Now that the weather is getting colder and frostier, many people may have some uninvited furry guests sneaking into their homes.
Mice often come into homes at this time of year in an attempt to find food and warner shelter, and it is easier for them to get into the smallest hole or crack around your home.
While mice are relatively harmless creatures, they can cause damage to a home as they will chew on anything they can find, such as furniture or even electric wiring
Mouse droppings, urine and nesting materials can also cause someone to develop Hantavirus disease, a severe respiratory disease which can be fatal. Anyone who has been in contact with mice in their of can be at risk of being infected.
However, one expert has discovered that peppermint oil is an effective way to keep mice away from your home for good without causing them any harm.
READ MORE: ‘Tried and true’ methods to deter pigeons from gardens ‘for good’
How to use peppermint oil to deter mice
Laura Gavin Gomez from Nikura explained that peppermint oil will help scare mice away due to their strong sense of smell.
In a blog post, Laura wrote: “Using a natural deterrent can be a kinder alternative to the chemical-based solutions that often kill them off.”
The strong spicy scent of peppermint can overwhelm mice, and make it less likely for them to stay in your home for long periods. This method will need to be repeated when the scent wears off but also means no toxic chemicals will be lying around your home.
It should be noted this solution only works for small-scale mice problems. If you are worried about a bigger mice infestation, you may need to get in contact with your local council or pest control.
To keep mice away, mix two teaspoons of peppermint essential oil and one cup of water into a spray bottle. Shake well and spray in areas where you suspect mice may be nesting.
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
Don’t miss…
Pest warning as bathrooms could be ‘infested’ with silverfish this winter[INSIGHT ]
‘I’m a pest exterminator – I have a simple tip to banish rats from your home'[REVEAL ]
Expert shares every day ingredient that can help protect plants in winter[LATEST]
Keep repeating this method every two weeks to prevent mice from coming into your home in the future.
Another method you can try out is soaking cotton buds in peppermint oil and placing them along skirting boards, holes, windows and other places you suspect mice may coming into your home.
Laura wrote: “Using this method will create powerful pockets of the peppermint scent that they will hopefully want to avoid at all costs.”
You can also use a diffuser if you own one, which not only prevents mice from entering your home but works on both ants and fruit flies as well.
Laura said: “It could work as a catch-all to reduce the number of bugs you experience on a daily basis. If you manage to get rid of the mice, it might be a good idea to keep a peppermint diffuser in your home so there is less chance of them coming back.”
Peppermint essential oil costs around £3.99 at Nikura and around £5.99 at Holland and Barrett.
Source: Read Full Article