What Scent Will Keep Mice Away – 10 Scents You Can Use To Keep Mice Out Of Your House 

Mice are one of the most common pests in homes and businesses. They are quick, and quiet and can be very destructive to your property. If you want to keep mice away from your home or business, there are several methods you can use including the use of traps, repellents, poisons, and even home remedies.

You can also use the knowledge of what scent will keep mice away to help you control rodents around your home.

Mice have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, making the use of certain scents for rodent control highly effective. But what scent will keep mice away, and are there other methods you should use in conjunction with this home remedy to keep mice under control? That’s what we’re here to find out!

What Are Mice?

1 a mouse in wood
Mice are some of the most problematic and common pests in the United States

Mice are small rodents that belong to the family of Muridae. Mice are known for their sharp teeth, pointed snouts, and long tails. They can be found in many different environments around the world, including grasslands and forests, and they are even common in households. In fact, mice are some of the most prolific household pests in the United States.

The scientific name for a mouse is Mus musculus, which means “mouse” in Latin. Mice are often mistaken for rats, but they are not actually rats. They belong to a different family of animals called “murids”, and are much smaller than rats. Still, they can be just as destructive when they get into your home and can even be a hazard to your health.

Mice are rodents that can be found almost anywhere in the world. They have become a problem because they pose a health threat to humans, damage property and food supplies, and contaminate food products.

Mice are considered pests because they damage property by chewing through plastic, wood, and furniture, as well as electrical wires. They also carry diseases such as salmonella and hantavirus, which can be transmitted to humans through contact with their droppings or urine.

The mice population has increased over the past few decades due to human activity. As cities have expanded outward into rural areas, mice have followed along, creating new habitats for themselves in our homes and gardens. Because mice are nocturnal creatures, they can be difficult to recognize as the culprit of many pest control issues in the home until it is too late.

Mice are often found in urban areas, where they feed on human food and garbage. They also live in rural areas where they can be found in barns, sheds, and homes. Mice have adapted well to living alongside humans, and if you are wondering what scent will keep mice away, chances are you suspect you’re dealing with these pests.

Luckily, there are a few common signs you can look for when it comes to recognizing a rodent infestation.

Droppings: In homes, mice leave behind small, elongated pellets of brown or blackish coloration that resemble tiny black grains of rice. The pellets are about 1/8 inch long and often found behind appliances or under rugs or furniture.

Runways: Mice travel along defined paths from one area to another, which makes it easier for them to find their way back home after venturing out into new territory. These routes can take many different forms from simple tunnels through walls to elaborate networks of tunnels beneath floors or inside walls themselves that include side branches leading off from main passageways only to reconnect again at another point later on down the line.

A Foul Odor:  Mice reproduce rapidly and produce waste that can build up behind walls and appliances. If you notice an unusual odor coming from your home or yard that doesn’t seem to go away even after cleaning up any messes or spills present then it could be worth checking for signs of rodent activity nearby.

Why Might Mice Be Attracted To Your Home?

2 trashcans
Mice will eat just about anything and are commonly attracted to garbage or left over food.

If you have mice in your home, you may be wondering why they are attracted to it. Mice are small rodents that can fit through very small spaces, so they can enter your home through almost any opening that is no larger than the size of a dime. They often enter through the same places each time, so if you know where they are coming from, you can seal off that area and keep them out.

Remember, mice can contaminate food and leave droppings behind. They also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and pets. If you have mice in your home, it is important to get rid of them quickly before they make themselves at home there permanently!

Along with using your knowledge of what scent will keep mice away, it’s also a good idea to understand why mice might be attracted to your home in the first place. There are several reasons why you might be dealing with a rodent problem.

Like most pests, mice are attracted to sources of food, shelter, and water.

Food sources:  Mice eat a variety of food sources including fruits and vegetables as well as grains such as wheat and oats. They also like chicken eggs or meat scraps left on plates after cooking or eating at restaurants or fast food establishments. If these foods are available outside your home (like in garbage bins), they could attract mice who will try to gain entry into your house looking for another free meal!

Water Sources: Mice are attracted to water sources because they need water to survive. If there is a leaky faucet or drain pipe in your home, mice will find it and start using it as their own personal watering hole. They may also leave droppings near these sources of water which can cause an unsanitary condition if not cleaned regularly.

Shelter: Mice prefer dark areas where they feel safe from predators such as cats, dogs, or even humans. In order to feel secure, mice look for cracks or holes around doors or windows where they can fit through easily without being seen by larger animals that might want to prey on them. Some common areas that may serve as excellent nesting areas for mice include spaces behind walls, crawl spaces, the backs of cupboards, below sinks, and behind appliances.

