Most homeowners know that mice are going to seek shelter in their homes at some point. It’s the law of averages at play because some poor little mouse is going to get cold and hungry.
Still, you don’t want to leave the situation because it invites even more mice and other rodents into the home. Therefore, you want to get the best rodent repellent to get rid of them if you have them and prevent them from coming back.
We talk about the dangers of rodents and give you 12 products from which to choose. Then, we provide you with our top picks so that you know which one is right for you.
Table of Contents
Rodents Are More Dangerous Than You Think
While mice or rats aren’t likely to bite you (unless provoked), they are still dangerous. For one, they carry many diseases that could harm you, your children, or your pets.
Rodents Are a Health Hazard
As they run through the cabinets, on the counter, and beneath the plumbing, they spread disease. Such bacteria can land on dishes, food, bathroom surfaces, and dining areas. Therefore, they’re – in a sense – delivering illness right to your family.
A common disease from house mice is LCM (Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis). You can easily breathe this disease in from the dust where rodents dropped feces or urinated. LCM is a neurological disease.
Most people suffer from fever, no appetite, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and nausea. They then recover, and the second phase hits them.
This includes meningitis symptoms (stiff neck, fever, and headache). Encephalitis is also a common issue, as well as meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Reproduction
Mice also reproduce very quickly. After their first six weeks of life, they’re already sexually active. They only live about a year, but they can have up to six mice about eight times that year. Therefore, one female mouse can produce up to 48 mice in just 12 months.
Tear Things Up
They like to live in the walls where you can’t easily get to them. This means you hear them scurrying. However, that also indicates that they are tearing up the insides of your house.
Of course, they can also climb fairly well, so you could find them in areas that are surprising. It’s important to check the top shelves of your pantry periodically to make sure you don’t see mouse droppings.
Mice are always chewing. Their teeth grow from the time they’re born until they die. To keep them sharp and from getting to long, they gnaw on things.
Usually, they stick to softer stuff, such as clothing, boxes, and paper. However, they can chew through plastic and eat through your electrical cables. This can do serious damage, be a fire risk, and cause many damages for which you have to repair or replace.
The Best Rodent Repellents For Your Home, Garden & Cars
Below, you can see a helpful table, which shows all of the products and their main points of attraction. Use that to see which products are available and which ones you may want to learn more about.
When you desire something that is easy to use to repel mice and other rodents, the spray from Mighty Mint might be suitable. It’s naturally safe to be sprayed around pets and people. Plus, you are going to enjoy the pleasant minty scent.
This spray is extra-concentrated, so it lasts a lot longer. You just have to liberally spray those problem areas for it to work. These can include baseboards, thresholds, and anywhere else you notice mice.
The strong scent stays present for two to three days. This means you don’t have to use it as often as some of the other products.
Of course, the peppermint is high-grade from the Pacific Northwest, so it’s locally sourced for Americans. The active ingredient is the peppermint essential oil. However, it has other things included to help drive mice away.
Therefore, this product is highly effective, but it is also humane. You don’t have to kill the creatures. They just don’t want to reside in your home anymore.
2. Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent
If you don’t enjoy the idea of spraying every couple of days, you may want the repellent scent pouches from Fresh Cab. Of course, it’s designed to be a preventative measure. Only use it in a non-infested area by putting one pouch every 125 square feet.
It’s non-toxic, so if the pouch gets opened accidentally, it only includes balsam fir oil. This product can protect and freshen storage areas for about 90 days. They’re easy to use and don’t leave a mess, either.
Though not recommended by the manufacturer, you can use it to get rid of mice. However, you should put a pouch every 8 square feet of your home. Also, you must replace it every 30 days until all the mice are gone.
Generally, this product should be used with other repellent methods until the rodents are gone for good. Then, use it as a way to prevent them from returning.
With a brand name like Exterminators Choice, you know this natural repellent is going to work. However, it’s designed for your vehicle. If your car or truck has issues with squirrels, mice, raccoons, or other rodents, now is the time to get rid of them.
It doesn’t contain permethrins, pyrethroids, or pyrethrins, so it is safe for use around the garage, home, and engine. Just spray down the area, including the wheel wells, tailpipe, and engine, and let it dry.
You can’t spray too much because the formula is designed not to stain anything. It’s possible to use it inside the vehicle, as well. There are no harsh fumes or chemicals about which to worry.
