A few of the ways of preventing mice are with natural mouse deterrent sprays, scent pouches, steel wool sealant cloth, and ultrasonic sound devices. Let us take a look at each option.
Do Scents Repel Mice?
In 2010 a study by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute’s Stowers Lab published findings on Cell.com showing that mice display an innate fear-like behavior to different predator odors.
Furthermore, proteins purified from predators, such as cats, trigger this fear-like behavior.
The interesting part of the study was that this behavior was not learned but a genetic instinct carried down from generations of mice.
With these findings, mice prevention products using scents as a deterrent to repel mice, actually, has scientific evidence to back them up.
Using Essential Oils to Repel Mice
The uses of essential oils seem to be endless. Peppermint oil has been found to be a very effective natural repellent for spiders, mosquitos, mice and other rodents.
If you are using peppermint oil to repel mice, just add several drops on cotton balls and place in areas where mice may visit, such as a kitchen pantry or in a drawer.
In addition to mice prevention, peppermint oil is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal, which makes it an excellent natural all-purpose cleaner.
If you’re looking for a quality brand for repelling mice, check out Peppermint Essential Oil by Essentially KateS on Amazon.
It includes a detailed user’s guide E-book as a nice bonus to get you started.
Using Natural Scent Pouches to Repel Mice
Scent pouches can also be used for preventing mice and other rodents.
I lived in Boston for a while during my college years and had mice in my apartment bedroom. The little guys would dart out from under the heating vent at night. It was unpleasant to think they were crawling around the bedroom while I was sleeping.
However, a couple of Fresh Cabs placed under the heating vent would have done the trick. Other areas to use them are in basements, attics, pantries, cabins, under hot tubs, in garages, storage units, sheds, barns, in your car, truck, RV, tractor, and boat.
The smell can be quite strong, so if you are using them in your home, it may be unpleasant since they are farm grade repellent packs.
They are made in the USA by a great company called EarthKind, the only company to develop a botanical rodent repellent that meets federal EPA standards for professional pest control use/effectiveness in indoor/enclosed areas.
If using for prevention, each pouch protects a 125 sq. feet area for up to 90 days. For use in currently infested areas, you can increase to 1 pouch per 8 sq. feet of floor space, and replace every 30 days.
If you are looking for a good mice repellent pouch Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent Packs, are available on Amazon and come in 4,5,8,12,16 and 32 packs.
How to Make Your Own Scent Pouches to Repel Mice
If you would like to make your own mouse repellent pouches here is a quick and easy recipe:
- Add 1/2 cup of water to a mixing bowl.
- Slowly add baking soda while stirring till you have a thick batter.
- Add 10 drops of peppermint oil into the batter and mix well. For a stronger, more effective scent add 10 drops of eucalyptus oil as well. You can also make a good scent repeller using a combination of cedarwood oil, rosemary oil, and mint oil.
- Next, add the mix to a silicone tray of your desired shape and let harden for 12 to 24 hours.
- When hardened put the repellent cubes in a muslin drawstring bag (optional) and place in the desired locations.
Using Mouse Repellent Sprays
You can make your own with essential oils and water, however, if you prefer to pick one up pre-made, then the Exterminators Choice Mice Defense Spray is a chemical-free all-natural rodent repellent spray to control mice and rats.
It is made from peppermint oil, rosemary oil, white pepper, vinegar, and water.
It can be used in attics, garages, sheds and around entry points and it is easy to use. Just shake well and spray in area’s where you have found mouse activity.
This product is made in the USA and is available in 32 and 128 oz. Check out the Exterminators Choice Mice Defence Spray on Amazon.
Sealing Entry Points With Steel Wool Fabric
Once on the roof, they will find small gaps and cracks. Sometimes near a chimney, other roof vents or under roof tiles. From there they will get into the attic to make a nest.
Other common entry points are the holes where Air conditioning or plumbing pipes penetrate the walls or through weep holes in brick homes.
The best way to prevent mice from using these holes is to seal them up with a steel wool fabric that will deter them from getting in.
The steel wool material is very sharp and mice do not like to touch or chew it. Make sure you wear gloves when handling this fabric and have a good pair of heavy duty shears to make it easier to cut into the lengths you need.
Once cut to size, fill the entire gap tightly to prevent mice from scratching it out of place and getting back into the hole.
You can pick up mice prevention products made from steel wool on Amazon. I recommend trying the Xcluder Rodent Control Steel Wool Fill Fabric.
Make sure you wear glove when handeling this product. The steel wood is very sharp and rodents do not like to chew or scratch on it.
Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellent Devices For Mice Work?
Many homeowners report Ultrasonic devices to be effective, however, professionals say they just don’t work.
In a 2014 study done by the University of Arizona, concluded (p.3)”Commercially available sonic pest devices for use in residential applications have not been shown to be effective in scientific studies. For this reason, the use of these devices is not advised to treat common pest problems. Although some researchers are developing sonic techniques that illustrate promise for very specific pests, these technologies are yet to be commercially available.”
My opinion of Ultrasonic pest repellers is mixed.
Sound waves have been shown to be able to affect animal behavior and even can kill them under the right conditions, however, these technologies are usually not available to the public.
Also, even though many of the products available say they are safe around pets. Cats, dogs and even pet birds can hear ultrasonic sounds, which may be an issue for pet owners.
On the other hand, many homeowners have reported good success with ultrasonic devices to control mice which cannot be denied.
After pouring over hundreds of reviews on several dozen ultrasonic deterrent products I feel most do not work as intended and are a waste of time and money.
However, I did find one with great reviews which if you are still interested in using them as a deterrent, take a look at the Ultrasonic Pest Reject Repeller by BRISON and check out the reviews on Amazon for yourself.
Conclusion
If you are facing an infestation of mice, using prevention methods alone may not solve your pest problems.
You may need to do a trapping campaign first to get rid of them, seal up the entry points, set out you traps and use the mice prevention products that are mentioned in this review as an additional layer of prevention.
For more information on how to get rid of mice, check out my reviews of the Best Snap Traps For Mice or Best Electronic Zapper Traps and for the most humane methods check out the Best Live Mouse Traps.
For more general information on mice and ways to get rid of them, read the post on The Best Ways to Get Rid of Mice.
