Take 5-10 drops of peppermint essential oil and 5-10 drops of cedarwood essential oil. Both of these oils have a strong, pungent scent that rodents cannot stand.
Alternatively, you can use fresh peppermint leaves and cedarwood chips if you prefer a more natural approach.
Step 2: Soak Cotton Balls or Cloth Pouches
Soak a cotton ball with the peppermint and cedarwood oil mixture (or place the leaves and chips into small cloth pouches). If you don’t have oil, cloves also work well on their own – simply place a few dried cloves in small bags or on cotton balls.
Step 3: Place in Key Locations
Place the soaked cotton balls or pouches in areas where you’ve seen signs of mice or rats. Ideal places include:
Behind furniture
In corners of rooms
Around doors and windows
Near entry points or holes
These strong scents will act as natural repellent, making the area unbearable for rodents.
Step 4: Refresh as Needed
After a few days, the smell may start to fade. Simply refresh the cotton balls or pouches with more essential oil or cloves. Reapply as needed, but you should begin noticing a decline in rodent activity within the first 5 minutes of exposure to the strong smells.
