Many homeowners prioritize keeping mice out of their homes, but traditional methods like traps and poisons can harm the environment and household pets. Luckily, there are plenty of great natural ways to repel mice that are safer, more effective, and eco-friendly. This comprehensive guide will explore 100 natural methods to keep mice at bay, ranging from aromatic herbs to household items you likely already have.
Peppermint Oil
Mice dislike the strong, aromatic scent of peppermint oil. Place cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil in the spots where mice are active. The potent aroma is a natural deterrent, discouraging mice from entering your home.
Cloves
Whole cloves or cotton balls soaked in clove oil can be strategically placed around entry points to deter mice. Cloves’ pungent smell is highly unpleasant to rodents, making them an effective natural repellent.
Bay Leaves
Scatter bay leaves around areas prone to mouse activity. The scent of bay leaves repels mice, making them less likely to venture into your home.
Ammonia
Carefully soak cotton balls in ammonia while wearing proper protection and place them in areas where mice frequent. The pungent odor of ammonia is intolerable to mice, encouraging them to stay away from treated areas.
(Be very careful handling ammonia as it can be dangerous to all living things) Excercise plenty of caution and only use this chemical sparingly in very well ventilated areas.
Chili Powder
Sprinkle chili powder in areas where mice are likely to enter or nest. The spicy aroma of chili powder is a natural deterrent for rodents.
Garlic
Crushed garlic cloves or garlic powder can also be placed where mice are present. The potent odor of garlic acts as a natural repellent, deterring mice from entering your home.
Onion
Similar to garlic, onions emit a strong odor that repels mice. Place onion slices around entry points to discourage mice from entering your home.
Cinnamon
Sprinkle cinnamon powder in cabinets, drawers, and other areas where mice are active. The strong scent of cinnamon disrupts the scent trails that mice use to navigate, making it difficult for them to find their way around.
Eucalyptus Oil
Soak cotton balls in eucalyptus oil and strategically place them around your home. The strong scent of eucalyptus is highly repellent to rodents and insects as well.
Lavender
Place small sachets filled with dried lavender around the home. You can also spread lavender oil. Lavender’s calming scent is pleasant to humans but repulsive to mice, making it an effective natural repellent.
Vinegar
Spray vinegar around entry points and areas where mice are active. The strong scent of vinegar masks the pheromone trails that mice use to communicate, making navigating your home difficult.
Lemon
Place lemon peels around the home or use lemon essential oil to deter mice. Lemon’s citrusy scent is highly unpleasant to rodents, making it an effective natural repellent.
Dryer Sheets
Place scented dryer sheets in cabinets, drawers, and other areas to repel mice. The strong scent of the dryer sheets acts as a natural deterrent, discouraging mice from entering treated areas.
Coffee Grounds
Sprinkle used coffee grounds around the perimeter of your home to keep mice away. The strong scent of coffee masks the pheromone trails that mice use to communicate, making it difficult for them to find their way into your home.
Borax
Sprinkle borax powder in areas where mice are active. When ingested, Borax is toxic to mice, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Steel Wool
Stuff steel wool into cracks and crevices where mice may enter. Mice cannot chew through steel wool, making it an effective barrier against rodents.
Aluminum Foil
Crumple aluminum foil and place it in areas where mice are present. The noise and texture of the aluminum foil deter mice from exploring treated areas.
Mothballs
Place mothballs in areas where mice are active. The strong scent of mothballs is highly unpleasant to rodents, making them an effective natural deterrent.
Catnip
Place dried catnip in sachets or sprinkle it around entry points to repel mice. While catnip is attractive to cats, it has the opposite effect on mice, making them less likely to enter treated areas.
Rosemary
Place sprigs of fresh rosemary or cotton balls soaked in rosemary oil around the home. The strong scent of rosemary is highly repellent mice. They will avoid it thus staying further away from your home!
Baking Soda
Sprinkle baking soda in areas where mice frequent. Baking soda disrupts the pH balance of the environment, making it inhospitable to rodents.
Baby Powder
Sprinkle baby powder in cabinets, drawers, and other areas to create a barrier that mice dislike. The texture and scent of baby powder deter mice from entering treated areas.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Combine apple cider vinegar with a little water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. The strong scent masks the pheromone trails that mice use to communicate, making it difficult for them to navigate your home.
Petroleum Jelly
Apply petroleum jelly to surfaces where mice may enter. The sticky texture deters mice from crawling into treated areas.
Essential Oil Blends
To repel mice, create a blend of essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus. The combined scents of the essential oils create a potent natural deterrent against rodents.
Dried Herbs
Place sachets filled with dried herbs like thyme, sage, and oregano in areas where mice are present. The aromatic scents of the dried herbs repel mice, making them less likely to enter treated areas.
