Peppermint has various benefits. Whether we use it to have a fresh breath, or to ease our headaches, it’s something every household has. The minty taste is really refreshing and I guess we all love the feeling of coolness it gives us.
But as it turns out, not everyone enjoys the nice smell, and that’s some good news. Mice and other pests hate the smell of peppermint.
They are neither fond of its sharpness and sweetness, and that means we can use it as an all natural, no-kill way to get rid of those unwanted visitors that decided to make our home theirs too.
This is a really nice way of expelling rodents out of your place if you are against animal cruelty and don’t want to kill them using traps. Plus, your home will smell really nice.
Bulk Herb Stores’s Shoshanna’s Kitchen presents some ways of using peppermint for the purpose of having your home free of mice.
One of them, and I guess the less demanding one, is to plant some peppermint plants and place them around the place. You may as well use the fresh leaves for cooking.
Another useful method is to drop some dried peppermint in socks, tie them off and put them at places where you think the mice and the pests may be gathering, such as holes and gaps.
The third method is to make a peppermint spray. It’s easy and it may also help you keep the air inside fresh. All you need is to boil water and put dry peppermint inside. Once you get rich concentration, strain the grounds out and let the mixture cool. After that, simply put it in a spray bottle, and you are done. If you want extra concentrated spray, use peppermint oil instead of leaves for the preparation of the spray.
How To Get Rid Of Mice.com suggests another interesting method. Saturating cotton balls in peppermint oil and placing them where you believe the mice may likely be.
The peppermint is not only useful, but it’s also very cheap, and won’t cost you an arm and a leg, like hiring professional will.
To create a natural and easy-to-make peppermint solution, follow these steps:
Ingredients:
- 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 16 oz. of water
Instructions:
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- Mix 10 drops of peppermint essential oil with 16 oz. of water.
- Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture on countertops, furniture, blinds, and any other areas where insects are present.
If you decide to use peppermint oil and want that to be a safety process, you need to follow precautions.
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- Dilute the oil: Before using it, it is advisable to always dilute peppermint oil with water or a carrier oil before. The recommended ratio is to mix 10-15 drops of peppermint oil with 1 cup of water or carrier oil. This helps reduce the risk of adverse effects on pets, if you have them in your home.
- Use sparingly: Don’t spray peppermint oil on the places where your pets usually sleep or spend their time. Instead, spray it at the corners of the doors and windows.
- Store safely: Make sure you keep the peppermint oil and any mixtures containing it out of reach of pets. Ensure that the containers are tightly sealed to prevent accidental ingestion or exposure.
- Observe your pets: Monitor your pets closely when using peppermint oil as bug repellent. In case you notice any unusual symptoms or behaviors, immediately discontinue use and consult your veterinarian.
If you want to learn more of the benefits of peppermint, take a look at the below video by Bulk Herb Store.