How to get rid of rats in an apartment

If you want to get rid of rats, but still haven’t found a method that works, don’t despair – you can get rid of rodents! We will tell you how to get rid of rats in a private house and apartment, about rat poisons and poisons, how effective electronic ultrasonic repellers are and why it is better to remove upholstered furniture from the room when using them. Is it possible to repel rodents with essential oils alone, and should you trust your grandmother’s folk advice on removing rats? You will find answers to all questions in this material.

There are many methods to combat these parasites that will not give them the opportunity to drive you crazy and destroy your home. But you must be prepared to fight comprehensively. We will tell you how to drive rats out of your house, what methods you can use to scare away or kill such unwanted neighbors, and how to make sure that they no longer appear on your territory - in an apartment or private house.

How to get rid of rats in the house: 5 basic methods

Scientists identify the following effective methods for controlling rats: changing the habitat, scaring them away, and exterminating them. We list the 5 most popular ways to get rid of such unpleasant neighbors:

• Use poison. Slowly but steadily poison the rodents using poison baits and hope that they go to die far from your home.
• Set up rat traps or electronic traps. In the first case, you will need to manually throw out the corpses, and in the second, simply shake out the contents into the trash can.
• Drive them out using electronic ultrasonic repellers. Such repellers can be placed both in an apartment and a private house.
• Use natural repellents around the perimeter of the house: sprays, granules and special sachets.
• Try traditional methods.

Rat poison: features of use in the home

Poisoned baits (rodenticides) are the most optimal way to massively and quickly destroy tailed creatures. They are divided into 2 categories: chronic poisons (contain anticoagulants) and acute poisons. The former (including bromadiolone, brodifacoum) disrupt the blood's ability to clot, causing bleeding - as a result, rodents die from internal hemorrhages. The latter are no less toxic, but act differently: they lead to kidney, liver or other failure, and then to death.

Poisons can have a cumulative effect or kill immediately after the first dose - it all depends on the specific brand of poison and the active ingredient. Typically, poisons containing anticoagulants take from several days to a couple of weeks to kill all pests. But no one knows where exactly each rat will eventually die - it can happen either in your home or on the street, if you're lucky.

In addition, poisonous baits should not be left indoors near small children and pets, who may naively try and eat the “candy” lying on the floor. It is better to place such products exactly where you saw rodents, and not allow anyone there. Be sure to use gloves when handling rat poison—rodents may be deterred by the human scent.

What poisons are most common today? The so-called “second generation” poisons based on brodifacoum and bromadiolone, which require only a single feeding. Most popular products:

Remedy for rats and mice “Shoo”

“ KYSH” is a rodenticide in the form of a soft dough-like mass in a 100 g bag. The active component is brodifacoum. With the help of this bait, you can get rid of unnecessary rodents in your house in the shortest possible time - and it costs only 145 rubles.

Price: 145 rub.

Bait granules “Help”

Bait granules “Help” are granules based on bromadiolone. A pack of 200 g allows you to quickly scatter the granules in any part of the house. Also suitable for getting rid of moles and mice. A universal budget choice for 29 rubles.

Price: 29 rub.

Bait granules Ratron

Bait granules “Ratron” for killing rats and mice are a more expensive rodenticide from Germany for 409 rubles (5 bags of 40 g of poison). The active ingredient is brodifacoum. Users note that the bait is so attractive to rodents that they find it themselves, chew through the packaging, eat it and die.

Price: 429 rub.

Killing rats with traps

Despite the fact that electronic rodent traps are becoming increasingly popular these days, the most popular are traditional spring mouse traps (rat traps) and sticky traps for rodents and insects.

