Best Essential Oils To Get Rid of Mice Naturally

Summer is here, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down when it comes to protecting your home from furry little mouse invaders. While mice do tend to be more active in homes once colder weather hits, if your home provides an ideal source of food, shelter, and safety, mice can be active all year round.

Are you looking for natural and safe ways to get rid of mice and keep them from coming back around your home? Then you’re in luck. Many homeowners are turning to essential oils to get rid of mice naturally and safely.

But does using essential oils to get rid of mice really work, and are there certain recipes and steps you need to take in order to use essential oils correctly for pest control? That’s what we’re here to find out!

Keep reading to learn more about how to use essential oils to get rid of mice and other natural methods and home remedies you can implement to keep your home pest free.

Identifying A Mouse Infestation

Rodent droppings are some of the first signs of a mouse problem.

As we mentioned above, just because the weather is warm doesn’t mean you’re safe from a mouse infestation. If you live in an area with lots of open space around your home, or if you live in urban areas where rodents populate looking for food, then you may be in for a mouse problem in your home.

The truth is, no home is really safe from mouse invasions, and it’s important to be vigilant and proactive to help keep mice and other pests from infiltrating our lives. Why? Because mice, though small, can be dangerous.

Though not aggressive, mice can carry some serious diseases in their droppings like hantavirus, listeria, and salmonellosis.

Furthermore, mice can be destructive and cause structural damage when they burrow and nest in our walls and along our home’s foundation.

Are you wondering how to use essential oils to get rid of mice? In order to get rid of mice prosperity using the right essential oils to get rid of mice, you should first make sure you do indeed have a mouse infestation.

Some common signs of mice in the home include:  

• Mouse droppings that are small, dark, and the size and shape of rice.
• Gnawed furniture, appliances, cupboards, plastics, cereal boxes, and baseboards.
• Shredded materials and fibers hidden in cupboards, behind walls, in basements, or under furniture (Signs of a mouse nests)
• The musky smell of urine
• Actually sightings of a mouse in your home day or night

The below video further shows how to find and identify a rodent infestation in your home. 

It is true that mice can carry diseases, cause structural damage, and generally just be an overall nuisance, but don’t panic. Along with using essential oils to get rid of mice, there are plenty of other methods you can use to rid them from your home.

Types Of Mouse Control Options

Essential oils are just one method you can use for rodent control.

Using essential oils to get rid of mice in the home is becoming more and more popular amongst people with children and pets. This is a safe, natural way you can go about removing and repelling mice as well as several other types of pests like spiders, rats, mosquitoes, and earwigs.

Still, it’s important you know your options when it comes to pest control and how to get rid of mice, as not everyone agrees that essential oils work best for pest control.

Common Mouse Control Options Include:

• Traps

Mouse traps are one of the most common and traditional methods homeowners use to control a mouse problem. If you are looking for humane mouse trap options, there are plenty to choose from like catch and release live traps. Other options include snap traps and lethal bait traps.

• Poisons

Rodenticides are a popular choice for those who are dealing with a severe mouse infestation. However, poisonous rodenticides can be highly toxic to both people, pets, and the environment and should be used only as directed and with extreme caution.

• Repellents

Repellents are very popular, especially for those looking to use natural products to get rid of mice and other pests. You can use commercial rodent repellents that use chemicals or natural repellents that use a blend of essential oils and other ingredients to repel mice and pests. Of course, you can also use home remedies.

• Home Remedies

Along with using essential oils to get rid of mice as a home remedy, there are other methods you can use as well. If you’re curious about how to get rid of mice using home remedies alongside essential oils, we will give you a few of our favorite methods further down.

For now, let’s discuss the benefits of using essential oils to get rid of mice and go over the pros and cons of using this type of pest control.

Pros And Cons Of Using Essential Oils to Get Rid of Mice

Not everyone feels essential oils work best to repel mice. 

Using essential oils to get rid of mice is still somewhat controversial, and not everyone agrees it is an effective method. However, many experts and home owners find the method of using essential oils along with other home remedies or repellents for pest control to work quite well.

And although using essential oils to get rid of mice can be an effective and safe method for pest control for some, there are pros and cons to using this method you should be aware of. Let’s learn more.

