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Use This Essential Oil To Help Keep Pests Out Of Your Basement
By NAOMI MEZA
If you're looking for a natural preventative to keep pests like mice, spiders, and bugs out of your basement, peppermint oil may be exactly what you need.
Peppermint oil gets its powerful properties from the menthol within it that is claimed to have biocidal qualities that work to repel mites, mosquito larvae, and roaches.
The oil shows a 97% mortality rate of cockroaches after 24 hours, and the volatiles released by peppermint oil have been shown to deter brown widow and European garden spiders.
Critters like mice and rats don't like the overwhelming odor of the oil because their smell receptors are sensitive to the aroma, but it may not work for a large infestation.
Wherever insects and rodents appear the most in your basement, place cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil, or spray a solution of oil, warm water, and liquid soap in the area.