If you don’t have too many rodents in your apartment, then start with simple traps - they are quite effective, although this is considered a rather cruel way to exterminate pests. Use a traditional mousetrap with bait - if there is only one rat running around, you can solve the problem fairly quickly. These devices are very budget-friendly - the standard version, like a metal rat trap, can be bought for only 99 rubles

We destroy rats using rat traps

In general, rat traps can also pose some danger to pets and children. For example, an ordinary crusher (usually called a mousetrap) has a spring so powerful that the clamp can break a cat’s paw or a child’s finger. In any case, the bruise from falling into such a trap will be very severe. However, this problem is solved by using a bait box - the rat trap is installed in it, the box is closed, and no one except rats will be able to touch the trap.

It is also useful to read: Effective means for fighting rats and mice

And in those places where neither children nor a cat or dog will find a rat trap, it can be installed openly.

Most often, at home, the simplest versions of rat traps and crushers are used to catch rats. They are easy to use, inexpensive (cost about 100 rubles) and very durable: with one trap, several generations of home owners can catch rats.

A more modern analogue of the crusher is the SuperCat rodent trap, which works on the same principle, but is more expensive.

In addition, recently electric rat traps powered by batteries have become increasingly popular - they are effective, safe and automatically not only kill rats, but also put them in a separate compartment (for the most expensive models) and notify the owner about the capture of the pest.

On a note

There are also glue traps on sale and just glue for rodents, which you can apply to a piece of cardboard and get a homemade glue trap. Disadvantages of this method: if a pet gets into the glue, it will have to be cut off, and in some cases the clothes of the “caught” child will only have to be thrown away. In addition, there is an opinion that glue rat traps are completely inhumane: the animal suffers in them for a long time until it dies of thirst.

Rat traps are installed where rats are most often found. The correct choice of effective bait is also very important, otherwise the animals will avoid the device.

The following are good baits:

• Food for cats or dogs;
• Smoked sausage;
• Smoked fish;
• Lard, fried on a match on one edge;
• Bread crust soaked in vegetable oil.

At the same time, cheese and fruit are not as attractive to rats as meat products.

Glue traps for mice

You can also place sticky glue traps that attract rats by smell and securely fix them, preventing them from escaping. Such traps are usually quite affordable: “Mr Mouse” adhesive plates cost 152 rubles (2 pieces in a set) and will help you catch several “tailed ones”. If there are too many of them, it’s easier to buy special glue for rodents and make sticky traps yourself using cardboard or other dense base - a very economical method. These traps will help not only at home, but will also solve the problem of how to get rid of rats in the chicken coop.

How to get rats out of the house: use an ultrasonic repeller

If you are against bloody methods of control and are simply looking for a way to drive rats out of your home (as well as an apartment, office, warehouse, etc.), use electronic ultrasonic repellers. These are small devices that apply ultrasound to rodents, causing them to flee in panic from the source of the waves. Repellers can be quite effective if you are looking for an alternative option for getting rid of rodents. Plus, it's safe for people and pets.

Most often, rodent repellers operate from the mains - to activate the device, you just need to plug it into an outlet. But a small apartment and a large house will require completely different models with different powers and types of impact. We will tell you about the most effective devices for fighting rats and mice in small, medium and large rooms and how to scare away rats with their help.

Ultrasonic repellers for an apartment or small house up to 200 m2

If there are rats in a one-room apartment or small house, it will be enough to use a low-power repeller. Such devices consume little electricity, are inexpensive and can cope with a rodent attack in a limited area using only ultrasound. The most popular ultrasonic repellers for small spaces are Tornado-200 and ElectroKot Classic.

Repeller “Tornado-200”

Tornado-200 operates in a single mode with a constantly changing frequency from 18 to 70 kHz. In this range, ultrasound “jumps” by 2-10 kHz every few minutes, which confuses the rodents, instills fear in them and makes them run away. Coverage of work area – up to 200 m2. As stated, Tornado can work at temperatures from -40 to 80 degrees, so you can safely leave it working in absolutely any room.

