The answer is yes—cedar effectively repels a variety of pests, including mosquitoes, spiders, carpet beetles, cockroaches, fire ants, pantry moths, clothing moths and other fabric-damaging insects.
Natural deterrent: Due to the cedar's significant repelling properties, it naturally deters a number of insects. This includes adult clothing moths, clothing moth larvae, silverfish, termites, carpet beetles and cockroaches.
Initially, when cedar blocks are fresh, their moth-repelling properties are at their peak. Over time, however, the intensity of the scent diminishes, which can reduce their effectiveness against moths. Typical Effective Lifespan: Generally, cedar blocks remain effective for about one to three years.
Cedar's superpower to combat unwanted bugs, snakes and rodents lies in its distinctive and pleasant earthy smell.
Cedar wood does not attract insects and bugs. In fact, the wood contains a natural oil that automatically repels insects and bugs including moths, woodworms, mosquitoes and other insects. The natural oil also repels rodents including rats and mice.
Cedarwood has a strong smell that snakes don't like. By sprinkling cedar chips or sawdust around the perimeter of your home, you can help repel snakes.
Peppermint oil — Essential plant oils like peppermint, rosemary, citronella, sage and lavender have strong botanical scents that rats dislike. One customer successfully repelled a rat by stuffing a peppermint oil soaked tissue into the rat hole chewed into the wall. The rat appeared to never come back.
Another oil that keeps spiders away from your room is cedar oil. They often can't tolerate its pungent smell. Cedar oil is available in numerous liquid products. Even the natural wood assists in repelling spiders.
Another simple way of warding off mice and insects is to use cedar wood. You can do something as simple as placing a few cedar blocks around your unit or you can go to more extremes and sprinkle Western Red Cedar mulch, shavings and/or sawdust around the outskirts of your unit.
Natural mosquito control: Cedarwood oil has excellent bioactivity against many arthropods. The insect repellency properties of trees from the Juniperus genius of the family Cupressaceae have been know for centuries. This is why important cloth items are traditionally stored in Cedar chests.
Cedar is generally considered safe for dogs. Major pet poison control centers do not list it as toxic, which is reassuring for pet owners. Veterinary organizations echo this sentiment, confirming that Cedar poses no significant risk to dogs. This makes it a popular choice for pet-friendly homes.
Cedar is the better alternative to mothballs
Killigan's Cedar Planks are a natural insect repellent that emit a pleasant, delightfully woody scent. The cedar planks are (unlike mothballs) non-toxic, non-poisonous and non-harmful to humans and pets, making them an effective, safe and environmentally-friendly choice.
Cedar. Cedar trees have a wide variety of species some of which can be toxic to cats. In North America, there are specifically 5 genera and about 26 species of cedar trees most of which are Juniperus and Thudra genera. The toxic substances in Cedar trees and more specifically in the cedar wood are phenols and terpenes.
As long as the area isn't over mulched (3" depth is what we typically recommend), isn't abutting wood exterior and/or isn't over watered and retaining moisture for long periods of time, you should be okay. I also typically suggest using a mulch other than cedar. Cedar trees are destroyed solely for the use of mulch.
The answer is yes—cedar effectively repels a variety of pests, including mosquitoes, spiders, carpet beetles, cockroaches, fire ants, pantry moths, clothing moths and other fabric-damaging insects.
Spiders really don't like strong scents such as citrus, peppermint, tea-tree, lavender, rose or cinnamon. Add 15 to 20 drops of your chosen essential oil or a couple of capfuls of Zoflora fragrance to a spray bottle filled with water, and spritz around the house.
Routinely remove webs that develop. Use caulk or foam to seal up cracks and crevices in your foundation. Use cedar (a spider deterrent) (cedar mulch, hangers, chests, shavings, blocks, etc.) Use Eucalyptus spray around the perimeter of the house (they are deterred by strong scents).
The main insect-repelling chemical present in cedar chips is known as thujone. Property owners love how cedar chips can repel a variety of insects including cloth-eating moths, carpet beetles, cockroaches, and certain types of ants.
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.
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.
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.
#5 Animal Toxicity
There are many studies available on how the use of cedar wood chips and shavings have affected animals continually exposed to these products. Most studies show a correlation with liver dysfunction in animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters.
Can coffee grounds repel snakes? No - there is no evidence that snakes dislike or are repelled by the smell of coffee grounds. This is not an effective snake prevention method - despite the many anecdotal accounts on the internet.
Research also shows that cinnamon oil, clove oil, and eugenol are effective snake repellents. Snakes will retreat when sprayed directly with these oils and will exit cargo or other confined spaces when these oils are introduced to the area. FIFRA Section 25(b) and listed under 40 CFR 152.25(f)(1).