Mice and rodents are a problem no matter where you live. They can be a problem at any time of the year but they especially explode as an issue in the fall and winter.
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Cool Days Drive Rodents to Run for Cover
Once the days start to cool, mice, rats, and other rodents start to move indoors, looking for more comfortable places to spend the cold months. They’ll flock to anywhere that seems like a good place to stockpile or find food, warm nesting materials, and hidden places to build those nests.
They’ll move into homes, campers, boats, sheds, greenhouses, garages…even vehicles! Stored off-season vehicles like ATV’s and motorcycles are favorite targets.
Once they’re in, they do a lot of damage, building smelly, unhealthy, waste-soaked nests, chewing wires, and more. They’ll chew up cushions and upholstery to line their nests and make them warm. You might even find these nests in drawers and cabinets come spring!
It’s a disgusting situation at best and a costly and damaging one at worst.
The Trouble with Typical Mice and Rodent Deterrents
There are some things you can do, but the problem with many of the good solutions for keeping mice and rodents out is that they leave you with odors that aren’t much better.
Mothballs work well, but they smell. And that smell really stays around. It will linger for many months, even with airing. Sometimes, you’re lucky if you can get rid of it at all.
This may not be a big deal in a four-wheeler’s engine compartment, but if it’s in your home or camper where you live, sit, and relax, it’s a bigger deal. There’s nothing relaxing about Eau de moth balls!
The Solution: Sweet Smelling Natural Spice Repellent Sachets
You can easily whip up a number of these nice-smelling sachets and have many on hand to protect your spaces from mouse invaders.
For the sachets:
You will need some sort of mesh bag to make your sachets. For this, there are several options. You can make your own or use cheap and easy craft bags.
Some good ideas include:
- Organza bags like those used for sachets, favors, gift bags, etc. (easy to find for cheap money at any craft counter, party supply or department, or dollar store)
- Pieces of tulle that you can tie to make a sachet
- Cheesecloth
- Muslin
- Fillable DIY tea bags, like the kind made for making your own homemade loose leaf tea -- paper types work well and are biodegradable, compostable, and eco friendly too!
The material should be airy and allow air and scents to move through so the scent dissipates and doesn’t stay trapped in the bag. (So, no plastic).
Add the spices and ingredients to the bags:
Simply add the spices to the bags.
- Put two whole cinnamon sticks in each bag (you can cut or break them in half if they are too long).
- Add two tablespoons of whole cloves
- Add two tablespoons of red chili pepper flakes
- Add four whole star anise (which have the added benefit of looking really nice, too!)
Measurements are provided, but don’t have to be exact -- any of these will drive the mice away.
Here are a few other helpful tips:
- If you like one scent over another, go ahead and use more of it
- Or, less of a scent you don’t care for!
- Cloves smell the strongest and smell nice, too. You can go heavier on the cloves for more effect.
- Whole and crushed spices are less dusty and messy than ground and tend to hold the scent longer
- However, you can also use ground if that’s what you have and they don't make a mess in your bags (ground can sometimes sneak out and leave some spice dust behind)
- Replace the sachets when you can no longer detect an odor. It's all about the odor to keep the mice away!
- You can also add drops of repellent essential oils to refresh your bags later on. (Or, when you make them, add another scent to blend -- citrus is nice!)
Where to Put Anti Mouse Spice Sachets for Best Effect
Anywhere you want to keep mice, rats, and rodents away is a good place to put your sachets. To be more specific, here are some suggestions:
- Anywhere there is a hole or opening where mice and rats can squeak through. Remember, if their heads fit, they fit!
- In cabinets and cupboards
- In closets
- In storage boxes or totes
- In vehicle glove compartments
- In cabinets and spaces in campers, even out in the open when you close it for the winter -- put them everywhere!
- Toolboxes in garages or sheds
- Hanging or placed around in garden or storage sheds
- You can even use these in window boxes, planters, and pots to keep rodents from chewing or digging your plants and bulbs! (Moth balls work for this, too, but it completely ruins the enjoyment of your planters!)
The nice thing about these spice sachets is that they are harmless to wildlife, pets, and children. That means you can use them basically anywhere you need them. And they smell like kitchens, cooking, and holidays!
Other Nice Smelling Scents and Herbs, Mice and Rodents Hate
There are several other great-smelling oils, herbs, and fruits that we enjoy smelling, but mice and their peers really hate. You can use anything from the list below to either add to your sachets or create other scents to have around your home and the spaces you want to protect (without driving your own self out).
- Mint of any sort, including peppermint and others -- strongly disliked by mice and similar rodents!
- Catnip
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Marigolds
- Sage
- Eucalyptus
- Citrus oils or slices
More Simple DIY Anti Rodent Options
You can create sachets from any of the above or any of these in combination. But before we go, here are a few more ideas for making simple DIY rodent repellents:
- Put pine shavings in small burlap bags and add several drops of peppermint oil; refresh monthly by adding a few more drops of the oil
- Soak cotton balls or drop several drops of essential oils onto cotton balls and spread them around to target areas
- Use oil drops on craft pompoms
- Use any of these ideas with any essential oil from the list above
- Create a simple repelling essential oil spray with one or more of the listed repellent scents by adding some drops of oil into a spray bottle with water. (Citrus and mint can be a nice combination, or citrus and eucalyptus.) Use as a room spray or spray on upholstery or cloth surfaces.
- Dry garden mint and other repelling herbs. Place dried stems around openings, drawers, cabinets, etc.
- Crush and sprinkle dried herbs or mint under cushions and in target areas
- Create and hang attractive bundles or strings of herbs and/or citrus slices
- Make a potpourri of any of these items, alone or in combination
Mice and rodents are tricky, but you can outsmart them with these simple, safe alternatives. Beat them at their own game and send them packing somewhere else!
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