The device has a built-in stand, which allows you to install it on any hard surface. The manufacturer also recommends that for the best effect, attach the Tornado-200 as close to the ceiling as possible, directing its emitter to the center of the room. Based on user experience, this is valuable advice. So, Natalya writes:

“At first I didn’t understand why our Tornado didn’t work, because the rats continued to run around the basement - and this was with the device turned on! Then I realized that I had connected the repeller in the wrong place - right in front of the old sofa, which absorbed the ultrasound. When I cleared the room of upholstered furniture and other rubbish, the rats left after 3-4 days and have not appeared again yet.”

Remember that at the very beginning of using the device, it may seem that there are even more rodents in the room. This is the primary reaction to a new stimulus - ultrasound.

“For some time we were bothered at night by one or two rats that ran under the floor and rustled disgustingly, as if they were looking for something. One day one ran straight into our room while we were sleeping. We didn’t want to use poisons because rats die from them anywhere. When we finally connected the Tornado-200, the night running seemed to intensify. But we knew that increased activity from ultrasound was normal, so we left the device running. It seems that it was not in vain - in the following days we heard only 1 rat, and then they completely disappeared from the basement. While we sleep peacefully"

– one of the users shared his story.

Price: 1430 rub.

Repeller “ElectroCat Classic”

This repeller no longer has 1 operating mode, but 2 (day and night) with different emitted frequency ranges from a total of 5 to 100 kHz. This affordable ultrasonic repeller for ~₽999 is suitable for any room up to 200 m2, and, judging by satisfied user reviews, it copes very successfully with the task of scaring away uninvited tailed guests. The propagation angle of the device signal is 110 degrees. The frequency of ultrasound also constantly changes so that rodents do not have time to adapt to the same wave. It is possible to mount the device on the wall.

Users note that the repeller is a little noisy in the “Night” mode, but its effectiveness, apparently, outweighs this drawback, because they continue to purchase it. They advise, if possible, to install the device closer to the corner of the room to increase the coverage radius of the ultrasonic emitter. Svetlana Pavlovna left the following review:

“We have a small house, but it’s old, so the rats easily got inside and apparently decided to stay in the attic. I was even scared to go there after I saw the gnawed bags - they were probably looking for food. A neighbor advised me to buy an “ElectroCat” and turn it on at least at night. It worked, but at first the rats became even more active, and once I even saw little rats already on the stairs. It took more than one day to get rid of them - but it happened. Sometimes I turn the repeller on again so they don’t come back.”

Price: 1350 rub.

Rat and mouse repellers for medium and large rooms up to 1200 m2

Do you need to get rid of rats from a large house or a huge industrial premises? Here we need more powerful devices that also have a visual effect on rats. We have selected 3 repellers: 2 of them will cope with rats in an area of ​​up to 400 m2, and the last one, the most powerful, will take “anti-rat control” up to 1200 m2 of space using 7 different operating modes.

To protect an average-sized house, the “Tornado-400” and “ElectroCat Turbo” . They are both designed for a maximum area of ​​400 m2, but they also have a number of differences.

Repeller ElectroCat Turbo

The device has 2 operating modes: Day and Night with a constantly changing ultrasound frequency in the range from 5 to 50 kHz. It affects rodents in three ways at once: ultrasound, sound and light. In day mode, only ultrasound is activated; in night mode, the device emits acoustic vibrations in the audio and ultrasonic ranges. Both modes are accompanied by intermittent lighting of a powerful LED. Exposure to both hearing and vision at once gives a much better repellent effect than exposure to ultrasound alone. The propagation angle of the device signal is 110 degrees.

“ElectroCat Turbo” can be placed without additional fasteners and stands (it has its own), but if necessary, you can hang it on the wall. You can also manually aim the emitter at the desired part of the room. This is an excellent solution to the question: how to drive rats out of a large house. Tatyana (Moscow) writes:

“I would never have thought that we could have rats or mice in our dacha. But when they began to regularly find someone’s droppings in the house, they realized that they needed to urgently take action. We chose the “Turbo” model, because... We have a big house, we connect it both in daytime mode and in “noisy” night mode when we leave. There is already noticeably less litter in the house. By the way, dogs react to it normally and are not nervous. We will recommend the device to our friends.”