Since it uses rosemary and peppermint oils, you are going to like the scent. However, rodents dislike it and are going to leave the area. Though it’s made for vehicles, it can be used in the house in a pinch.
4. Rodent Sheriff Pest Control
If you’re searching for pest control that’s humane and pleasant for you, the Rodent Sheriff can help. This all-natural spray is made using peppermint oil. Therefore, it’s safe for use around kids and pets, but the rodents dislike it.
Those who only shop for American-made products are sure to like it, as well. It is made and packaged here in the states.
Though it’s designed for your house, you can also use it in the garden or around the exterior perimeter. Plants and grass don’t mind the peppermint oil, but raccoons and other rodents are going to stay away.
When you purchase it, you get two bottles, each holding 8 ounces of peppermint power. You have enough in there for 2,000 sprays!
It’s safe to use anywhere. This includes your shed, kitchen, basement, attic, trash cans, garages, and more. Also, consider using it around BBQ grills, in the garden, along door frames, and anywhere else you fear mice or ants.
5. Ever Pest Ultrasonic Eco-Friendly Electronic Pest Repeller
If sprays aren’t your thing, or you dislike the peppermint smell, an ultrasonic repeller might be suitable. Ever Pest offers a long-lasting, safe, and effective device. It’s going to solve the pest problem quickly.
Instead of spraying anything, it emits an electromagnetic, bionic, and ultrasonic pulse to repels all insects and pests. These include bedbugs, cockroaches, mice, rats, fleas, midges, and mosquitoes.
This is a cruelty-free product, so it doesn’t kill them. It simply makes them want to vacate your home. That also means you don’t have to hunt around for dead rodents before the pungent smell hits you.
You get two repellers, and you should use one in each room. However, if space is larger than 1,600 square feet, consider two in one area. While you may need to purchase more than one package, it is going to keep your house free of pests for a long time.
6. Thanos Under Hood Animal Repeller
Those who like the idea of ultrasonic power to get rid of rodents are sure to like the Thanos brand. It’s designed specifically for use in a vehicle. Not only does it use ultrasonic power, but it also features LED strobe lights.
You can use it anywhere because it is battery-powered. In fact, it can even run off of your car battery. Use it in the trunk, under the hood, by your lawnmower, or in your garage.
There are no chemicals or smells emitted from the product, so it is non-toxic and chemical-free. This means it’s safe for humans and your pets. If that weren’t enough, you never have to clean up the dead rodents or call an exterminator for help.
Of course, the sound it produces cannot be heard by humans and pets. Still, if you use the strobe light feature, you are going to see it.
7. Angveirt Under Hood Rodent Repeller
The Angveirt ultrasonic repeller is also designed for your vehicle, but you can use it anywhere in the house. The powerful blast of ultrasonic sound is random, so mice don’t get used to it and come back. Of course, it also features an LED strobe light to keep away raccoons and other large pests.
Since it runs on batteries, you can use it anywhere electricity can’t be. This includes your vehicle and sheds on the property. Of course, it uses three AA batteries, which lasts about 45 days running 24 hours a day.
You’re going to find this product repels mice, rats, and rabbits. It can also keep martens, squirrels, cats, and chipmunks away from your home.
It’s designed to work when the car is shut off, and there are no vibrations. You can easily hook it up to the vehicle battery to run while you’re in motion, as well.
8. ZEROPEST Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
Ultrasonic pest repellents are quite popular, and the ZEROPEST one is stylish and powerful. It’s recently been upgraded to emit an inaudible ultrasonic and biological wave that penetrates under your furniture and into hard-to-reach corners.
One device covers roughly 1800 square feet, and you get four products with your order. The waves are designed to travel evenly in the room, which repels all pests.
While traditional techniques kill the pest and you have to search for them, this one doesn’t. It just makes them annoyed enough to leave the premises and search comfort elsewhere.
You can use it in a home, hotel, restaurant, office, and hospital. The ultrasonic waves are non-toxic, so they are safe for your pets and humans. You’re not going to hear the noises emitted from the product, either.
Since you plug it into the wall outlet, you never have to worry about wasting batteries. Plus, it gives you year-round protection from pests and rodents.
9. Fretech Mole Repellent
If you’re interested in something unique for the garden to repel rodents, the Fretech has what you need. It is a four-pack of solar-powered, ultrasonic repellents for voles, rodents, and gophers. There are also rechargeable batteries included.