Cedar Chips
Scatter cedar chips in closets, cabinets, and other areas to repel mice with their strong scent. Cedar wood contains natural oils that are highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Pine-Sol
Mix Pinesol with water and spray it around entry points to deter mice. The strong scent of Pinesol is highly unpleasant to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Tabasco Sauce
Mix Tabasco sauce with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. The spicy scent of Tabasco sauce is highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Fabric Softener Sheets
Place scented fabric softener sheets in areas where mice are active. The strong scent deters mice from entering the treated areas.
Mint Plants
Plant mint around the exterior of your home to repel mice with its strong scent. Mint contains natural oils that are highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Sage Smudging
Burn sage bundles and waft the smoke around your home to repel mice. Sage smoke’s strong scent is highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Dried Chili Peppers
Place dried chili peppers in areas where mice are present. The spicy scent repels mice, making them less likely to enter the treated areas.
Vicks VapoRub
Apply Vicks VapoRub to surfaces where mice may enter. Its strong menthol scent is highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Citrus Peel Spray
Boil citrus peels in water, strain the liquid, and spray it around entry points to repel mice. The strong citrus scent repels mice, making them less likely to enter treated areas.
Bay Leaf Garland
To repel mice, create a garland of dried bay leaves and hang it near entry points. The strong scent of bay leaves is highly repellent to rodents, making them less likely to enter treated areas.
Orange Oil
Mix orange essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. The strong scent of orange oil is highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Ultrasonic Repellers
Use ultrasonic devices that emit high-frequency sound waves to repel mice. Ultrasonic repellers create an inhospitable environment for rodents, making them less likely to enter treated areas.
Irish Spring Soap
Place bars of Irish Spring soap in areas where mice are active. The strong scent of Irish Spring soap is highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Chrysanthemums
Plant chrysanthemums around the exterior of your home to repel mice with their natural insect-repelling properties. Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrin, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Lemon Balm
Plant lemon balm around the exterior of your home to repel mice with its strong scent. Lemon balm contains natural oils that are highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Thyme Plants
Plant thyme around the exterior of your home to repel mice with its strong scent. Thyme contains natural oils that are highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Wormwood
Place dried wormwood in sachets and hang them near entry points to repel mice. Wormwood contains a compound called absinthin, which is toxic to rodents.
Black Pepper
Sprinkle black pepper in areas where mice seem to be active. The strong scent of black pepper repels mice, making them less likely to enter treated areas.
Castor Oil
Mix castor oil with a little water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Castor oil contains ricin, a compound toxic to rodents.
Eucalyptus Plants
Plant eucalyptus around the exterior of your home to repel mice with its strong scent. Eucalyptus contains natural oils that are highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Marigolds
Plant marigolds around the exterior of your home to repel mice with their natural insect-repelling properties. Marigolds contain pyrethrin, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Mint Oil
Mix mint essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Mint oil contains natural oils that are highly repellent to rodents, making it an effective natural deterrent.
Neem Oil
Mix a bit of neem oil with some water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Neem oil contains a something called azadirachtin, which is very toxic to insects and rodents.
Oregano Oil
Mix oregano essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Oregano oil contains an interesting material called carvacrol, which is quite toxic to insects and rodents.
Patchouli Oil
Mix patchouli essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Patchouli oil contains a compound called patchoulol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Pine Essential Oil
Mix pine essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Pine oil contains a compound called pinene, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Safflower Oil
Mix safflower oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Safflower oil contains linoleic acid, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Spearmint Oil
Mix spearmint essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Spearmint oil contains a compound called carvone, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Tea Tree Oil
Mix tea tree essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Tea tree oil contains terpenes-4-ol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Vinegar Spray
Mix a bit of vinegar with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. The strong scent of vinegar disrupts the pheromone trails that mice use to communicate, making it difficult for them to navigate your home.
Lemongrass Oil
Combine lemongrass oils with some water and spritz it around entry points to repel mice. Lemongrass oil contains a compound called citronellal, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Citrus Oil
Mix citrus essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Citrus oil contains a compound called limonene, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Rosemary Oil
Mix rosemary essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Rosemary oil contains a compound called eucalyptol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Soybean Oil
Mix soybean oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Soybean oil contains linoleic acid, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Walnut Oil
Mix walnut oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Walnut oil contains a compound called juglone, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Tansy
To repel mice, place dried tansy in sachets and hang them near entry points. Tansy contains a compound called thujone, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Pennyroyal
Place dried pennyroyal in sachets and hang them near entry points to repel mice. Pennyroyal contains a compound called pulegone, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Cedarwood Oil
Mix cedarwood essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Cedarwood oil contains a compound called cedrol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Eucalyptus Globulus Oil
Mix eucalyptus globulus essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Eucalyptus globulus oil contains a compound called 1,8-cineole, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Balsam Fir Oil
Mix balsam fir essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Balsam fir oil contains a compound called bornyl acetate, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Camphor Oil
Mix camphor essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Camphor oil contains a compound called camphor, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Citronella Oil
Mix citronella essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Citronella oil contains a compound called citronellal, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Clove Bud Oil
Mix clove bud essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Clove bud oil contains a compound called eugenol. This compound is toxic to rodents and they will seek to avoid it.
