What Repels Mice?

A house cat is a great mouse deterrent. They will leave their scent all over which may scare off mice all together. They will also be on constant patrol for any mice that venture close enough into the cat’s territory. That being said, this is a large commitment and an unrealistic option for individuals suffering from cat allergies. 

Leveraging the predator – prey relationship between cats and mice doesn’t always require cats to actively be around. Soiled cat litter smells enough like a mouse’s mortal enemy that it can be an effective mouse repellent. Using soiled cat litter by access points has been shown to ward off mice but this strategy is only effective temporarily. This strategy loses its effectiveness over time due to mice being exposed to a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii  found in cat urine. This parasite alters a mouse’s brain chemistry so the natural fear response to cats fades over time. 

Ammonia has been said to be an effective mouse deterrent because it smells like cat and fox urine. Some studies have shown that ammonia isn’t effective at deterring mice but there is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that indicates that ammonia treatments are effective for short periods. The smell of ammonia is strong and when used properly in confined areas where the smell isn’t dispersed by passing air, it may overwhelm the sensitive nose of mice. It might help to soak rags or cotton balls in ammonia and place them inside of drawers, cabinets, and mouse holes. The downside to this strategy is that the smell of ammonia will fade over time and it likely won’t be effective at all if the ammonia is used in areas that get plenty of fresh air. 

Mothballs are thought to be effective against mice due to the fact they contain naphthalene. Naphthalene is a strong-smelling white substance used to deter moths and other cloth eating insects. The reason why naphthalene is thought to be an effective mouse deterrent is because mothball fumes cause respiratory problems when large enough amounts are used. Using mothballs liberally around a home is not recommended though because long term mothball exposure  can also cause serious problems in humans. 

This strong-smelling liquid has been shown to have some effectiveness at deterring mice by overwhelming their sense of smell with that caustic bleach odor. The cleaning power of bleach is also useful when cleaning up mouse poop and eliminating food remnants and residue that may attract mice in the first place. The downside to bleach is that they can be overpowering and unpleasant for humans to inhale as well.

White vinegar, rice vinegar, and apple cider vinegar all have an acidic smell that acts as a semi effective mouse deterrent. While this strategy can be used to some success, it isn’t recommended that this is the only mice repelling strategy used. This is much more effective when used with other mouse deterrents. Since the smell fades quickly, vinegar will need to be reapplied liberally to ensure that mice are kept away. It is also recommended that this is sprayed liberally and undiluted in areas that have shown mice activity.

Dryer sheets have a strong enough scent that it may overpower a mouse’s sense of smell and block out any scents of food. That being said, dryer sheets are shown to be less effective against mice. Mice are commonly seen in laundry rooms and will generally make their nests using leftover dryer fluff.

Peppermint plants and other mints have historically been used as mouse deterrents. Planting peppermint around the entry points into your home has been recommended because peppermint plants have a strong menthol scent that mice dislike. However, mice are highly intelligent and will adapt to smells much like humans do. While the smell of the plants may initially work, it is a matter of time before the mice acclimate to the smell and ignore it in search of food and shelter. 

Chili powder and cayenne pepper are other irritants that can cause respiratory problems if breathed in or eaten. These irritating effects have been reported to be effective at deterring mice, but chili powder and cayenne pepper can also impact humans and pets. Real life application may prove to be less than practical if the solution is not cost effective and proves to be problematic for animals and small children.

Cinnamon has a pungent spicy scent that mice do not like. This means that cinnamon can be effective at keeping mice away. While it may not make sense to dust your home with cinnamon powder, it does help to keep cinnamon sticks stashed in cabinets, cupboards, and drawers around the kitchen to deter these small rodents. 

Like cinnamon, cloves also have a strong spicy aroma that mice dislike. That being said, cloves by themselves typically don’t have a scent strong enough to deter mice. It is recommended that cloves are used with other mouse repellent strategies to maximize their effectiveness. Another option is to use a concentrated clove oil. 

There are botanical repellents that are advertised as effective against mice. They are contained in bags that are generally placed in mice paths and hiding places and are designed to overwhelm the mice’s sense of smell. These scent pouches include essential oils and plant matter that are known to bother and irritate mice. They are toted as a safe alternative to chemical repellents but similar to many other strong scented remedies, the mice may begin to acclimate to odors that stop them from accessing their food. 

These granular repellents generally contain a mix of essential oils and plant matter similar to the botanical repellents but in pellet form. This mix is designed to be sprinkled outside in a band surrounding the property. They are designed to be safe but the reviews for several brands indicate that this product is ineffective against mice. 

While there are a lot of people who claim that peppermint oil is an effective mouse deterrent, the results indicate otherwise. Similar to peppermint plants, mice can adapt to the strong smell and learn to ignore it over time. 

This concentrated oil acts much like pepper spray would to a human. It is incredibly irritating to a mouse’s sensitive sense of smell and will cause a mouse to avoid this oil at all costs. The only problem is that this oil can also act like pepper spray to humans as well if it is breathed in. It is important to apply this in places where it won’t cause harm to humans, kids, and pets.

While whole cloves may not be strong enough to deter mice on their own, clove essential oil may do the trick. Cloves have a strong, spicy aroma that is concentrated in essential oils, so this undiluted liquid can be applied to cotton balls and then left in areas that have shown signs of mouse activity. 

Like clove oil, cinnamon oil is another strong-smelling essential oil with a spicy irritating aroma that mice dislike. This can be used as a spray and applied liberally to areas mice are attracted to or dripped onto cotton balls and placed where mouse activity has been noticed. 

Mice can find just about any way to get into your home if it is in search of food and resources. All they really need is a crack or crevice the width of a pencil to get into your home or business. If there are any openings that are littered with mouse poop , it would help to stuff the opening with steel wool. This is because mice can chew through just about anything, but they won’t try and chew through steel wool. 

There are several electronic rodent repellents that use ultrasonic technology to deter mice. While they advertise a high rate of success and efficacy using their high frequency sound waves to repel mice, most use cases have shown them to be largely ineffective over time. The mice acclimate to the ultrasonic sound much like strong smells and the effectiveness of this treatment option deteriorates quickly after a short period once introduced. In addition to acclimation, these ultrasonic noise emitters are also limited by the blueprints of a home. The sound isn’t loud enough to penetrate walls so the ultrasonic frequency can only be heard inside the room the sound was played.