Evgeniy S. advises not to forget to remove decorative rodents from the house during treatment.

“I have a decorative rat, and then, by an unfortunate accident, a couple of mice appeared in the apartment. They seemed small, but they caused trouble, they even stole my food, it was disgusting. I decided to check the work of “ElectroCat Turbo”, but forgot about my rat! She was very scared, rushing around the cage while the device was working at home. It’s bad that I did this and didn’t immediately take her out, but on the other hand, it means that ultrasound really works on rodents. The mice, by the way, disappeared quickly, but, fortunately, there were simply few of them.”

Price: 1490 rub.

Ultrasonic repeller Tornado-400

Tornado-400 has one operating mode with one powerful emitter (range 18-70 kHz) and is similar in technical characteristics to the Tornado-200 model, with the exception of greater room coverage due to an increase in the size of the emitter. Many people use it not only at home, but also at work.

“I work in a small grocery warehouse, and as you know, there can be rats in there. It’s good that we quickly noticed this and purchased Tornado-400, otherwise we would have suffered heavy losses. But when they connected it, they didn’t believe at all that this box could be effective; they heard a lot from their friends. At the same time, they laid out the poison, but the rodents almost didn’t touch it, because... after 4 days they were already running around in panic, looking for a way out. Now we always leave the repeller on overnight so that this horror doesn’t happen again.”

– writes Timofey.

Price: 2250 rub.

Repeller “Tornado-1200”

The most powerful repeller we are considering will take control of up to 1200 m2! This makes it an excellent option not only for a large home, but also for use in industrial and retail spaces, as well as in large food warehouses, which rats love. The signal from Tornado-1200 extends to all 360 degrees due to the round shape of the device and 4 multi-directional emitters. The device affects not only ultrasound in the range from 16 to 76 kHz, but also sound (from 1 to 7 kHz) and irregular flashes of light.

Hang it even on the ceiling - due to its unusual futuristic design, it will not disfigure, but even decorate the space. While other devices have 2 operating modes, this one has as many as 7 - you can choose the one that suits any situation. You don’t have to remove the device to select a mode - to switch, use the remote control that comes with the kit.

There are fewer reviews for it than for more affordable models. But experienced users confirm that it is worth its price and drives rodents out even from large rooms.

“I'm delighted with Tornado-1200! We didn’t want to save money - we had to get rid of the rats as quickly as possible, because there was a small child at home. When choosing a repeller, we settled on the most powerful device that we found, since the house is large. It’s convenient that you can vary the modes (we leave only ultrasound and light on at night) without removing the device from the ceiling. Even a child can handle it. We were worried about the cat, but he has not yet responded to the device in any way - we hope everything will continue to be so. We use the second day, there are already noticeably fewer rats.”

Price: 5750 rub.

Advantages of the repeller

Among the advantages of repellers as a method of rodent control are the following: they are safe for people, dogs and cats, have an unlimited service life and consume very little electricity. They can be used in any residential, office, retail and industrial enterprises, as well as food warehouses.

How to use a repeller correctly

1. Ultrasound is well reflected from hard materials (wood, concrete, glass), but is also well absorbed by soft ones - curtains, carpets, upholstered furniture, food in soft containers. Therefore, the less furniture and other objects there are in the room with the repeller, the better the effect of the ultrasonic device on rodents will be and the faster you will see the result.
2. Ultrasound is not able to penetrate walls: each infected room will require a separate repeller.
3. Although such repellers are safe, it is not recommended to stay at a distance of less than 2 m from the switched on device for a long time.
4. When using a repeller, remove domestic rodents such as hamsters and guinea pigs from the room: ultrasound will also cause anxiety, fear and panic in them.
5. From the point of view of scientists, if ultrasonic devices were unable to drive rodents out of the room within 2-3 weeks of constant operation, another method should be used to get rid of rats and mice.