Fennel Oil
Mix fennel essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Fennel oil contains a compound called estragole, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Ginger Oil
Mix ginger essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Ginger oil contains a compound called gingerol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Hyssop Oil
Mix hyssop essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Hyssop oil contains pinocamphone, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Juniper Berry Oil
Mix juniper berry essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Juniper berry oil contains a compound called alpha-pinene, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Mix lemon eucalyptus essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Lemon eucalyptus oil contains a compound called citronellal, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Myrrh Oil
Mix myrrh essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Myrrh oil contains a compound called furanoeudesma-1,3-diene, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Neroli Oil
Mix neroli essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Neroli oil contains a compound called nerolidol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Sandalwood Oil
Mix sandalwood essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Sandalwood oil contains a compound called santalol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Tarragon Oil
Mix tarragon essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Tarragon oil contains a compound called estragole, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Vanilla Oil
Mix vanilla essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Vanilla oil contains a compound called vanillin, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Wintergreen Oil
Mix wintergreen essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Wintergreen oil contains methyl salicylate. Rodents are not fond of this oil and will avoid it.
Ylang Ylang Oil
Mix ylang-ylang essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Ylang-ylang oil contains a compound called linalool, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Cajeput Oil
Mix cajeput essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Cajeput oil contains a compound called 1,8-cineole, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Frankincense Oil
Mix frankincense essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Frankincense oil contains alpha-pinene, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Helichrysum Oil
Mix helichrysum essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Helichrysum oil contains neryl acetate, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Lime Oil
Mix lime essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Lime oil contains limonene, a compound toxic to insects and rodents.
Mugwort Oil
Mix mugwort essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Mugwort oil contains a compound called thujone, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Nutmeg Oil
Mix nutmeg essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Nutmeg oil contains a compound called myristicin, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Palmarosa Oil
Mix palmarosa essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Palmarosa oil contains geraniol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Patchouli Oil
Mix patchouli essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Patchouli oil contains a compound called patchoulol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Pennyroyal Oil
Mix pennyroyal essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Pennyroyal oil contains a compound called pulegone, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Pine Needle Oil
Mix pine needle essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Pine needle oil contains a compound called alpha-pinene, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Ravensara Oil
Mix ravensara essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Ravensara oil contains a compound called eucalyptol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Sassafras Oil
Mix sassafra essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Sassafras oil contains a component called safrole, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Savory Oil
Mix savory essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Savory oil contains a compound called carvacrol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Tagetes Oil
Mix tagetes essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Tagetes oil contains a compound called limonene, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Tansy Oil
Mix tansy essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Tansy oil contains a compound called thujone, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Tea Tree Oil
Mix tea tree essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Tea tree oil contains terpenes-4-ol, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Thyme Oil
Mix thyme essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Thyme oil contains a compound called thymol. Rodents and insects will stay farther away from this oil and it is likely to keep them from your home.
Valerian Oil
Mix valerian essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Valerian oil contains valeric acid, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Wormwood Oil
Mix wormwood essential oil with water and spray it around entry points to repel mice. Wormwood oil contains a compound called absinthin, which is toxic to insects and rodents.
Safety First – Please Read
Before implementing any of the natural methods mentioned above to repel mice, it’s essential to ensure safety for yourself, your family, and any pets. Some substances, such as essential oils, may cause irritation or allergic reactions in some individuals. Always dilute essential oils properly and use them in well ventilated areas.
Additionally, be cautious with substances like ammonia and borax, which can be toxic if ingested or inhaled in large quantities. Keep all repellents out of reach of children and pets, and avoid direct contact with skin or eyes. If you have concerns about using these methods, consult a professional pest control service or your healthcare provider for guidance.
I hope this post helps you find great natural ways to repel mice!
Numerous natural ways exist to effectively and safely repel mice, offering a humane solution to keeping these unwanted guests out of your home.
By incorporating these natural methods into your pest control routine, you can create an environment that naturally deters mice without using extremely harmful chemicals or methods. Embracing natural ways to repel mice safeguards your home and belongings and promotes a healthier and eco-friendly living space.