of fire ants?
The best way to get rid of fire ants is to use a natural solution such as boric acid or to hire a professional pest control company.
How can I keep rats out of my yard?
You can keep rats out of your yard by sealing entry points, eliminating sources of food and water, and trimming back any overgrown vegetation or trees that they might use to gain access.
How do I prevent ants from coming into my home?
You can prevent ants from coming into your home by keeping your living space clean and tidy, storing food in airtight containers, and sealing any cracks or gaps in your walls or floors where ants might enter.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
