If you are like most people, the minute you see the first signs of a mouse in your house, you hit the internet in search of the best way get rid of what you are sure is a major infestation. A simple search on Google can land you will untold numbers of home remedies that are “guaranteed” to work. The big question is, do any of them really work or are they all just one big hunk of bad cheese?
These are among the most popular DIY types of rodent control. All you are supposed to have to do is plug them in and all your rodent worries are gone. Sounds good, but do these often quite expensive devices actually work?
The simple answer is not exactly as advertised. They can be used to keep these pests away for a little while, but in the end, most will move back in after a period of time. A lot of the success of ultrasonic Repellers lies in how well placed they are and the fact you may have to buy several to cover your house. The idea here is that rats and mice are quite intelligent and over time they simply learn to avoid areas covered by the ultrasonic sound waves.
According to this popular home pest control method, all you have to do is place mothballs in areas that look like good places for rats and mice to get into your home, including attics and basements. People believe the naphthalene in them keeps the rodents at bay. Despite the fact the naphthalene is deadly to moths, there is not enough in them to deter rodents. By the time you added enough mothballs to your home to be effective the amount would be at toxic levels to humans as well. You should never use mothballs as a rodent repellent.
Peppermint oil is another very popular home remedy for rodents. You simply pour the oil on a number of cotton balls and then place them strategically around your home. While this is definitely going to make your home smell fantastic, it has very little effect on your local rodent population. Despite the fact rats and mice have a highly-developed sense of smell, the aroma of peppermint oil does not appear to bother them at all.
The first step in eliminating rodents from your home is to do everything you can to prevent them from getting inside in the first place. Do things like:
If you have done all of this and still can’t get rid of the pesky little buggers, it is time to call in a professional pest control service. They have a large inventory of tricks up their sleeves to rid your home of rodents and then to keep it free of them in the future.
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