The Secret Weapon You Need To Keep Hungry Mice And Rats Out Of The House

Having mice or rats inside your home is a nerve-wracking experience, and these rodents have the potential to damage your home and endanger your health. Mice and rats are notorious for chewing and may destroy the insulation in your walls, chomp on your belongings and furniture, and gnaw through wires, which poses a risk for electrical fires. With a little castor oil, however, you'll be able to deter these rodents from wanting to live inside your house.

Besides their propensity for damaging home interiors, rats and mice carry diseases that can be spread by simply touching a surface an infected rodent has touched. Lassa fever, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, hantavirus, and sylvatic typhus are just some of the illnesses humans can contract from living with rodents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These pesky critters may also bring more unwanted guests into your home, such as fleas and ticks, which are also known to carry diseases. By using castor oil, you'll be able to get rid of mice and rats in your home.

Rats and mice are revolted by the smell of castor oil and prefer to avoid it, while the flavor of the essential oil will deter them from chewing on items sprayed with it. Castor oil may also make these rodents feel ill. To use this weapon against the rodents tormenting your household, add a few drops of the oil into a spray bottle filled with water and spritz it where the mice or rats have been active. This will keep them from further damaging your walls and furniture and may encourage them to move on.

Another method to repel rodents is to soak cotton balls in castor oil and place them in areas the mice or rats frequent. Once the rodents are out of your home, mix ½ cup of the oil with two gallons of water and spray the outside of your house to prevent the pests from returning. For serious or ongoing infestations, it's best to hire a professional exterminator.