There’s a Scratching Noise in My Wall. What Should I Do?
If you’ve noticed some strange sounds in and around your house, there are a few different critters that could be the culprit. It might be anything from a bat or bird to a raccoon, squirrel, rat, or mouse. Quieter scratching noises are a sign that your visitor is a mouse or a rat.
If the mere sound of a mouse scurrying by makes you jump, you may be interested in some household tricks for mice and rats. Mice can be tough to locate since they’re small, quiet and can squeeze through tight spots. Pinpointing their hiding spot is a great way to start your quest towards a rodent-free home.
Common Hiding Places for Rats and Mice
- Wall voids
- Closets
- Storage boxes
- Kitchen cupboards
- Crawlspaces
- Garages
- Attics
- Basem*nts
Household Tricks for Mice and Rats
As temperatures cool down, mice and rats will look for warm places to stay for the winter. Even if your home is sealed properly, rodents can find a way in. They could squeeze in through your siding, foundation, garage, chimney, or gutter. Locating mouse or rat droppings is a good sign that you have some unwanted house guests.
A small mouse might not seem like a big deal. But these pests can carry a variety of diseases, they can bother your pets, and they could even chew through wires in your home or car. So, a rat or mouse infestation should be dealt with as soon as possible. Start by sealing up any openings in your house.
Mice and rats like to scavenge for fluffy materials or paper to make a nest. It’s important to prevent them from accessing these types of materials. Store any possible rodent nest materials or foods in metal containers. Plus, there are a variety of natural remedies you can try, like:
- Peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, and cloves – Soak some cotton balls in any of these essential oils. Then place the cotton balls around your house in common hiding spots for mice and rats.
- Apple cider vinegar and water – Mix these ingredients up in a spray bottle and spritz it around the outside of your house.
- Instant Potatoes – After rats and mice eat up instant potatoes, the flakes will expand in their stomachs.
- Fabric softener sheets – Find any possible entry points and block them up using fabric softener sheets.
- Kitty litter – If you don’t have a cat, you can place tubs of used kitty litter near any access points.
- Ammonia – Ammonia has a similar smell to the urine of a predator, so you can use it as a substitute.
- Mothballs – Place mothballs around your home. Rodents don’t like the smell of them.
If you decide to leave any of these items around your house, make sure they’re out of reach of children and pets.
Maybe you’ve tried some of these remedies, and your rodent problem has persisted. When you need professional mouse and rat control, get in contact with a professional pest control team like Green Giant Home and Commercial.
FAQs
Devices like snap traps or spring traps kill mice or rats with mechanical action, and there are also traps that kill with an electric shock. Glue traps hold the animal in place for extermination and disposal. Mouse and rat traps require bait to attract the animal.
What does vinegar do to mice and rats? ›
Vinegar works by masking smells and oils which will deter mice and rats from entering an area or chewing on any material. However, it needs to be used with other methods since vinegar by itself will not keep rodents away from your home.
What smell do rats and mice hate the most? ›
Conclusion
- Peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is a natural repellent that can be used to keep mice away. ...
- Cinnamon. Cinnamon is another natural repellent that mice hate. ...
- Vinegar. The pungent smell of vinegar is also effective at repelling mice. ...
- Citronella. ...
- Ammonia. ...
- Bleach. ...
- Mothballs.
Filling holes and cracks that provide entry points and installing professional exclusion systems from companies like Cat-Guard provides a safe, natural, permanent barrier to keep rats out.
What kills mice in minutes? ›
Just mix a tablespoon of cocoa powder with plaster of Paris and place them around the common runways of mice. Cocoa powder attracts mice so they eat the mixture, but they'll soon experience suffocation and dehydration because of the plaster of Paris.
What is the best homemade mouse repellent? ›
Peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, pepper and cloves.
Mice are said to hate the smell of these. Lightly soak some cotton balls in oils from one or more of these foods and leave the cotton balls in places where you've had problems with mice.
Do dryer sheets repel mice? ›
Dryer sheets do not repel mice. The belief that dryer sheets can repel mice has gained popularity over time, primarily due to the assumption that scent of dryer sheets might deter rodents. However, this is a misconception, and using dryer sheets as a mouse repellent is not a reliable or proven method.
What are mice afraid of? ›
These creatures are sensitive to bright lights and have poor eyesight. Survival instincts cause them to avoid larger animals and being active at night helps mice avoid being seen by predators, as well as people. Because mice avoid danger, they may be scared off by bright, flashing lights or loud noises.
Do mothballs keep mice away? ›
These dangerous pesticides are useful when you keep them in a closed container with the clothes you are trying to protect. However, leaving mothballs out in the open as a way to repel rodents is a very bad idea. Mothballs are ineffective as a rodent repellent. Plus, using them can expose your family to toxic chemicals.
How to use cinnamon to get rid of mice? ›
One way is to sprinkle cinnamon powder in areas where mice are likely to enter, such as around doorways and windowsills. Another method is to soak cotton balls in cinnamon, put them in places where mice are known to hang out, like under sinks or in cabinets, and coat them with oil.
Mice tend to avoid the sharp texture and unpleasant noise that comes with walking, digging, or chewing on foil. More importantly, aluminium foil is too tough for them to chew through, making it an excellent material for sealing gaps and holes where these little intruders sneak in."
Does pine sol keep mice away? ›
Pine Sol has been found to be effective as a standalone mouse repellent, but its effectiveness may vary depending on the severity of the infestation. Combining it with other natural mouse repellents may enhance the overall results.
What scares rats the most? ›
Rats may have a perceptive sense of smell, but they can't stand the refreshing scent of peppermint. This natural and aromatic repellent works wonders in deterring these unwanted pests. You can create a rat-free zone with the power of peppermint oil or fresh leaves.
What runs mice and rats away? ›
Essential oils that may be helpful in repelling rats and mice include peppermint oil, lemon oil, citronella oil, and eucalyptus oil.
Does bleach keep mice and rats away? ›
Mice avoid the smell of household items like vinegar and ammonia due to their pungent odor. Bleach also acts as a strong deterrent due to its intense smell. Mothballs and dryer sheets, containing naphthalene or essential oils, can repel mice.
How long does it take to get rid of mice and rats? ›
It depends on what kind of infestation you have on your hands. For a relatively minor infestation, it will take around 3 weeks to eliminate rats. This is when you have a couple of rats scuttling around, but it's nothing serious. On the other hand, if you have a severe infestation, it can take up to 3 months to solve.
What do mice do when they smell peppermint oil? ›
Peppermint oil produces a scent that mice do not like and makes them stay away.
