How to drive away rats? home remedies to get rid of rats.

Driving away rats is not always easy, especially if we do not know the behavior of the species, since we are talking about rodents that reproduce extremely easily. Rats can also become unwanted visitors because, like other animals, they are capable of transmitting diseases to humans and vice versa.

In homes and apartments around the world, rats find shelter and food, using as little space as possible and trying to go unnoticed as much as possible. So, if you want to know how to get rid of rats, in this Animal Wised article you will discover x very effective non-harmful remedies to keep them away from your home and prevent them from reappearing.

 

Characteristics of rats

Rats are rodents belonging to the Muridae family. They measure around 30 centimeters, have an elongated body and a pointed snout. They display a long, thin tail, as well as short dark brown, light brown, or black fur. Also discover at AnimalWised how to tell the difference between a rat and a mouse.

These animals are able to adapt to different environments, since they eat practically any food, swim, dig, climb and run. However, this same ability to adapt has led them to live in the aqueducts of the cities, where they can contract all kinds of diseases.

Among the diseases that rats transmit to humans we can highlight salmonella, parasites or bubonic plague. In addition, they can also suffer from infestations of external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, as well as internal parasites. For all these reasons, the ideal is to keep them from home. To find out how to scare away rats, read our following recommendations.

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How to drive away rats from the house?

Discovering that there are rats living in your house can worry you, but you just need to put into practice the following tips on how to get rid of rats without killing them. These are home remedies and solutions that will help you scare away these rodents naturally.


1. Deep cleaning

Rats settle in places where they find the right conditions to survive, so the first step is to eliminate those elements that are attractive to them. To do this, a thorough cleaning of the house is required:

  • Take out the garbage every day.
  • Acquire airtight trash cans and close the bags very well.
  • Make sure that sewers, sinks, drains and other water outlets are fixed and prevent the entry of animals.
  • Perform a deep cleaning of all areas of the home. Use bleach or chlorine and take special care to move all furniture and appliances to clean behind them, especially in the kitchen. The idea is to remove any debris that could serve as food for the rats.
  • Store food in airtight containers.
  • Don't leave food out in the open.
  • Clean all kitchen surfaces when you stop using them. Get rid of boxes, old clothes, and items that have been in storage for a long time, as they create an environment for rats to hide in. Bet on plastic boxes with lids to keep your belongings.
  • The spaces occupied by children and pets must be sanitized daily with vinegar or lemon, since bleach and chlorine can be toxic to them.
  • During the cleaning process you should wear gloves and a mask, since the dust from the dried feces of rats is harmful to health.

You may need to carry out several cleanings and even hire a professional team to do it, this is a crucial step when it comes to scaring away rats.


2. Mint

Mint is among the most effective home remedies to drive away rats, as its strong smell repels them. You can use peppermint oil or fresh mint as follows:

  • Soak cotton balls with peppermint oil, put the balls in glass containers and place them unclosed at the entrances of the house, windows and places where you have detected that rats enter the home.
  • Fresh mint leaves can be placed in muslin bags and left in the same strategic spaces.
  • The same mint leaves are used to prepare a cleanser. You just have to boil a mint tea, that is, emulsify several leaves in hot water for an hour. Then, add the resulting water to a container with a spray bottle and use it to clean the different areas of your house.

Repelling rats from the house with mint is very simple, you just have to remember to change the leaves or cotton balls every 3 or 4 days, since they lose their smell.

 

3. Pepper and clove

Spices are excellent remedies to drive away rats without killing them. Not only are they natural, but you can also make them with ingredients you find in your kitchen. Gather several cloves and cayenne pepper, fill them in muslin bags and place them in different parts of the house, the strong aroma will scare away the rats. Remember that you must replace them when you stop perceiving their effect.

 

4. Hot sauce and detergent

If you like hot sauce, you will be happy to know that it is an excellent remedy to keep rats out of your house. In a bowl, mix 1/2 part water, 1/2 part liquid detergent, and 20 drops of hot sauce. Use this homemade method to clean all kinds of surfaces. It is not recommended if you have pets or children, as they could suffer from irritation with the effect of the hot sauce.

 

5. Ammonia

The smell of ammonia is very unpleasant for rodents, since it is similar to that emitted by the urine of large predators, so it scares away rats easily. Purchase powdered ammonia and mix it with water. Then spray this home remedy in corners, behind furniture, and on problem areas. This method is not recommended if you have pets or children, as it is toxic to them.

 

6. Onion

How to drive away rats from the house with home remedies? Something as simple as onion will help you in this task. Using it is very easy: cut several onions into slices and place in open containers near windows, drains and areas where rats enter.

 

7. Ultrasound devices

When it comes to scaring away rats, ultrasound devices are among the most effective at doing so without harming these rodents. These devices are simple: they emit a low-frequency sound that is impossible for humans to perceive, but that is very unpleasant for rats, other rodents and some insects. You can buy them at home goods stores.

 

The only condition for the effectiveness of these devices is to place them right on the path that the rats follow to enter your house, since the sound they transmit is directed in only one direction.

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How to get rid of garden rats?

Now that you know how to get rid of rats in your house, you need to know how to get rid of rats in the garden. When these rodents invade a house, it is not enough to apply the remedies inside, you also need to apply them in the garden and surroundings. We offer you the following home remedies to scare away rats without killing them and without poison:

 

1. Mint

Mint is the protagonist among the methods for the garden, you just have to plant several aromatic plants and make sure to keep them healthy. The rich and fresh aroma that its leaves give off will be very pleasant for your garden and will scare away rats at the same time.

 

2. Cleaning

Garden cleanliness is also crucial to keep rats away. Remove natural debris such as logs, leaves, dry plants, among others. Also, keep trash cans sealed and eliminate standing water deposits.

 

3. Other aromatic plants

Mint is not the only plant that serves to scent the garden while keeping rats away. Lavender, calendula, peppermint and basil are just as effective, you just have to make sure you keep the plants healthy and water frequently, as this helps them release more powerful aromas.

 

4. Wire mesh

If rats find their way into your yard through a fence, consider installing metal mesh to keep them out. It is a simple way to drive away rats without poison, because if they do not enter your home, you will not have a problem with them.

 

How to get rid of rats from the ceiling?

One of the places where rats take refuge is the ceiling. Scaring them away from there is a bit more complicated, but you can do it with the following tips.

  1. Identify cracks and crevices that allow rats to enter your home. You'll be surprised how agile they are at getting into small spaces, so don't underestimate the cracks.
  2. When locating the cracks, seal on the inside, that is, on the side of the cracks that is inside the hearth. Use putty, plaster, or cement, depending on the size of the problem, and don't hesitate to hire a professional if necessary.
  3. Once the internal entrances are sealed, apply one or more of the home remedies to drive away rats that we have described above. In this way, they will not be able to enter the house and the only option to get away from the odors will be to leave the roof outside.
  4. Checking that all the rats are gone, it's time to repair the external cracks. You must make sure that none are trapped on the ceiling, it could chew the walls to try to escape. On the outside, repair cracks and fissures with plaster and metal mesh.
  5. After a few days, thoroughly check the house for evidence of rats, such as feces, torn bags of food, gnawed objects, etc.

These are effective methods of repelling rats without poison and without killing them. Do not hesitate to hire professionals to carry out repairs to your home if the cracks are pronounced.