When it comes to getting rid of mice, you can use your knowledge of what scent will keep mice away to help repel them or even keep them from coming back. Of course, understanding what is attracting mice to your home is helpful so you can work to make your home less attractive to these pests.

We will talk more about good habits you can adopt along with using what scent will keep mice away further down. But for now, let’s talk about a rodent’s nose and how scent works when it comes to repelling these annoying pests.

The Rodent’s Nose – How Scents Can Help To Keep Mice Away

3 two mice touching noses
Mice have a very sensitive sense of smell and can be deterred by a number of scents.

If you have mice in your home, you know it can be an unpleasant experience. You might hear them running around in the walls or find signs they have been hanging around in your cupboards or pantry.

The good news is that there are several methods you can use to get rid of mice. The most common way to get rid of them is by using traps and poisons, but there are other options that may be less harmful to both people and pets.

One of these options is using scents to keep mice away from your home. If you use the right scent, you can keep mice out of your house without having to worry about the dangers of poison or other chemicals.

But what scent will keep mice away? And does it really work?

Well, the answer is yes and no. Scents can help to keep mice away, but they are not always a permanent solution. Furthermore, you should use your knowledge of what scent will keep mice away in conjunction with other methods of rodent removal like traps, repellents, and poisons, especially if you have a severe infestation.

With that said, using what scent will keep mice away can be effective. This is because a rodent’s sense of smell is quite extraordinary!

Rodents have an incredible sense of smell. So, how can we use this knowledge to our advantage?

By having a good idea of what scent will keep mice away and following strategic steps to use these scents as repellents.

Some of the best scents you can use for keeping mice away include:

  • Peppermint Oil
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Cloves
  • Ground Pepper
  • Vinegar
  • Dryer Sheets
  • Mint Toothpaste
  • Ammonia
  • Cinnamon
  • Mothballs

Now let’s talk about how you can use the above scents to keep mice away! Keep reading!

1. Peppermint Oil

4 peppermint oil
Peppermint oil contains menthol, which is highly irritating to mice.

Peppermint oil is a natural essential oil derived from the leaves of the plant Mentha x Piperita. This plant is a hybrid between spearmint and watermint and has been used for centuries as a flavoring agent in food and beverages, as well as for its medicinal properties.

When looking for what scent will keep mice away, peppermint oil is first on our list. Peppermint oil is an effective repellent for mice because it contains menthol and menthone, which are known to be toxic to rodents. Mice have very sensitive olfactory receptors, so when they detect any kind of odor that they dislike, they will avoid it at all costs. The strong scent of peppermint can make your home uninhabitable for mice and other pests like ants, spiders, and even cockroaches.

To use peppermint oil to keep mice away, you have a few options. Mice dislike the strong scent of peppermint oil so much that they will try their best not to enter rooms where this substance has been sprayed or diffused. You can use this method if you have a problem with infestations in certain areas of your home or office building. You can also soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and leave them around areas you have noticed or suspect mouse activity.

2. Cayenne Pepper

5 cayenne pepper
Mice will naturally stay away from the capsicum in cayenne pepper.

Another natural product you can use for what scent will keep mice away is cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is a hot spice that comes from the Capsicum annum plant. It is a perennial herb, native to Central and South America, but it is also cultivated in other parts of the world such as India, Africa, and Thailand. The plant grows to about two feet tall with 6-8 inch wide, bell-shaped flowers that are yellow to red in color. The fruit of this plant is commonly called a chili pepper and contains capsaicin (the active ingredient) which gives it its spicy flavor.

It is this capsaicin in cayenne pepper which acts as an irritant on the mucous membranes in mammals’ mouths and noses. Mice avoid eating foods that cause their mouths to burn or itch so they will avoid foods that have been sprinkled with cayenne pepper or areas that have been treated with cayenne pepper powder or oil.

You can use cayenne pepper to repel mice by sprinkling the powder on all surfaces where the mice may come into contact with it including countertops, sinks, cabinets, floors, and walls. You can also sprinkle cayenne pepper on birdseed you leave in bird feeders. Birds are unable to detect capsaicin in their birdseed, so it’s a great way to keep them coming back but to keep the rodents like mice, squirrels, rats, and rabbits at bay.

3. Cloves Or Clove Oil

6 dried cloves
Cloves can be used to deter mice using their strong scent.

Cloves are the dried flower buds of a tropical evergreen tree in the family Myrtaceae. They have a strong aroma and taste of spicy sweetness, which makes them popular as a flavoring in foods and beverages. Cloves are often used in combination with other ingredients to make curry powder, used primarily in Indian cuisine. Cloves are also used as a stimulant and carminative, as they help expel intestinal gas.