Pros Of Using Essential Oils To Get Rid Of Mice

• Essential oils can be used to repel a number of pests, not just mice
• Essential oils are safe, natural, and harm-free to people, pets and the environment
• Essential oils are generally easy to find and simple to use

Cons Of Using Essential Oils To Get Rid Of Mice

• Essential oils may be costlier than traditional traps and pest control sprays
• Some essential oils can irritate the skin in concentrated doses
• Essential oils usually have powerful odors that not everyone finds appealing
• Essential oils may require multiple applications in order to be effective

So, now that you know the pros and cons of using essential oils to get rid of mice, let’s take a look at which essential oils work best for pest control (and specifically rodent control) below.

The Best Essential Oils To Get Rid Of Mice Naturally

The right essential oils can help repel mice from nesting in your home. 

There are lots of different essential oils on the market today, and many are advertised as wonder oils, promising to offer anything from aromatherapy to pest control. That said, when it comes to using essential oils to get rid of mice, keep in mind that not just any essential oil will do.

Using essential oils to get rid of mice will only work if you use the right oils, because mice are not repelled by every essential oil odor.

But how do essential oils work to get rid of mice? Essential oils work by using overwhelming, powerful odors like peppermint, citrus, clove, and cedar to irritate and repel the mice in your home. These scents are often pleasant to humans, but can be very annoying and overwhelming to pests like rodents, insects, and sometimes even bats.

Wondering what the best essential oils to get rid of mice are? We have listed the most effective essential oils to get rid of mice for you below.

Peppermint Oil

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The above peppermint oil comes in a jar and includes a dropper. Because it is pure, premium peppermint oil, it is one of the top essential oils experts recommend to get rid of mice. It also works to repel other critters like aphids, bed bugs, ants, roaches, flies, fleas, spiders, stink bugs, wasps, and even lice.

Peppermint oil can be used as a mouse repellent when poured on cotton balls, mixed with water and sprayed, or mixed with other essential oils.

Tea Tree Oil

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Tea tree oil is one of the most popular essential oils to get rid of mice because it uses a strong scent that repels mice and keeps them from returning. We listed a pure tea tree oil product by Artizen above, which we like because it is 100% pure and natural.

Tea tree oil can also work to repel other pests like mosquitoes, flies, and biting midges. Best of all, it is a wonderful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic and helps alleviate itchy bug bites.

Eucalyptus Oil

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Similar to lemon oil or citrus oil, eucalyptus oil has a fragrant scent that repels not only mice, but also bats, mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and more.

This is one of the most powerful essential oils you can use to get rid of mice naturally while also keeping your family and pets safe. For mouse control, we recommend using Majestic Pure Eucalyptus Essential Oil. It is 100% pure oil and is a therapeutic grade, so you can use it for many other household and cosmetic purposes as well.

Lemon Oil

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Lots of pests from insects to rodents are repulsed by citrus scents, which is what makes lemon oil one of our favorite essential oils to get rid of mice. We have listed the lemon oil above by Healing Solutions because it is organic and pure, and leaves behind a pleasant smell.

Lemon oil not only repels mice, but it can be safe to use in gardens to repel aphids and ants, and it also works along the perimeter of your home, inside your home, and around your yard to repel critters like mosquitoes, flies, bees, wasps, hornets, and more.

However, keep in mind that citrus oils like lemon oil can also be irritating to cats, so we don’t recommend using this product if you have cats in the home.

Clove Oil

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Clove oil is one of the most popular essential oils to get rid of mice due to its very powerful scent. Mice don’t like cloves in general, so a concentrated clove oil is one of the quickest ways to repel them.

Most experts recommend soaking cotton balls or rags in clove oil and stuffing holes, cracks, and crevices along your home to deter these pests. You can also place soaked cotton balls in clove oil anywhere you simply want to keep mice from hanging around.

Along with being a great mouse repellent, clove oil is also an effective and natural insecticide, killing insects on contact when sprayed on them directly.

Cedarwood Oil

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The last of the essential oils to get rid of mice naturally is cedarwood oil. This oil contains phenols that are very strong and repel not only mice but fleas, mosquitoes, rats, roaches, and even snakes.

Cedarwood oil also contains acidic fumes that, while generally fine for humans, can be irritating and even deadly to mice as it damages their respiratory tracts and the lining of their lungs and trachea.