Still, you shouldn’t have to plug them in and charge them. The sun’s energy does that for you. They are designed to work longer, but they also vibrate and create sound waves. This wards off unwanted pests but doesn’t hurt them.
Of course, these stakes are waterproof, so you can leave them outside in the rain. They’re designed to last for a while and can work on rainy days, too. Consider using it in your paddy field, garden, or farm.
Since they are solar-powered, they aren’t designed for homes or vehicles. They are only suitable for the outdoors, where there is plenty of sunlight throughout the day.
10. Toro Solar Powered Mole Repellent
Those who have primary issues with gophers and moles might like the solar-powered repeller from Toro. It features state-of-the-art technology to chase away a variety of garden pests. To do so, it generates a sonic pulsing that can penetrate the soil.
This doesn’t hurt the plants and is safe to use around pets and children. Of course, it’s waterproof since it is designed to be used outside.
One charge gives you roughly seven days of power, as well. You’re never going to need poison or chemicals again to get rid of your moles, mice, and other pests.
Each stake produces 450 Hz of sonic power every 30 seconds. It can reach about 7000 square feet away from the stake. You get two devices, which is enough to cover most gardens and small farms.
How Does an Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent Work?
An ultrasonic rodent repellent uses bionic, electromagnetic, and ultrasonic waves. The sound frequency can range from 20 to 40 kHz. Generally, you want one that produces various sound frequencies throughout the day.
That way, the pests don’t adapt to the sound with time and stay in your home or vehicle. Usually, the sound waves aren’t able to penetrate through solid objects (walls). Therefore, you may need to purchase more than one of them for it to be most effective.
If you don’t, the pests are just going to migrate from one area and into the next. You could spend years shifting the rodents from a room to another. Instead, it’s best to protect all rooms of the house and give them each their own repeller.
In most cases, the ultrasonic sound waves cannot be heard by dogs and cats, as well as other household pets. Therefore, you’re not going to hurt your pet’s ears because you’re using the device.
Expert Tips for Using Ultrasonic Repellents
Some people incorrectly believe that ultrasonic repellents don’t work. However, it takes time for them to be effective. You may actually see more pests in your home at first because they are trying to get away from the sound and can’t.
Location
You’ve got to find the room with rodent activity signs. Generally, mice are nocturnal, so they aren’t seen in the daytime. However, you can sometimes see their rodent nest, droppings, gnaw/chew marks, and small tracks.
When you spot them, plug your unit into the wall outlet so that it’s open to the room. Don’t place it behind furniture because that can block the ultrasonic waves.
In fact, hard surfaces allow the sound to ‘bounce’ around to provide more coverage. You may need to use two devices opposite each other for the best effect.
Use More Devices
Ultrasonic waves actually work more like the light. Music from the radio could permeate the house if it’s loud enough. Ultrasound doesn’t go through solid surfaces or around corners. Therefore, you need a unit in each room.
Though some people only use it in the affected room, rodents can take up shelter in another area of the home. This defeats the purpose. Instead, consider putting one in each room, even if it doesn’t have a pest infestation.
Use with Other Methods
Generally, an ultrasonic repellent is designed to be used with other options. Consider humane traps, peppermint oil spray, and other things. Once the rodent infestation is contained and eradicated, you can then use ultrasonic power to prevent it from returning.
How to Use Peppermint Oil to Repel Rodents?
When using peppermint oil to repel those rodents, make sure it is 100 percent peppermint oil or is mixed with other ingredients that mice hate (sodium laurel sulfate, etc.).
Sprays are the most efficient way to get the peppermint oil in the affected areas. Make sure that you wet it down thoroughly and let it dry. Try not to wipe it away; you want a strong mint smell here.
Conclusion
If you want the best rodent repellent spray, we think you might like the one from Mighty Mint. It’s made in the US and completely organic. Plus, the sprayer is easy to use, and you’re guaranteed that it is going to work.
Those who want something a little more tech-savvy might prefer an ultrasonic device. We think the best rodent repellent ultrasonic option is the one from Ever Pest.
It looks quite stunning and is similar to those room-freshening sprays. That way, you’re not going to be embarrassed for guests to see it. Plus, each device gives you about 1,900 square feet of coverage, and you get a two-pack.
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