Last updated on February 20th, 2023 at 09:57 am
Did you know that rodent infestation plagues one-third of Americans? One survey found that 14 million occupied housing units saw roaches within the past 12 months, while 14.8 million spotted mice and rats within the same period.
These statistics should worry you, considering the U.S. is a first-world country. Rats are widespread in poor urban communities.
A rat infestation, when uncontrolled, can wreak havoc in your home, rendering it inhabitable. A south Ottawa woman–Crystal Tully, had to flee her rat-infested apartment after experts warned of impending health hazards if she continued living there.
You now realize why you should find a quick fix to rodents in your home if you notice any of their activity, lest you risk being driven away just like Tully. This post discusses all the natural ways to keep rats away from your home. You’ll never have to deal with rats again.
What Smell Kills Rats Instantly?
Knowing what smells attract rats is the first step toward their control. You’ll know things to keep away from your home to avoid attracting them.
But if they’re already living with you under the same roof, finding an instant solution may be all you need. And while many homemade solutions, like peppermint and onion smells, may suffocate and kill rats, ammonia is your best option if you want to kill rats instantly.
Here’s how to prepare an ammonia solution from home:
- Pour 100-200 ml into a bowl
- Add 2 to 21/2 cups of ammonia
- Add 2-3 spoonfuls of detergent to the bowl and stir well
- Place the bowl with the ammonia mixture where the rats frequent and wait for the magic
What Scent Will Keep Rats Away?
If you just moved into an area with lots of rat infestation, using repellants to keep them away from your home and garden is a good idea. Rats hate many cents, some of which you may already have in your kitchen.
Here’s a list of natural rodent repellants you can keep at home.
- Ammonia
- Mothballs
- Bleach
- clover
- Peppermint oil
- Eucalyptus
- Citronella oil
- White vinegar
- Hot peppers and more
For maximum results, read about how to use each of them instead of distributing them aimlessly at home.
Does Bleach Keep Rats Away?
Rats hate pungent smells, and bleach is one of them. Using it around your home frequently in your laundry will keep rodents away. Use in moderation, as too much bleach is also harmful when inhaled by humans.
Killing Rats With Coke
Rats don’t burp. As a result, many people assume coca cola or carbonated drinks can work as a rodent control method when consumed to a certain amount. However, using coca cola drinks to kill rats will not work.
Killing Rats With Salt
Salt is a dehydrating agent that causes severe water loss in the rat’s body when consumed excessively. Rats can take up to 24 hours to die after consuming a certain amount of salt–usually between 70 to 75 grams (0.16 lbs).
To kill rats with salt, add it to a detergent or any food they love and place it near your cupboard or any area rats visit more often. Ensure there’s no clean drinking water near your bait.
Killing Rats With Paracetamol
Human drugs like paracetamol and other oral contraceptives cause pet deaths when ingested.
According to one scientific study on the effects of paracetamol on rodents, all animals died at intervals of 2, 6, 24, 72, and 168 hours after paracetamol treatment.
Although paracetamol will kill rats, the toxicity is slower and can take up to about one week after ingestion before the rat dies.
Do Rats Hate the Smell of Vinegar?
Pungent smells irritate rodents’ distinct sense of smell. They can’t smell food or predators around them.
Vinegar has a strong acetic acid smell, making it an excellent repellant to keep rats away from your home. You can soak it in cotton balls or spray it around your home to bar rats from coming close.
Do Rats Hate the Smell of Lavender?
Lavender is among plants and herbs with strong aromatic smells used to repel rats, moths, mosquitoes, and other unwanted pets from home. You can either grow it in your garden or sprinkle its stalks at the bases of other plants in your garden.
Alternatively, put lavender oil drops in cotton balls and place them strategically where rats can smell them.
How to Keep Rats Away From Your House
Do not wait for rats to enter your home to start dealing with them. But even if they do, here are practical ways to drive them away and permanently keep them off.
- Fill all holes and cracks they can slip into while under attack
- Use repellents
- Trim trees and shrubs around your home
- Use poison and baits
- Remove all their habitats within the house
- Check your neighborhood
I Found a Rat in My House, is There More?
One rat in your home may be a strong indicator of more. Here’s what you can do immediately after spotting a rat in your room.
- Access possible entry gaps like baseboards or any cracks within your home
- Do a thorough cleaning and check for damp areas on the floor
- Use strong scents and other rat repellents
- Call a pest control professional
Homemade Traps For Rats
Managing rodents at home doesn’t take much if you know what to do. Most of the remedies are already within your reach at home. Here are the best homemade traps for rats you can prepare and use today.
Best Homemade Rat Poison
There are plenty of homemade rat poisons, but not all work the same. Experts advise using ammonia as the most preferred homemade poison for rats.
Instead of waiting for rats to come home to start dealing with them, use an ammonia solution to keep them off completely.
Its strong scent scares rats away as they confuse it with the smell of a predator’s urine. Know what works for you in case you’re also allergic to ammonia’s pungent smell.