It’s dark, it’s cold and it’s December and unfortunately with the long nights and the chilly weather comes a common winter problem: rats.
Rats, mice and other rodents are some of the few creatures that are actually just as much a problem in winter as they are in summer thanks to their nocturnal nature and their constant search for food.
But according to pest repelling experts, there is one way you can deter rats from entering your house, or even your garden – by using vinegar.
Vinegar, along with several other smelly solutions, is one of the scents which rats hate, and will turn and run away from.
If you find evidence of rats in your garden, or worse, your house, you will naturally want to deter them. Rats can leave droppings, spread disease, scatter rubbish and drive away other, beneficial wildlife in your garden.
And while rats are generally not likely to be harmful to you if you run into one, most of us probably wouldn’t feel at ease knowing that there’s an infestation of these brown and grey rodents visiting or living in our gardens.
Vinegar, peppermint oil and garlic are three common kitchen ingredients that rats can’t stand, according to garage door firm Garolla, which has experience in trying to deter rats from garages as well as gardens.
Alastair Mayne, chief operating officer at Garolla, said: “Use natural repellents. If you’re wanting an easy way to discourage pests from your home, you can use different essential oils or ingredients to deter them.
“For example, rats hate the smell of peppermint oil, vinegar and garlic. Scattering black pepper around entry points to your property will also irritate their noses and stop them from entering.
“Mosquitos and flies can be repelled by citronella or lemongrass. This way, you’re not hurting the pests invading your property, but you are repelling them so strongly that they’re unlikely to return.”
If rats are entering your home, too, there’s more you can do to keep them out – including sealing up entry points.
Alastair added: “Seek out entry points: If rats and pests are getting into your property, one of the first things you should do is to find the source of the entry, and seal it tightly, so that they cannot re-enter. You can do this with mesh, screens, or sealant. It’s also important to keep an eye on vents or cracks under doors, as most pests, especially rats and mice, are small enough to fit in the tiniest of spaces.”
Comments are closed.