Naphthalene ingredients in mothballs which have been widely used for many years as a deterrent for fabric pests like moth or silverfish. But we can assure you that using mothballs as rat repellent is simply ineffective.
Do mothballs keep mice away? Mothballs repelling mice and rats is a common misconception. Mothballs contain a small amount of naphthalene and can be a deterrent in large quantities, however, they aren't powerful enough to get rid of mice and rodents.
Citrus: Rats often dislike the smell of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. While the scent itself isn't harmful, using citrus-based cleaners can irritate their respiratory systems. Strong Essential Oils: Certain essential oils, such as tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, and cinnamon, can be toxic to rats.
Using peppermint oil is one of the easiest ways to keep rats away from your home as long as you aren't giving them an easy food source. If they can easily access food in your home, then it will be difficult to deter rats, no matter the smell.
Luckily, there are several steps you can take to get rid of rats permanently, including; a complete interior and exterior inspection, sealing up holes, cracks, and gaps in your structure, removing readily available food sources, and minimising potential habitats around your home.
Some of the best oils to repel rats include peppermint, eucalyptus, citronella, and lavender. Simply soak cotton balls in any one of them and place a few where rats are likely to enter, like corners of the kitchen, basement, or garage.
Outdoors, rats face a variety of predators. In these environments, large birds of prey — including hawks, falcons and owls — feed regularly on rodents. Owls are particularly formidable predators, as their nocturnal behavior ensures that they are most active when rats go out in search of food.
So What Kills Rats Instantly? The only safe and viable method that will kill a rat instantly is a snap trap. Poisons can take up to a week to kill the rats and other types of traps will not provide an instant kill, and will even cause severe suffering.
Rodents do not like the sharp scent of vinegar, so it's believed that it can be an effective rodent repellent. Common advice is to soak cotton balls with vinegar and place them near areas where you think rodents are entering your home and to use vinegar as a cleaning solution.
Clap your hands: clapping is sudden, loud and sharp. Should you encounter a rat and feel threatened, clap harshly in their direction and they'll be certain to scuttle away in fear!
Odors and smells that come from pet waste, pet food, garbage containers, barbecue grills, birdfeeders, and even from unharvested fruit and nuts from plants can attract rats and mice.
Peppermint. Prepare to turn your rat problem into a minty-fresh solution! 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.
The fumes from mothballs kill clothes moths, their eggs and larvae that eat natural fibers in indoor storage areas, such as closets, attics and basements. Mothballs are not intended to be used outdoors. The active ingredients can contaminate water and soil, harm wildlife, and contribute to air pollution.
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.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Rats
Eucalyptus or Peppermint oil can repel rats because they hate the smell. Another way to use a rat's sense of smell against them is to plant peppermint and catnip in strategic places. Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to humans, but it can dry out rats until they die.
The smell of a dead rat can be harmful to a person's health due to the toxic gases and microscopic compounds of the dead animal that are constantly being released into the indoor air. Since most homes are not consistently ventilated, the gases permeate into the respiratory tract and can potentially cause illness.
Rats will not leave on their own unless they are forced to do so by humans. If you give them a chance to leave on their own they will eventually die from lack of food or water or because of disease or other circumstances that could kill them off quickly before you get rid of them completely.
Despite what movies and media may assert, having a cat or other pet isn't your only line of defense for keeping rats at bay. The biggest and most frightening threat rats face is not being able to access enough food and water to sustain themselves.
Inside, rats can be found hiding out in holes, cracks, and crevices; climbing up through drains in bathrooms and kitchens; behind cabinets; behind and under appliances; in air ducts and ventilation systems; in piles of clutter; in storage containers; in hollow walls; and in crawlspaces, attics, garages, and basements.
Killing them will only cause other rats to move into the newly available spaces. After rat-proofing your building, give the remaining animals a chance at life by live-trapping and releasing them outdoors. To rat-proof a building, put all food and garbage in sturdy, well-sealed containers that rats can't gnaw through.
White vinegar has a potent smell that rats hate. If you're trying to use white vinegar to deter rats, you should find how they're getting inside your house first. Spray 5-10oz. food-grade white vinegar about every 300 sq ft.
Mice tend to avoid walking on aluminum foil due to its texture and sound.