7 Natural Mouse Repellents And How They Work

Mice are one of the most annoying, yet common, pests found in people’s homes. Depending on your location, the layout of your property and other factors, your mouse problem may vary in level of seriousness.

That said, over the countless ages that man has lived with mice, numerous methods for repelling them. Everything from traps and poisons to natural repellents.

Traps and bait are one thing, but successful prevention, whether before or after dealing with an infestation, is dependant on repellents that work. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know on seven of the best natural mouse repellents and how they work.

What Are Natural Mouse Repellents?

Natural mouse repellents are just as they sound; natural substances that are known for working well at successfully repelling small rodents such as mice. These repellents can include anything from cinnamon sticks to mint leaves and extract oils. Merely applying crushed leaves or a few drops of powerful essence oils may be enough to dissuade mice from further investigating your home or property.

Whether you are a parent who does not want to spray poisonous repellents in the house, fearing that your children might reach out and swallow them, or simply a person who prefers natural solutions over synthetic ones, then learning about the natural mouse repellents that are tried and true at preventing mice of all kinds from setting up shop in your home. 

Easy to prepare and effective to use, you will never regret opting to give any one of these seven natural mouse repellents a try. Keep in mind, the simplest measures can have better results than the most sophisticated ones if taken with an ounce of seriousness.

7 Natural Mouse Repellents

The following seven natural mouse repellents were selected based on their diversity and beneficial nature. Basically, these are the easiest to use as well as the most powerful natural mouse repellents that anyone can get their hands on with little effort. In most cases, you won’t have to look further than the kitchen cabinet or local grocery store to find them.

1. Mint

Grown in gardens around the world, and used in a variety of healthy salads, refreshing drinks and tasty dishes on the regular, mint is a secret to very few.

The strong aroma that is absolutely appealing to many of us is not so appealing to mice. In fact, the little fur-balls can’t stand it. With no drawbacks so to speak of, it is good practice to plant some mint plants in small pots around the house to help deter mice from every claiming your house as their home.

Easy to grow and water, you will not only be thankful for the fresh smell that welcomes you on a daily basis, every time you enter the house, but you will also be repelling mice with little effort. 

You can also crush mint leaves and throw them behind furniture and appliances, near old entry holes, cracks in the foundation, and more. Sprinkling a few drops of strong mint extract oil will more than do the trick as well.

2. Cayenne Pepper

If you are a fan of spicy food, you will probably have no problem finding this natural mouse repellent in your kitchen cupboard right now in the form of dried peppers, crushed seeds, or even powder. That said, you can also use fresh cayenne pepper as well. Additionally, while preparing a meal, you can save your left overs to be placed around the house or property as a natural mouse deterrent. 

However, If you have pets or small children, make sure that you hide the pepper (no matter what form it is in) somewhere that is non-accessible to them. Cayenne pepper is extremely hot and will majorly irritate the eyes or mouth of pets and children. 

If you suspect a mouse hiding spot, throw some pepper pieces in there. You can also sprinkle the ground cayenne pepper and seeds outside and along foundations (as well as crawl spaces and attics) to keep mice away from your home and property as well. 

3. Lavender

Lavender, also referred to as “Lavandula”, is found in Europe, North America and all over the world. The flower is known for its cosmetic and medical properties, however it also works as a natural mouse repellent. Lavender fields can be spotted from very far away given the strong smell generated by the lavender itself. This makes the plant, besides being a major base for so many commercial fragrances, a n ideal repellent for mice. 

One of the best ways to use lavender as a mouse repellent is to take some fresh leaves and put them in small mesh pouches where the sent can easily waft out. These bags can then be placed under furniture, behind appliances, outside, in crawlspaces and more.

Another method is to use lavender essential oil. Either drip a few drops around the house and property, or use a diffuser of some sort to help spread the smell in the areas where rodents have been spotted. 