Now that you know about some of the best essential oils to get rid of mice in your home, let’s talk about a few different essential oil recipes you can use to make your own mouse-repellent.

Repellent Recipes Using Essential Oils To Get Rid Of Mice

You can make your own mouse repellent spray using the essential oils listed above. 

Rodent Repellents Soaked Cotton Balls

• Soak several cotton balls in the oil of your choice
• Stuff soaked cotton balls in cracks and crevices, rodent holes, around entry and exit points, and anywhere you want to deter mice or have noticed mouse activity
• Apply newly soaked cotton balls every three days or once the old cotton balls have dried

Rodent Repellent Essential Oil Spray Recipe

Ingredients: 

• Two Teaspoons of Peppermint oil
• One cup of water
• Three drops of dishwasher detergent (to help with mixing the solution)
• One spray bottle

Directions:

• Mix the solution together in a spray bottle
• Apply the concoction anywhere you want to repel mice or anywhere you have noticed mouse activity.

Other Natural Products You Can Use For Mouse Control

Ultrasonic pest repellents also work well to repel mice.

Using essential oils to get rid of mice may be your first choice for pest control, but it’s not your only natural rodent control option. In fact, you can use plenty of other people safe, pet safe, environmentally safe methods for rodent control around your home.

Some of these methods include set and release live traps and ultrasonic pest repellent plug-ins. If you’re not sure where to look for these types of products, don’t worry. We have listed some of our favorite natural mouse repellent products for you below.

CaptSure Humane Trap 2 Pack

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This humane catch-and-release mouse trap by CaptSure is a live rodent trap specifically designed to catch small rodents like mice and rats. Just like using essential oils to get rid of mice naturally, a live trap works without the use of poisons or lethal methods, and can work alongside essential oils to capture any straggler mice who want to stick around despite your efforts to repel them.

This order comes in a set of two, and you can bait the trap with anything from cheese to peanut butter. It also has a spring loaded door to reduce escapes. However, once you capture the mice, make sure you drive at least three to five miles away from your home to relocate them so they cannot find their way back.

TBI Pro Ultrasonic Mouse Repeller Wall Plug

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Ultrasonic pest repellents are some of our favorite natural pest repellent methods because they do not disturb humans and pets and they are safe for the environment. The above ultrasonic pest repellent uses sound frequencies and vibrations that irritate mice, rats, bats, and insects like roaches, spiders, ants and flies.

This product is for indoor use and you can order as many as you need to supply each room. That said, these plug-ins require an outlet in order to work.

Southern Homewares Multi-Mouse Catch And Release Trap

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The above catch and release mouse trap can work alongside essential oils to get rid of mice as it catches multiple mice at once. It also has a clear top so you can easily see the mice you have captured and know when it is time to set them free at least three to five miles from your home.

What is different about this live trap is that it doesn’t require bait to capture mice and lures them in using a unique design that can be placed in corners and small spaces discreetly. This product is harm-free and safe to use around children and pets.

HAZKO Ultrasonic Pest Repellent

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This is another ultrasonic pest repellent product we like to use along with essential oils to get rid of mice. If you find you’re having a large mouse infestation in your home, this may be a good product for you as it comes in an order of six. Each repellent covers a range of up to 1,200 square feet as well.

That said, please do your research on the power of the sound frequenceis used to ensure they won’t bother your pets.

Home Remedies You Can Use For Mouse Control

Crushed cayenne pepper is another natural remedy for mouse control in the home. 

Using essential oils to get rid of mice is one popular home remedy many homeowners use, especially if they have pets and children in the home and are worried about using toxic chemicals, poisons, or lethal traps to deal with pests.

And, as we mentioned above, one of the great benefits of using essential oils to get rid of mice is that these oils also work on a number of other pests like spiders, roaches, mosquitoes, ants, flies, earwigs, and sometimes even bats.

But did you know there are several other home remedies you can use along with using essential oils that can work just as effectively?

Let’s take a look at some of the best home remedies you can use along with essential oils to get rid of mice and other pests.

Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets produce a strong, potent scent that smells fresh and good to many humans, but that pests like rodents and insects can’t stand. Dryer sheets can be used as a mouse repellent when placed along entry and exit points, stuffed into potential rodent holes, or placed anywhere you have noticed mouse activity.

