Rat infestation should never be ignored. Contact with food contaminated by rats can lead to severe diseases.
You should get in touch with a professional rodent control agency to get rid of the infestation of a rat inside the house. In this post, will we answer the popular question, which asks, “does Cayenne pepper keep rats away?”
When it comes to keeping rats away, Cayenne pepper mixed with horseradish, garlic, and sprinkled around potential rat/mice infested areas will act as a repellant due to its strong smell. It also has the potential of keeping other insects like roaches and ant away from the environment.
Traditional methods
Traditional methods for getting rid of a rat infestation include the use of toxic poisons and traps. The technique can be dangerous for children and pets. Some people also don’t like the prospect of killing rodents.
An alternative is to use natural rat repellent of which Cayenne pepper falls into. I have written on several natural ways to get rid of rats, so do well to check it out.
Natural rat repellents are non-toxic and organic methods that keep the mouse away from the house asides from using bleach as a repellant, which is quite actually toxic to human health.
Here you will learn about the effectiveness of cayenne pepper – and some other natural repellents – to avoid rat infestation from inside the house.
Is Cayenne Pepper Effective in Keeping Rats Away?
Cayenne pepper is a natural rat repellent that helps you get rid of rats inside the house without killing them. It is an inexpensive yet effective way to keep rats away from home.
Capsaicin is the chemical present in pepper that makes them spicy. The ingredient is present in fruits of plants belonging to the Capsicum Family, including jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, and cayenne peppers.
Sniffing cayenne triggers sneezing. Rats are highly dependent on their senses of smell. Anything that will irritate their scent will keep them away. The strong smell of cayenne pepper will keep rats and other pests, including roaches, ants, and bugs at bay.
Cayenne pepper, when sprinkled around the areas of rat infestation, will repel rats. Soak a mixture of garlic, horseradish, and cayenne pepper in salad oil for about four days. Spray this mixture in or near mice habitation to keep out mice from home.
If there are babies or pets in the home, you should consider wrapping the cayenne pepper in cloth and placing them around the house.
Disadvantages of Using Cayenne Pepper as a Mouse Repellant
While the cayenne pepper does keep rats away, one of the disadvantages of this natural strategy is that it is short-lived. You’d often have to reapply the pepper quite often, and the gear for this application is quite tasking.
In some cases, as seen with some rodents, they are also not so fazed by pepper. It doesn’t have effects on birds too. Its efficacy is also dependent on where it is applied. Places like air-tight basements are lovely places to use Cayenne pepper as a right mouse repellant because of lack of air.
Because Mice reproduces at a very rapid rate, using Cayenne pepper as a repellant means mice would overrun you in the long term.
So when it comes to asking, “does Cayenne pepper keep rats away,” always know that it is just for the short term, and you shouldn’t employ the application of Cayenne pepper for a long time term strategy.
Also, don’t apply it in a location filled with foodstuffs as it won’t deter rats who are hell-bent on feeding. Before applying Cayenne pepper around your house, make sure that you remove foods and seal up the entire area.
Other Natural Alternatives to Cayenne Pepper in Repelling Rodents
1. Cloves
Mice are repelled by clove due to pungent smell. Leaving cloves around the house will serve as a natural repellent. You can place the cloves inside strainer cloth or pantyhose and put them in areas near or around mouse infestation.
2. Rotten Onions
Rotten onions have a pungent odor that will keep rats at bay. Onions are poisonous for pets and should not be used if there are pets inside the house. Consider placing fresh onions around the house regularly to repel rats.
3. Ammonia
Rats hate strong smells, including that of ammonia. Ammonia is a foul-smelling chemical that repels rats.
Consider putting a mixture of ammonia and water in small bowls and leave them in areas where rats are present. Similar to onions, ammonia should not be used if there are pets inside the house.
4. Baking soda
Baking soda can help deter different pests, including mice. It is also safe to use in houses with babies and pets. Sprinkle baking soda mixture in places where rats frequent at night. Repeat the method for three to four days to get rid of rats.
5. Hot Sauce
Rats also hate hot sauce. But unlike other natural repellents, you cannot sprinkle hot sauce inside the house on floor and carpet. You can use the method outside the house to prevent the mouse from entering the house.
6. Essential Oils
Essential oils are a natural rat repellent that is safe for the environment and makes your house smell great. They can also be used as an effective mouse repellent. The effectiveness of essential oils has also been proved in different studies.
Natural essential oils such as peppermint oil, lemon oil, and eucalyptus oil can be sprayed or used in a diffuser. Buy a therapeutic quality diffuser that will diffuse essential oil into the air that you can breathe and repel rats.
7. Toilet Cakes
The smell of toilet cakes feels refreshing. But rats are repelled by their smell. You should place a few toilet cakes in the kitchen, attic, and basement. This will keep the rats from entering the house.
8. Cat/Snake Litter
Cat and snake are natural predators of rats. Their litter repels rats and other small rodents. You can buy a cat and snake litter from the local pet store. Place the litter in a bowl in places where you have seen the rats. But you should not use this method if there are children or pets inside the house.
9. Mothballs
Mothballs can also be used to repel mice. Crush mothballs in a plastic bag and place the crushed mothballs in a spray bottle. Fill the spray bottle with a mixture of water and a liquid detergent.
Shake the bottle and spray the repellent inside and outside of the home where the mouse activity is detected. Make sure to spray it in the kitchen cabinet, under the sink, and other areas near the food source.
Conclusion
Cayenne pepper is an effective natural rat repellent. Many other natural repellents can also be used to keep rats away that have been discussed in this blog.
The best way to avoid a rat infestation is to be proactive and block entry points for the rat. You should also keep the house clean and fill all cracks with caulk.
Keep in mind that the mice repellents are not sufficient for heavy infestation. You need to contact a professional rat exterminator to get rid of a massive rat infestation.
Contact a pest exterminator for eliminating mice infestation inside the house in a safe manner. Home Pest Doctor will continue to educate you on how to get rid of a massive pest infestation from the house. I will keep showing you effective techniques and products to eliminate pests from around your environments.
