
How Can You Use Peppermint To Repel Rodents?
Peppermint is a natural remedy that can be used to effectively ward off mice and rats. Although rodents have poor vision, they make up for it with a strong sense of smell. Peppermint contains a potent compound known as menthol, which irritates rodents' nasal cavities and disorients them, causing them to stray away from areas that contain the scent. To incorporate peppermint into your home, you can either grow peppermint plants or use essential oils. Because growing plants can be quite time-consuming, using peppermint oil is a more efficient method. Spray the essential oil into corners of your home that you think rodents can most easily access, and be sure to focus on areas that don't contain mousetraps. In addition to peppermint, cayenne pepper is another effective repellent. Not only does it keep rodents away, but it can also ward off other pests such as roaches, ants and spiders. Sprinkle some cayenne pepper around your home, but be sure to keep it out of reach of children and pets. You can also pack steel wool into tight spaces, such as cabinets, crawl spaces and air ducts. Rodents have a difficult time chewing through steel wool due to its durability, and the rough edges can scratch their noses. However, keep in mind that some rodents are able to pull the steel wool out of an opening using their feet.How Do You Know You Have a Rodent Infestation?
If you're unsure whether or not you have rodents living in your home, there are a few clear signs that can indicate an infestation. The typical mouse produces approximately 50 to 75 droppings a day, which means that these droppings shouldn't be too hard to find scattered throughout your home. Mice droppings are dark, tapered at one end and about the size of a grain of rice. Additionally, scurrying, scratching or chewing noises coming from inside ceilings or walls can be another telltale sign of an infestation. If you're unsure whether these noises belong to rodents, tap on the wall or ceiling where you hear the noise. If the sound stops for a few seconds and then starts again, this typically indicates that rodents are living in your home.Are Rodents Dangerous?
Although most people think of rodents as an annoyance, they can also be extremely dangerous. Many rodents carry hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, an infectious disease that can cause life-threatening respiratory problems. This disease causes flu-like symptoms such as:- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Chills
- Dizziness
- Nausea and/or vomiting