[Sarah]

Hello Frugal Friends.

Who has a cheap rat/mouse deterrent?

I’m seeking advice on effective yet affordable ways to deter rats and mice from my outdoor area.

I have indoor cats, so I prefer non-lethal methods to ensure their safety and the well-being of other animals.

What are some proven, budget-friendly solutions you’ve tried that keep these pests away without harming them?

Any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[Dennise]

Not sure any deterrent really works but I had an ultrasonic device in my house for awhile.

Had mice outside but never found evidence of them inside.

I didn’t try it outside.

The only thing I found to work outside was getting rid of the food source…

grubs, bird feeders, etc and frequently disturbing their nesting areas like woodpile.

I honestly think ours left when the hawk moved in.

[Sheila]

Peppermint oil on cotton balls in areas of entry. Reapply oil regularly.

[Connie]

deterrents don’t really work that well. Work on exclusion around all pipes and vents and such.

I have a farm and I opted for barn cats several years ago.

Prior to that I was using rodenticide under my crawl space and I had to replenish it every month.

[Laura]

finding out where they are getting in. Removing food sources and bedding sources

(I had planter boxes, empty, outside under our deck, the little rodents brought their own bedding materiel and made nests in the empty planters.

I ended up putting up hooks to hang the planters upside down, taking away their shelter.

And I admit to using moth balls in the farthest corner under the deck.

It gets no rain (so leaching into the ground water)

[Nancy]

If they get inside and you decide to kill them I would suggest just a regular old trap with peanut butter or cheese on it.

It happens so fast they die quickly.

The glue they get on and can’t get off and suffer, it’s just sad.

The poison they also suffer plus if other animals eat them it kills them.

Just having a cat keeps them out.

Whenever I have a cat I don’t get mice.

They must just know the cat is there through scent.

[Joanne]

Glue traps are cheap and they work! Put a dab of peanut butter in the center.

[Jen]

Good old fashioned outside exclusion and snap traps. Everything else is a waste of time and money

[Debbie]

A BOX OF JIFFY CORNMEAL MIX….ADD BAKING SODA, MIX. Put in Tupperware or any container with an access hole They will nibble, and the baking soda takes them out…

Safe and organic.

[Shirley]

Do not use poison. They will die as the seek water and other animals will die eating the remains.

If they die in the walls or between floor boards, you will never forget the smell.

Cheap pine cleaner from the dollar store sprayed around is something we use.

We also put whole cloves, powdered cloves in tractors and lawn mower, grill etc.

After considerable damage to my AC in my car, I now spray peppermint oil mixed with water under the hood, Peppermint tea bags are good to use in storage areas or crawl spaces.

[Cheryl]

Just One Bite or Rat X on Amazon
Took about two months to go from seeing one or two per week to seeing none

[Linda]

Me! My cat!! Shadow scatters his dry food on the kitchen floor every night and waits behind a door until the poor unsuspecting mouse try’s to eat a piece.

Then Shadow pounces!

He’s a good mouser.

[Mary]

You have to find the entry points. Not always easy to find. Set traps in your home to catch.

Keep serving until at least a couple weeks go by and you don’t see any and none caught.

Also look for droppings.

[Ivette]

Check your home… Brillo pads insert in areas to cover openings…. never use traps…

[Author]

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