Comparison table of rat repellents

Natural repellents and folk remedies: are they effective?

Today, manufacturers present a lot of sprays, granules, sachets, which are recognized to repel rodents - is it effective? Scientists admit that in part yes, but in many respects the effect depends on the active substances of such products. These are usually essential oils that are believed to have a repellent effect: peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, etc.

Scientists explain: “Most deterrents can deter by smell, taste, or induce fear. Pepper, mint, garlic, various essential oils, castor oil, kieselguhr are considered so-called contact repellents of plant origin, acting through smell and taste. The third type of repellent contains animal ingredients, such as urine from predators (such as foxes), dried blood and hair, which panic the animals and cause them to flee."

Based on this, choose mouse repellents wisely - look at the composition and still use traps or poisons as the main method.

Getting rid of rats at home using folk remedies

There are many traditional methods of getting rid of rats. Many believe that they really help to do without poisons and other means. We do not undertake to judge how effective they really are, we will simply list a few popular recipes:

• Mix gypsum and flour 1:1 and leave this handful near a bowl of water - the rodent will eat and want to drink, but over time the gypsum will harden in its stomach.
• You can also drive rats out of a private cottage using ash, which is unpleasant for them because it irritates the skin.
• Make your own repellent: roll cotton balls, dip them in peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil and scatter them where pests have been spotted. This may scare them away.
• Get a cat: For many felines, there is nothing greater joy than chasing rodents - and the more of them, the better for the cat. Then all you have to do is collect dead carcasses around the house. But you cannot rely 100% on this method: not all cats catch mice or rats.

Traditional methods

Important! Any traditional method will do, but only if there are not too many rats. Otherwise, you need to contact a specialized rat extermination center. Let's name the most popular folk methods.

Gypsum and flour

These components must be taken in equal proportions. As for flour, you can take regular (wheat) or corn. Pour into a disposable bowl, add 250 ml of milk, knead the dough. Form balls from the finished mass and place them in places where individuals were previously seen. After a day, check for the presence of bait. Ideally it shouldn't exist. Otherwise, you will have to repeat this procedure, only choose other secret places.

Wine cork bait

An excellent “delicacy” for “tailed neighbors”. To prepare it, you need to grind several wine corks and fry them in lard. Place it wherever possible, but in safe places for domestic cats. What happens: after the mixture enters the esophagus, the cork powder begins to swell. This leads to deformation of the internal organs, and the individual dies. The fight continues until the squeaking and rustling in the house disappears.

Glue

Apply to thick cardboard, plastic or linoleum and leave in the area where rats are expected to move. It is advisable to prepare several such “paths” for them. Once on them, rodents will begin to get stuck in the sticky mass. This method is only suitable if a rat accidentally runs into the apartment. To finally get rid of them on the second floor, the owners must use several options at once. For example, an ultrasound device together with folk remedies.

Soda and sugar

Take flour, soda and granulated sugar in equal proportions and mix. Place them in containers wherever rodents have been spotted. Treats cause increased formation of gases (carbon dioxide). But since they do not know how to burp, they die.

Peppermint

Used fresh or dry. You can also purchase it in the form of an essential composition. But since it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to treat your entire house or basement with essential oil, it’s better to place sprigs of peppermint everywhere. Pests are afraid of this aroma, so they will avoid these places.

Advice! The best option is to plant mint around the house.

Blackroot

Another name for this plant is rat racer. With its help, it will be possible to get rid of an entire invasion of “tailed” parasites. You need to prepare a decoction or juice from it, and spray the room with the resulting mixture. Pay special attention to cracks and holes. . Black root is also added to baits instead of water or milk.

Elder

The main property of this shrub is the content of hydrocyanic acid. Neither rats nor mice will appear in the house if an elderberry is planted next to it. But if they have already started, then they need to be destroyed. To do this, plant branches need to be laid out in the basement, attic, under the sofa, refrigerator and in other places.