Of course, if you’re looking for what scent will keep mice away, cloves are also top of the list.

Cloves contain eugenol, which is an active ingredient that repels rodents. The chemical substance has been shown to be effective against mice, rats, squirrels, groundhogs, and many other types of rodents.

If you’re looking to use cloves or clove oil as a natural method for what scent will keep mice away, you can do so by putting dry cloves into a bowl or jar with holes poked in the lid or covering it with cheesecloth or nylon window screening. Place this container near areas where you see signs of rodent activity such as droppings, gnaw marks on woodwork or other objects, urine stains, or grease marks from their fur rubbing against walls and floors as they travel about their territory. You can also sprinkle some cloves on your rugs or carpets if you suspect there are mice roaming about inside your home at night.

If you prefer to use clove oil as a form of what scent will keep mice away, you can do so in the same way you would use peppermint oil. Simply apply clove oil in a diffuser, or spray clove oil around your home. You can also soak cotton balls in clove oil and leave them around potential entry and exit points or where you suspect mouse activity.

4. Black Pepper

7 black pepper
Black pepper is spicy and is very irritating to rodents.

Pepper comes from the dried fruit of the pepper plant. It is a spice that contains a chemical compound called piperine, which gives it its flavor and heat.

Along with being a popular spice to add to many recipes and food dishes, pepper is known to repel mice, rats, and other rodents because of its strong scent. The smell can be very off-putting to them and make them avoid areas that have been treated with pepper. The problem with using pepper as a repellent is that it can also be irritating to people and pets if inhaled or ingested in large amounts, so should be used with caution around children and pets.

Another way that ground pepper can be used as what scent will keep mice away is by sprinkling it around entryways such as doors and windows where the rodents may try to enter your home or office space. However, this method is most effective when dry. You must reapply pepper along these surfaces if it should become wet.

5. Vinegar

8 apple cider vinegar
There are many different types of vinegar but all of them can work to repel rodents like mice.

Vinegar is a liquid made from the fermentation of alcohol by bacteria. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is what gives it its sour taste. Acetic acid has a number of health benefits, but it can also be used on our list of what scent will keep mice away because it has been found effective when it comes to repelling rodents.

The most common type of vinegar is white vinegar, which is clear and colorless. Other types of vinegar include balsamic vinegar, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, and red wine vinegar.

Regardless of which type of vinegar you’re using, it can be effective when it comes to deciding what scent will keep mice away. This is because mice are naturally wary of anything that smells strong or could irritate their senses.

Vinegar works best when combined with other repellents such as peppermint oil or orange peels, which are more pleasant smelling to humans than vinegar alone but will still have a strong enough odor that it will discourage mice from entering your home.

To use vinegar as what scent will keep mice away, try mixing one part apple cider vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle, then spray around your home wherever there might be gaps or cracks for rodents to enter through.

6. Dryer Sheets

9 sheets
Dryer sheets can make your bedding smell lovely, but it can also deter pests like mice.

Another top contender for what scent will keep mice away are dryer sheets. This is because mice hate the smell of dryer sheets due to the strong scent that is highly irritating to their sensitive noses.

Dryer Sheets contain chemicals that are added to fabric softeners and detergents to help soften laundry and reduce static electricity. Dryer sheets are also made with high levels of perfumes, which can be harmful to mice if they ingest or inhale them.

Because mice have a very keen sense of smell and because dryer sheets have such strong scents, mice will not come near them.

To use dryer sheets as a natural mouse repellent, simply place one in a drawer or cabinet where you have seen signs of mouse activity or where they tend to reside. You can also place them under furniture where there are signs of infestation or along baseboards where they travel frequently. The dryer sheet will leave behind a pleasant odor for you, but an unpleasant odor for mice.

Dryer sheets can also help repel other pests like roaches, ants, earwigs, silverfish, and spiders.

7. Mint Toothpaste

10 mint toothpaste
Mint toothpaste can be used a few different ways to deter mice.

Mint Toothpaste is another natural way you can keep mice away from your home.  Mint has been used for generations as a natural pest repellent, and it works well to keep mice from entering your house. It can also work against other pests like spiders, ants, and roaches.

The main ingredient in mint toothpaste that will keep mice away is peppermint oil. As we already know from our above section on peppermint oil, this oil contains menthol, which gives peppermint its distinctive taste and smell. Menthol is an irritant for rodents, which is why mint toothpaste can work well when asking what scent will keep mice away.

