Mice quite often appear in a person’s home, so you have to fight them by any available means, although this is not easy to do, since they are much smarter than insects. They often bypass traps and also remember the places where they were set. In addition, mice are distinguished by their tenacity, since over the centuries they have managed to develop immunity against various toxic substances.
Therefore, the same question always arises: how to deal with these pests, which can easily destroy food supplies, damage furniture and other things, damage electrical wiring, etc. However, few people know that rodents are afraid of bright aromas and loud sounds. If we take into account these features, then it is precisely with such weaknesses in mind that we should fight against them. Folk remedies also have a certain effectiveness, in the form of various herbs, as well as substances prepared on the basis of natural or other components that are safe for humans.
Causes of mice
A person’s home attracts rodents for a number of reasons, the main one being the presence of sufficient food. In addition, you can easily spend the winter in an apartment or in a private house in comfortable environmental conditions. At the same time, mice do not disdain anything. They can easily enjoy bulk food stored in bags, as well as nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, etc. If they get rid of these reserves, they will easily begin to “sharpen” furniture, electrical wires, foam insulation, etc.
The presence of heat, as well as unsanitary conditions in the home, are ideal conditions for the life of such parasites.
Signs of mice appearing in your home
Rodents can be wild and ornamental, so not all people are afraid of them. Some people simply keep them in cages and feed them food, and also clean up after them. Some people have a negative attitude towards any type of rodents, and some of them are simply terrified of them. And not in vain, since proximity to such living creatures does not bring any benefit, but only harm, and the harm is significant, considering that mice are carriers of very serious diseases.
If you take these negative factors and put them together, you get a rather unsightly picture that points to one single path - active control of these pests. And you can’t hesitate here, since mice reproduce at a fairly fast pace. The fewer there are, the easier it is to get rid of them.
Once settled in a person’s home, they can cause significant damage, for example:
- They were called rodents because they don't care what they chew, as long as their teeth do their job. They don’t disdain anything and for them ruining furniture, shoes or other things is not a problem, but for humans it is a real problem.
- They often chew the insulation on electrical wires, which leads to a fire due to short circuits, and this is a direct threat to everyone who lives in an apartment or private house.
- Rodents can carry diseases dangerous to humans, such as plague, for example. Therefore, you should not hesitate to get rid of such a neighborhood.
- Rodents eat anything, even foam and plastic. Eating food after mice have chewed it is strictly prohibited.
- In the presence of rodents, a peculiar “mouse” smell appears, which cannot be confused with any other, and which lasts for a long time.
Therefore, fighting mice in a person’s home is the primary task, which is not recommended to be left “for later.”
There are several signs that indicate the appearance of “uninvited” guests in an apartment or in a private house. For example:
- Mice are active in the dark and even during the day, if nothing and no one interferes with their activity. A chance encounter with rodents, especially during the day, indicates that there are quite a lot of adult rodents in the home.
- The presence of mouse feces, which look like dark balls (like pellets), which are usually found near food, in dark corners or generally in hard-to-reach places.
- The presence of damaged things, chewed wires, furniture or other household items. In addition, there may be gnawed holes in the walls if they are made of wood.
- The first thing you can smell is an unpleasant odor, which indicates that rodents have entered the home.
Even one sign is enough to start fighting these pests using any available methods.
How to get rid of Mice The most pleasant way!
How to understand that pests have appeared in the house
How can you tell if there are small rodents in your home? It is enough to pay attention to the following signs of their presence in the home:
- the appearance of gray soft droppings that harden within a few days;
- musty smell in the house;
- the appearance of holes in the floor and walls, around which there are scraps of chewed paper;
- unusual noises at night: rustling, squeaking.
If you notice several of these signs in your home at once, you can be sure that there are already mice in your home. It's time to take the necessary measures to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
What mice are afraid of: methods of control
To prevent rodents from appearing in an apartment or private house, it is enough to create uncomfortable conditions for them. When starting to fight them, it is necessary to know the behavioral characteristics of these pests, as well as their unique abilities. Their hearing and sense of smell are quite developed, so they cannot tolerate strong aromas and loud sounds, as this interferes with their ability to navigate in space. Folk methods of control are based on repellent plants that emit strong and persistent aromas. A person may not perceive them or, moreover, they may be pleasant for him, but for rodents they are a complete discomfort. As a result, they immediately try to leave the place.
There is another factor that is actively used in the fight against rodents - ultrasonic waves that mice perceive. If you select the power and frequency of ultrasonic waves, then the rodents begin to panic, they lose orientation, refuse to eat and after a while leave the area that is dangerous for them.
Unfortunately, such devices, when used for a long time, can harm humans, with the exception of decorative rodents. On which devices operate similarly. Therefore, it is better to use such devices in non-residential premises.
The fight against toxic substances is highly effective compared to folk remedies. With the help of insecticides, it is possible to destroy entire hordes of rodents in a short time. Due to the fact that such substances are dangerous for humans and domestic animals, their use must be considered, as children, infirm family members, pregnant women, and pets may be harmed.
Repellent plants and other folk remedies
As a rule, most people are not enthusiastic about chemical means of control, and prefer folk remedies and recipes. Therefore, the fight against rodents begins:
- From the use of wormwood . This plant is considered effective in controlling rodents. If you fumigate a room with wormwood, then after a while the mice will leave the room in search of better comfort.
- Using peppermint . Everyone knows this plant because many of the mint leaves are used to make tea. For humans, mint is a wonderful and desirable aroma, but for rodents it is a problem. To get rid of rodents, just spread fresh mint leaves in secluded places where mice prefer to appear.
