If we see a rat in our house, we immediately jump into panic mode. Rats are one of those unwelcome guests you don’t want to have in your home.
However, they can penetrate your home at any time, especially during the winter. In addition, these creatures pose a risk of contracting infectious diseases.
Isn’t that something you don’t want? So it would be reasonable if you tried to get rid of them as soon as possible. There are numerous methods for eliminating these pests from your home.
To assist you in getting rid of these uninvited visitors, we have compiled a list of 10 organic ways to get rid of rats.
Table of Contents
1. Garlic bulb
Rats loathe strong odors of garlic; you must make full use of this trait to drive them away.
Spreading garlic cloves along the direction of their typical trail or mixing minced garlic with water and sprinkling it around your home can keep them away.
2. Bay leaves
Rats are attracted to the perfume of bay leaves, and they mistake it for food. However, when they try to eat it, they choke and eventually die. To kill rats, scatter bay leaves around the edges of your home.
3. Rat traps
Placing rat traps throughout the house is an age-old method of rodent control. Set up a path for them to follow while maintaining the baits in place, and guide these pests right into the trap.
Rat traps and mouse traps are very effective methods for completely eliminating rats.
4. Clear the clutter
Pests, insects, and germs thrive in dirty and dusty environments and are drawn to them. Mice and rats will invariably find their way into storage rooms or areas with many luggage/boxes packed together.
As a result, get rid of the clutter. Maintain a neat, clean, and orderly environment in your home, leaving no room for infestation.
5. Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is repulsive to rats. Peppermint is pleasant to humans but not to rats; therefore, use peppermint oil to keep them away from your home.
To keep rats at bay, place peppermint oil-dipped cotton balls in front of various minor openings throughout your home.
However, if you have cats or dogs, be cautious because some of these oils can be poisonous.
6. Hot pepper flakes
Not only can hot pepper flakes make people sneeze, but they also keep rodents and mice away. To get rid of rats, sprinkle hot pepper over the entryway and other areas of your home.
7. Spraying with ammonia
Make an ammonia spray that is simple to use. We should place small cotton balls soaked in ammonia near rat holes, driveways, and other areas of your home.
The ammonia smell will make them feel smothered, and they will flee your home to save their lives.
8. Potato powder
Rats and mice will flee if you use instant potato powder. When you sprinkle this powder around your house, rats and mice will follow the path and consume the tasty treat.
As the powder enters their bodies, the potato flakes swell up in their intestines, eventually killing them.
9. Onions
One of the non-toxic, natural ways to get rid of rats is to use the odor of an onion. Humans dislike the pungent odor of onions.
Rats and mice also can’t stand the smell; therefore, it’s an effective technique to keep them out of your house.
Here’s what you can do: cut one piece and place it in the area where the rats live. Then, once it’s gone bad, replace it.
10. Cloves
Rats hate cloves because they not only smell clean, but they also spell spicy – it’s a two in one! Cloves are a natural mouse repellent due to their disagreeable and intense flavor.
By wrapping whole cloves in cloth pieces, you can use them. We can also use cotton balls soaked in clove essential oil to decorate your home.
Signs Of A Rat Infestation
1. Odd Smells
When rats have recently entered a structure, the odor of their urine is most likely to be present.
If you have an enormous infestation, you may notice a persistent stale ammonia odor coming from hidden spots, which indicates an active infestation.
This smell is distinct from a dead mouse stuck in the wall or in a hidden spot, an indelibly strong, pungent, and sour odor that permeates the region.
2. Marks and Droppings
A rat tends to leave droppings behind as they walk. We can find small, black pellet-shaped droppings along main rat trails.
Because rats have poor eyesight, they build and maintain recognized paths around the walls.
3. Damage
Rats leave a path of devastation behind them. They may gnaw on electrical cords, furniture, storage containers, or paper and consume food left on the counter.
They may leave droppings and urine all over your house when they do so, putting you at risk of infection.
4. Odd sounds
If you catch noises in the middle of the night, mice or rats may still be present in your home. They may be heard darting beneath the floorboards, around the cupboards, or burrowing behind walls and joists.
It’s possible that you’ll hear muted squeaking. Observe your pet to see if they’re paying attention to what’s going on behind a wall if you have one, then put your ear up to the wall to hear if there’s anything that can alert you to a problem.
Some facts On Rats
1. Reproduction in Rats
The enormous fecundity of rats is part of the problem. Rats begin reproducing at the age of five weeks and continue until they are about two years old.
Females are fertile every three weeks, and they have been reported to mate up to 500 times in six hours during this time.
The pregnancy lasts around three weeks, and the litter size is usually between six and twenty babies.
2. Excellent memory
Have you ever wondered why rats are so frequently employed in scientific studies? Rats are not only intelligent creatures, but they also have excellent memories.
Rats can map out a room and remember all the paths to go around for an extended period.
3. Weak eyesight and Colorblind
Rats have weak eyesight, and they interpret specific colors as shades of gray, just like colorblind humans.
Rats have a compassionate sense of touch through their whiskers despite their lack of vision.
They’ll use their whiskers as a sensory indication to help them with everyday tasks like touching an object, navigating directions, and locating and discriminating food.
4. Sociable creatures
Rodent behavioral research has shown that rodents are fairly sociable creatures, with rats being the most social of all. They love to live in a group with other rats and are pretty close to their family.
5. Notoriously clean creatures
Despite their apparent reputation as a filthy species, rats are generally believed to be an extremely clean mammal that despises being dirty. Rats groom themselves daily for a few hours.
Conclusion
You can get rid of annoying rats in your house without killing them! If you suspect your home is infested with rats, keep in mind that you can get rid of them without touching them with your bare hands.
Rat poisoning usually takes three to one week to eliminate rats completely. Because rats are sometimes wary of mechanical traps, it can take a few days for them to catch them.
Depending on the amount of the infestation, a pest control professional can eliminate rats in one to several days.
Also read, – organic ways to get rid of ants and bed bugs.
(Last Updated on April 1, 2022 by Sadrish Dabadi)