Mint toothpaste can be used in several ways to keep mice away from your home. One way to use it is by placing some mint toothpaste directly on your floorboards or walls. The mint smell will repel the mice from coming back into your home. Another way that you can use mint toothpaste is by mixing it with water and putting it into a spray bottle, then spraying this mixture on any holes or cracks in your walls or floors where mice may be entering your home.

8. Ammonia

11 ammonia chemical compound
Ammonia is a type of liquid gas that is very strong smelling and toxic to mice.

Ammonia is another scent on our list of what scent will keep mice away. Ammonia is a colorless gas with a sharp odor that can irritate the eyes and nose. It is found naturally in the environment, but it can also be manufactured from household materials and used as a cleaning agent. The small amount of ammonia you might use to repel mice will not harm humans or pets, but it may be irritating to some people.

Mice dislike the smell of ammonia and avoid areas where they detect it. This makes it an effective repellent for not only mice but also other rodents as well. In addition to repelling mice, ammonia is also toxic to them, so they will avoid areas where they could be exposed to high levels of it (such as in a sealed room).

To use ammonia as a deterrent against mice, you must create a strong source of ammonia vapor by mixing household ammonia with water in an open container (do not use an airtight container because this will cause pressure buildup that could result in injury).

You can also spray ammonia around areas where you suspect rodent activity, or use ammonia as part of your day-to-day cleaning solution to repel mice and keep mice from returning.

9. Cinnamon

12 cinnamon
Both ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks can be used to deter mice.

Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the bark of the Cinnamon tree. It has been used for centuries to keep insects away and to treat illnesses, including colds and flu. The aroma of cinnamon is strong, sweet, and spicy. Cinnamon is most commonly used in baking, but it can also be used in many other ways. You can even use cinnamon sticks as a form of what scent will keep mice away!

The smell of cinnamon deters mice because it can irritate their senses. When mice detect the strong scent of cinnamon, they will avoid these areas because it will cause discomfort to their nose, throat, and eyes.

If you have mice in your house or garage, sprinkling cinnamon powder around the area will help deter them from coming back around again. You can also place cinnamon sticks around your home or garage for additional protection against these pesky rodents. You can use both ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks when it comes to what scent will keep mice away. You also have the option of using cinnamon oil in a diffuser or a spray bottle.

10. Mothballs

13 mothballs
Mothballs are toxic for rodents and insects alike.

Last on our list of what scent will keep mice away is mothballs. Mothballs are made of naphthalene, a chemical that is toxic to a variety of pests like insects and rodents.

Mothballs are small balls of naphthalene crystals that have been treated with camphor oil. They were originally designed to protect woolen clothes from moth damage, but they also work as an insect repellent and rodenticide. The smell of mothballs is very strong and unpleasant, which makes it effective at keeping rodents away from your home or workplace.

Mice dislike the smell of mothballs so much that they will avoid areas where they have been used before. The strong odor also irritates the mucous membranes in their respiratory tract, causing them discomfort and making it difficult for them to breathe properly while inside a building where mothballs have been applied.

Best Practices For How To Keep Mice Away For Good According To Experts

14 a mouse eating
Along with using scent to deter mice, it’s also important to adopt some healthy habits around your home.

Mice are pests that can be a problem in any home. They can cause damage and contaminate food items, and they can also spread diseases. It’s important to get rid of mice once they appear, but it’s also important to make sure they don’t come back.

Along with using what scent will keep mice away, we also want to share some best practices for how to keep mice from coming back:

Clean up food sources – The first thing you need to do is clean up any food sources that could be attracting mice. This includes pet food dishes, trash cans, etc. Mice will eat almost anything — including bread crumbs on the floor or scraps left on the counters — so you want to make sure there aren’t any tempting morsels lying around.

Get rid of holes in walls and floors – Mice like hiding places where they can feel safe from predators, so it’s a good idea to seal up any holes in your walls or floors that may allow them to enter your home. You should also keep electrical cords out of reach because mice like chewing through them to get inside walls and other areas where they might find food.

Use repellents year-round – This is one of the most important steps in keeping mice out of your home. Repellents work by deterring mice from entering your home or building in the first place. If you use repellents all year long, then you can better prevent an infestation of rodents from happening in the future.

Store food and garbage properly – Mice like to eat both plant matter and meat products so it’s important to store these items in sealed containers away from their reach as much as possible. You should also make sure that any garbage bins are kept tightly closed so that they don’t attract rodents either.

Contact a professional if the rodents continue to return – If after following these steps, you still have problems with mice in your home then it’s best to contact an exterminator or pest control.

Best of luck and thanks for reading!