- Using hazel grouse bulb . The root of this plant emits an unpleasant bulbous aroma, which negatively affects the behavior of rodents.
- With the use of black root . This plant is popularly called “rat racer”. The substances that this plant secretes have a fatal effect on the pest. Not only the plant itself is dangerous for them, but also its aroma, so pests, having smelled the smell of this plant, bypass it “the tenth way”.
- With the use of marsh wild rosemary . Contains essential oils that are harmful to mice. Even at a great distance, this plant is dangerous for rodents. To prevent rodents from getting into your home, it is enough to lay out the branches of this plant around the perimeter of the house.
- From the use of elderberry roots , which release hydrocyanic acid, which is dangerous to the life of many pests. Sometimes it is enough to plant one elderberry bush near the house and pests such as rodents will stay at a considerable distance from the house.
- Using plants such as chamomile, tansy, pyrethrum . A decoction is prepared from these plants, poured into a spray bottle and sprayed in an apartment or house, paying special attention to secluded places where pests can hide.
Using such products is very simple, but their effectiveness is enough to get rid of pests once and for all.
On a note! When using poisonous plants to get rid of rodents, it is better to work with gloves and a gauze bandage. After treatment, it is necessary to burn all personal protective equipment or treat them with disinfectants.
MICE will run away from your house in an instant...
Use of essential oils and spices
Instead of plants, it is permissible to use essential oils of these plants. This product has a richer aroma, so you can cope with the task more effectively. To combat pests, you can take cotton wool or scraps of some fabric, soak them in essential oils and place them in problem areas in your home.
Rodents also react negatively to spices, which can always be found in the housewife’s kitchen. To repel pests, you can use coriander, cilantro, etc. They should be placed in cabinets and replaced with fresh ones from time to time.
Fighting in non-residential premises
Rodents can be seen everywhere, including in non-residential premises where root crops, vegetables, fruits, etc. are stored for the winter. In such premises it is better to use toxic substances, especially since pets do not have access to them. In addition, they will help destroy “uninvited guests” much faster.
Available means such as burnt rubber, mothballs, burnt wool, low-quality cologne, as well as low-quality food products can easily replace purchased electronic devices. Naturally, such means cannot be used where people live. The most important thing is that you should always work in a protective suit, gloves and a respirator. The room is treated and tightly closed for several days, after which it is well ventilated.
Rodent control using traps
A trap is a simple device that can be made at home from available materials. Despite their simplicity, the effect of traps is quite significant. There are traps:
- Mechanical type . Their work is based on the fact that the animal is lured into a trap using bait, after which the mechanism is triggered and the trap slams shut. Any food products are used as bait: cheese, sausage, seeds, pieces of bread, etc.
- Adhesive based . A piece of paper or plywood is covered with a layer of adhesive, and a bait is placed in the center. If the mouse tries to try the bait, it will stick, since the glue acts quite quickly.
MOUSETRAP from a JAR or HOW TO CATCH ALL THE MICE
Smells
Very simple and affordable “repellers” can be added to this category:
These plants have a very strong odor that rodents do not like. If you place fresh or dry bunches around the house, the mice will soon leave. If you don’t have plants on hand, use cotton wool soaked in appropriate essential oils.
Read also How to get rid of aphids on geraniums
A good out-of-season method is cilantro. Fresh herbs can be bought at almost any market. It should be laid out near the intended place of residence of the mouse and changed as it dries.
In the kitchen, you can use coriander against mice: rodents also do not like its smell. The spice can be placed in drawers and shelves with products.
There are other smells that mice don't like. These are naphthalene, tar, burnt rubber, kerosene. They can be used in technical rooms: garages, basements. You can also use bleach, vinegar, and ammonia to repel mice.
If you have a product made of natural fur or a pet, take some wool and set it on fire. This smell signals to mice a great danger: fire. Rodents prefer to leave the room where they smell this smell.
It should be remembered: pests can get used to odors, so it is recommended to alternate them.
Prevention measures
It is always easier to prevent the appearance of pests in a person’s home than to fight them later. As preventive measures, it is enough to follow a number of recommendations. For example:
- All ventilation systems must be equipped with special grilles to prevent pests from entering a person’s home.
- Seal all cracks in the house or apartment.
- All food products, especially bulk foods, must be stored in special containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Constantly maintain proper sanitary conditions in the house, remove garbage in a timely manner and do not clutter the premises with unnecessary old things.
Important! When rodents, as well as other pests or insects appear in your home, you must immediately take measures to expel or destroy them. Such proximity in an apartment or house will not lead to anything good. The most important thing is to prevent pests from appearing in the apartment, so as not to have to deal with them later, wasting useful time and money.
The following video explains effective methods and useful tips for controlling mice and rats.
Bright light
A rather complex and unreliable method of controlling rodents. Yes, mice are really afraid of sudden bright light, because, like many other pests, they are nocturnal. But they can only be scared by a sudden bright light in the middle of the night. It will need to be turned on very often.
Therefore, this method must be combined with others. A bright constant light will have no effect: the mice will get used to it.
Mice are not afraid of water itself because they can swim well. The only danger for them is homemade traps that use containers of water.
The mouse cannot jump out of the container, so it drowns.
Regular ash contains a lot of alkali. It irritates the paws of mice, so rodents try to avoid places where ash has accumulated.
When controlling pests, it must be scattered near the burrows.
