How To Get Rid Of Rats and Mice In Your House Naturally
We humans have been battling rats and mice since the beginning of time. These rodents want what we have…shelter and food. So they move in, and we do everything we can to get rid of them.
As a homeowner, an infestation of rodents is the last thing we want, or need. If you’ve ever found rodent droppings or bags of food with holes chewed in them, then you know exactly what I mean.
So what can we do to get rid of these uninvited pests? Is there an easy DIY option of how to get rid of mice in our homes that actually works? And is as natural as possible, without using toxic poisons. The answer is yes.
How To Tell If You Have a Rodent Infestation
Rodent infestations have unique signs and symptoms that you as a homeowner can easily pick up on.
The most common are finding droppings in and around the house. Look under the sink, in the pantry, the garage, the basement and the attic.
Look for gnawing marks on food containers, furniture, walls and baseboards. Rodents love to hide in the cozy spaces between the wall studs in our homes.
Finally, listen carefully, especially at night. Often times you can hear rodents scurrying and chewing on things inside the walls.
If you find any of these signs, then it’s time to take action.
Remember, these are the things to look for to know if a mouse is in your house:
- Droppings
- Gnaw marks on food containers, walls and baseboards
- Listen for scurrying in the walls
4 Ways To Get Rid of Mice In Your House Naturally
A quick search on Google and you’ll find a long list of DIY rat repellent ideas. The problem is that almost all of these simply do not work. If you talk to professional rodent control experts, they will tell you that they have even used some of these “diy rat repellents” as bait to catch rats!
So what works? I have found a few DIY ways on how to get rid of mice and other rodents naturally that will actually work for you the homeowner.
1. Plaster of Paris
The laster of Paris method of rodent control is intended to kill the rats. It is essentially a DIY rat poison. With that said, be sure to keep it away from kids and pets.
Mix together:
- 3.5 oz of plaster of Paris with
- 3.5 oz of cornmeal in a bowl
- 1.5 cups of milk
Mix everything together evenly into a dough like texture. Then tear off small pieces and roll them into balls. Strategically place these small rat poison bait balls around the house. Note that over time, the Plaster of Paris will begin to harden, so you will need to replace them from time.
*Remember to keep these out of the reach of kids and pets.
2. Flour, Baking Soda and Sugar
Equal parts:
- Flour
- Baking Soda
- Sugar
Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Then place the mixture into smaller containers and strategically place the rat poison filled containers near the rodent infested parts of your house.
After eating the poison mixture, the baking soda begins to react with the rat’s stomach acid. This reaction produces bloating which results in death. It is said that the rats do not necessarily die instantly, but run to open grounds outside the house before dying.
3. Feline Hunters
Cats are probably the most popular, time tested and proven method for getting rid of a mouse in your house naturally. I live in a rural area surrounded by fields, so I tend to have a lot of rodents near by. I have two cats and they are both always busy catching rodents. Once we introduced the two cats to our home, the rodent population was almost immediately eliminated. If you are in a position to care for a cat, I highly recommend this as a natural method of controlling rodent populations. It really works.
4. Clean and Seal Your House
The best DIY rat repellent that is 100% guaranteed to work is to not let them in your house to begin with. Locate and seal all of the holes and cracks that the rats are using to enter your house.
Many times in older homes, poorly maintained pipelines will oftentimes provide enough space for rats to enter the home. Locate the water shut off valve and look for evidence of these cracks or openings. These spaces can easily be filled with expanding foam.
After you make sure that all entry points to the inside of your home are sealed shut, there’s one last thing you can do as a DIY rat repellent. Be sure to not leave any food lying around. Keep the area under your sink clean and free of food, or any other area you might keep your garbage. Keep your pantry clean. Do not let any food stay on the ground or spilled inside a drawer.
Final Thoughts
A rodent infestation does not mean you have a dirty home. Mice and rates need shelter and they need food, and we happen to have both inside our homes. And to the rodents, its an open invitation to move in.