4. Peppermint

Peppermint oil, naturally derived from the peppermint plant, originates mainly in Europe and North America. However, thanks to the bustling online market, anyone can get their hands on the stuff with little to no effort. A major fragrance in cosmetics and soaps, peppermint has a plethora of health benefits and is naturally an ingredient found in a wide variety of medicine. 

Perhaps best known for aiding in fighting symptoms of flu and coughs, peppermint oil is also a mouse repellant thanks to its strong, lasting smell. Whether you opt to spray around the house to benefit from two -in-one advantage of both spreading a refreshing smell and keeping the mice away or you prefer to use a diffuser to spread the coverage area, peppermint oil will not disappoint. 

You can set up the diffuser’s mode of use to an intermittent mist that keeps the house fresh while avoiding strong odors that can render you at unease, or you can opt for a more continuous flow that ensures a consistent supply of mist throughout the day. The options are numerous, so It is up to you to choose. 

5. Citrus And Cloves

Sweet, aromatic and available all year round no matter where you live, clove buds originate in Indonesia and have so many uses and applications that it could make your head spin (including repelling rodents). Versatile and used to prepare a wide variety of drinks, desserts and savory dishes, they are usually coupled with cinnamon and nutmeg to prepare wintery delicacies, from spiced madeleines to carrot halwa and stewed apples. 

You can prepare a natural mouse repellent which is similar to a pomander by cutting a lemon or an orange in half and saturating with cloves. You can then distribute the pomanders in and around your house and let them do their magic (forcing rodents out, and keeping would-be intruders at bay). 

Be sure to target the areas you’ve either seen mice, heard them, or otherwise have reason to believe they are inhabiting (or stealing food or water from). These citrus and clove pomanders are considered decorative, so you do not have to compromise the aesthetics of your place to get rid of mice. 

On the other hand, if you are a fan of essential oil, a few drops of strong oil here and there will do miracles in the ways of naturally repelling mice. Diffusers can also be used to spread the aroma of cloves and citrus, which not only helps repel mice but also smells extremely wonderful in general.

6. Cinnamon

Our family are personally not major fans of the flavor of cinnamon (perhaps we are related to mice?). That said, it is a component found in many healthy foods, and works well as a supplement with numerous health benefits. Cinnamon also happens to be a very simple but powerful natural mouse repellent. 

The next time you prepare a hot steaming mug of cinnamon tea, you can simply snap a few extra cinnamon sticks in half and hide them around the house to run away the mice. It’s really that easy; distribute the sticks in the corners of the house and allow the odor to linger. This will discourage the mice from staying in the area for long. 

In addition, cinnamon powder and essential oils mixed with high concentrations of cinnamon will also work just as well, if not better than snapping cinnamon sticks in half and placing them around your property.

7. Containers

Repelling mice is not always about blasting the senses of the mice. Properly securing food, entryways, and water sources, to where mice can not reach or otherwise access them, is also a natural repellent. Where there is no sustenance to be had, there will eventually be a mouse ghost town (as they will have moved on to the neighbors house!). 

Keeping all food stuff in the fridge, and in containers if in cupboards or cabinets is winning half the battle. That said, If you are taking your mouse problem serious to begin with, you will more than likely already have secured these things (food, water, entryways). 

However, if you haven’t done so already, its better late than never. This is war after all, and all’s fair in war. So, starve the enemy out. Block his access to water and to your home and property in general. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say.

Final Thoughts

The seven natural mouse repellents listed above are excellent alternatives to traps and poisons. They also work just as wonderfully alongside of traps and baits, if you have a serious issue, as they do as stand alone repellents for preventing infestations. Each solution is cheap, quick, easy, and efficient. Furthermore, these natural mouse repellents also help to get rid of many insects as well. 

Keep in mind that these natural mouse repellents, as with nearly any mouse repellents, are not a proper replacement for pest control. They are simply solutions for repelling mice, not exterminating them or controlling their populations.