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Make Your Own Humane Mouse Repellent

By: Lucy Debenham BA (hons) - Updated: 22 Jan 2015 | comments*Discuss
 
Mice Mouse Repel Repellent Humane Trap

Opinions on mice can be divided; to some they're small, furry, cute animals, to others they're simply small, furry vermin. Whatever your opinion on mice, one thing most people are united on is how unhealthy it is to share your home with lots of them.

The House Mouse

In the UK, there are many different species of mouse, but the most common house-dwelling mice are the house mouse and the long-tailed field mouse. The house mouse in particular prefers warmer, indoor environments, and will try to nest under floorboards, in cavity walls and close to hot pipework or a food supply. Mice are most active at night, during which time they will scavenge for food around the house.

But the problem with mice lies in the fact that they can harbour and transmit many germs and diseases. Mice are not 'tidy' and litter-trained per se; they will leave droppings and urinate anywhere and everywhere they go, as well as shedding their fur. This means that they generally contaminate the environments they live in, and can be responsible for spreading salmonellosis (a type of food poisoning) as well as gastro-enteritis. They also play host to a range of parasites, including ticks, fleas, tapeworm and mites.

Mice can also cause lots of aesthetic and structural damage in houses, gnawing at wood, plastic, cabelling and fabrics. Therefore it's not surprising that there are many products on the market geared towards eradicating mice from the domestic home.

Repelling a Mouse

But what if you're keen to stop mice from sharing your humble abode, and you don't want to resort to poisons, mouse traps or other methods of extermination?

Humane mousetraps that allow you to catch and release mice away from the home are one option. In conjunction with this, you can help to stop mice by keeping your property in good condition - fill gaps and cracks in brickwork, walls and floors that can act as 'open doors' to mice. Also make sure that you maintain high levels of hygiene and not leave food uncovered in the house or garden. Mice have a particularly strong sense of smell and will gravitate towards leftovers, crumbs, spillages, open food containers and food left out in the open.

Herbal Remedies

There are, however, other measures you can take to humanely discourage mice from settling in your home. Some of the most common herbal remedies have been used for generations, including the use of herbs and spices. Two popular natural mouse repellents still in use today are mint and cloves. Whilst the oil of these two plants are perfectly pleasant for humans, to mice, quite simply, they're not.

If you have a small mouse problem and you think you can identify where they're entering your house, you can create mouse repellent soft balls, using a peppermint and clove oil spray. And the good news is that the spray won't stain or smell too overpowering to the human nose.

Simply mix around 100ml of peppermint oil and with 50ml of clove oil, before adding to around 100ml of water. Shake thoroughly to combine and decant into a spray bottle, which can be bought cheaply from garden centres and home stores. You'll then need to thoroughly soak a cotton wool ball in the herbal solution and place in the suspect areas where you think mice might be nesting or accessing your home.

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The oils can be bought on line, Amazon and the like do them. Also check out the pound shops and bargin shops they often sell oils
suzie - 22-Jan-15 @ 9:26 PM
Please advise where peppermint and clove olis can be bought in UK. Thanks.
Earwig - 28-Apr-11 @ 4:05 PM
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