Leaving dryer sheets around can also help reduce the amount of insects coming into your home as well.

Mothballs

Mothballs are commonly used to repel pests from moths to spiders to bats, but they also work well for rodent control. Similar to dryer sheets, you can place mothballs around entry and exit points, near cracks and crevices, and even inside potential rodent holes to help keep mice at bay.

That said, if you are looking for a completely chemical-free option for pest control then mothballs may not be right for you as they do contain harsh chemicals that can be dangerous to children and pets if ingested.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a strong spice that irritates the eyes, nose, and throat of any potential pest, including rodents and insects.

You can make your own cayenne pepper spray by combining cayenne pepper and essential oils with water in a spray bottle to repel mice, or you can simply sprinkle cayenne pepper around entry and exit points in your home to keep mice from entering.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Water 

The acidity and odor of apple cider vinegar is an excellent natural pest repellent. When mixed with water, you can create a mouse-repellent spray that is all natural and safe to use all around your home and anywhere you hope to keep mice from coming around.

Steel Wool

Although steel wool doesn’t have an odor, it is completely chew proof and is best used to seal potential rodent holes or cracks and crevices where mice could enter. Stuff steel wool anywhere you feel mice could enter and rest assured they will not be able to chew their way through to get into your home.

Kitty Litter

Cats are natural predators of mice, so you can use dirty kitty litter to help repel these little rodents. The scent will inform rodents that predators are near and they will be much less likely to feel that your space is a safe place for them to feed and nest. That said, not everyone is a fan of having dirty kitty litter in their home, so you’ll have to think about this one carefully.

Tips On Preventing A Future Mouse Problem

Help protect your home from mice using common preventive measures. 

Many of us use essential oils to get rid of mice and also as a repellent to keep them from returning. However, along with using repellents and other pest control options to keep your home pest free, it’s important to implement some preventive measures to ensure pests like rodents and insects are unable to infiltrate your home in the first place.

Let’s take a look at some of the best preventative measures you can use to help keep your home mouse-free all year round.

Practice Routine Home Maintenance 

Mice are creatures of opportunity, and if they find easy ways inside your home for food and shelter, they’ll enter. The best way to keep mice from coming into your home is to make sure you keep cracks and crevices sealed, you repair ripped screens, fill old holes, and maintain proper home maintenance to ensure mice and other pests can’t wreak havoc on your home.

Store Pantry Food In Airtight Storage Containers

Most mice enter homes looking for food and shelter. If your home doesn’t provide them with a smorgasbord of food to feast on, they’ll likely choose somewhere else that does. Try and keep food sealed in airtight containers in the pantry. Put leftover perishable food in the refrigerator as soon as you are done with it and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.

Store Pet Food And Birdseed In Airtight Containers

Removing a pest’s food source should also include food sources you may not think about, like bird seed and pet food. Keep your pet food stored in an airtight container to not only keep it fresh, but also keep it safe from pests like insects and rodents. Birdseed is also a strong rodent attractant, so when storing it we recommend keeping it in your garage or cellar in a container that is pest-proof.

Practice Good Housekeeping

Keeping your home clean and tidy is an excellent way to keep it pest free. Make sure you sweep and vacuum often to ensure you remove loose crumbs and other food sources from the floor and surfaces you may not be able to see with your naked eye, but that mice will certainly be able to smell with their sensitive noses.

Make Sure Trees, bushes and Plants Are At Least Three Feet From Your Home’s Foundation

Most mouse infestations begin outside. In order to keep mice from entering your home, we suggest you start by ensuring your yard is not inviting to them. Keep shrubs, bushes and other materials trimmed and tidy.

Keep plants at least three feet from the perimeter of your home. Remove loose woodpiles, keep your lawn cut short, and keep gardens and fruit trees free of rotten veggies and fruits.

And remember, while we are fans of using essential oils to get rid of mice and using other safe and natural remedies, these methods may not always work effectively for a very large mouse infestation.

Mice can be hazardous to your health in large numbers, so if you feel you need more help to get rid of mice effectively, don’t hesitate to contact a local pest control expert near you.

We hope this article has been a helpful guide to learning how to use essential oils to get rid of mice. Do you have any other tried and tested natural methods you like to use for mouse control? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.