I’m a pest control expert and people always waste their time on these four ‘hacks’ to get rid of mice – they never work
IT can be tricky to get rid of mice once they find their way into your home.
But according to one expert, people always try the same four 'hacks' and they never work, so you shouldn't waste you time.
Although it's important to keep pesky mice out of your home, it's pointless to spend time and money on certain methods.
Speaking to Jordan Foster from explained: “Homemade remedies, in most cases, are old wives’ tales that are ineffective against these shrewd and agile creatures.
"Although it may sound like the perfect, humane, safe and beautifully smelling decision, natural mice control rarely works. Mice are really smart creatures and they learn from their environment all the time.”
So, here are the four methods to steer clear of:
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Mothballs
It's a total myth that mothballs repel mice, the pest expert revealed.
Although they do generally work well to keep insects and moths out of your home, they're pretty useless when it comes to mice.
This is because the smell of the mothballs will quickly fade, rendering them useless.
Peppermint oil
A common misconception is that peppermint oil can keep mice at bay because of the strong smell.
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But similar to mothballs, the peppermint smell will fade fast, meaning mice will still be find their way in to your home as soon as the smell vanishes.
The pro added: "Smells, like gases, tend to rise, whereas mice tend to stay hidden low at ground level. Therefore, the chances of peppermint and mice being a workable solution are quite slim.”
Ultrasonic mice repeller
Some people claim mice can be steered away from homes using an electric mice repellent devices which emits high-frequency sounds that can only be heard by mice - not humans or pets.
According to the pro, the sonic repeller can work, but might not be as effective as you'd expect.
He said: "This is because the ultrasonic pest repeller side effects are such that the mice will quickly hear the sound, which to them sounds like a jackhammer drilling away at a piece of concrete, and will veer off in a different direction."
But because the devices need to be plugged into to an electrical socket, they'll only be effective in certain spots, so are unlikely to reach mice hidden elsewhere.
Cats
Although they're cute to have around the house, if the aim of having a cat is only to keep mice away you might be disappointed.
The main problem, according to the expert, is cats can't reach "nesting areas, which is where the ultimate problem lies."
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What to use instead
Jordan suggested using humane traps around your home, after sealing it off to no more can enter.
You'll only be able to catch one at a time time way, or however many traps you set, but they're "easy" to use, the pro noted.