Reviews of people who managed to solve the problem with rats

Sveta: “I live in a village, so I know the problem with rodents firsthand. Very often these pests started in the barn and spoiled food and grain supplies. The poisons were effective, but these creatures appeared again over time. My husband and I decided to buy a repeller. And strangely enough, the parasites disappeared very quickly and did not appear again. I recommend devices like this.”

Vitaly: “I’ve been using “Rat Death” for a long time and am very pleased. After using the drug, the pests disappear very quickly and do not appear again. The drug is very cheap and you can buy it almost everywhere.”

Oksana: “Rats lived in my barn. As soon as I bought the repeller, the problem disappeared on its own. Although the device has a fairly high price, the result is worth the money spent.”

Rat "screams of terror"

Like some other animals, rats can be repelled by playing their own danger signals. This method is sometimes used to scare away birds and to control monkeys on tropical farms. Once a recorded cry of danger is enough to use it almost constantly and effectively.

It is also useful to read: Rat Death Poison No. 1: instructions for use and reviews of the product

However, some rules must be followed:

• The sound should not be played regularly so that the animals do not get used to it;
• The sound should be clearly audible throughout the room;
• The actual cries of danger must be recorded, and not just squeaks;
• Recording and reproducing equipment must capture the ultrasonic frequency range.

In domestic conditions, the implementation of this method will in most cases be ineffective. Firstly, using a smartphone or computer microphone to record rat squeals is not the best option, since the ultrasonic component will not be recorded at all (even vibrations above 15-17 kHz will be recorded with distortion). Secondly, reproduction will also require emitters (speakers) capable of reproducing ultrasonic vibrations without significant distortion. Well, and thirdly, few people would want to live in a house where a loud rat squeal is constantly suddenly heard.

The use of ultrasonic rat and mouse repellers in this regard would be more justified.

On a note

People know the harsh old-fashioned way of scaring away rats: they used to simply catch a live rat and nail it to the wall. While the animal was dying, its relatives heard the terrible screams of its agonizing fellow. However, for humane reasons, such a method should in no case be considered for practical implementation.

How to get rid of a rat in an apartment?

If you find a rodent in your apartment, start by cleaning. No matter how trivial it may sound, most likely the pest appeared due to the fact that you have unsanitary conditions.

Do not clutter your room, do not leave dishes in the sink for a long time, and put all food in the refrigerator, since you can only get rid of these animals by organizing in perfect order.

Rodents enter apartments through garbage chutes or sewers. In rare cases, a rat can enter an apartment through the toilet. Find all the holes and loopholes in the wall - if you notice the slightest crack, repair it immediately. Most likely, by following these simple tips, you will rid your apartment of such unwanted guests as rodents.

Which methods are suitable for an apartment? Using poisons in an apartment building is scary. If you just call specialists from the sanitary and epidemiological station or any commercial organization, they will scatter poison in the basement. You can use electronic repellers in the apartment itself.

How to prevent rats from appearing in the house?

1. Clean the area around your home more often. Don't leave trash, as rodents and other pests can use it.
2. Watch the trees and shrubs near your home, as all rodents are attracted to thick branches and dry, unkempt plants. If they make a “nest” there, they will most likely want to visit your home in search of food.
3. Make sure there are no entry holes or crawl spaces in walls or other areas. Any through hole in the wall or roof of your home or outbuildings is guaranteed to bring these rodents to you, especially during the cold season. These creatures are excellent climbers and can fit through even very small openings, so eliminate any possible entry points. Use wire mesh to cover any existing openings and reinforce weak spots such as old doors and window frames.
4. Eliminate any sources of standing water in the yard: When tailed animals cannot get into the house, they prefer a moist environment. They are extremely dependent on water, and if their fluid intake is significantly reduced, they will die. This is why they need water or wet food.
5. If you feed your pets outside, do not leave leftover food outside overnight. Rats in the house are especially active at this time and they will happily come running to eat.

Follow these rules of prevention and you won’t have to look for an answer to the question: how to deal with rats.