Rats can be fierce competitors. They enter your home and behave as if they have a divine right to be there. You may try trap after trap to get rid of them, only to have them snatch the bait and laugh in your face as they enjoy their snack. You could try rat poison, but it may not work and putting poison around your home could put your pets or young children at risk. This guide will help you find the best solution for your rat problem without resorting to drastic measures. Rat repellent is your ultimate answer! You’ll learn how they work, why you need one, tips and life hacks of using repellents to ensure they work their best! Read on to find answers to all your questions!
To help narrow your choices, we’ll also give you reviews of TOP 5 Best Rat repellents on the market. Keep reading to find out how to keep these annoying rodents out of your home.
What you’ll learn from this Guide:
- What is a Rat Repellent and Why Do I Need One?
- How Does a Rat Repellent Work?
- Types of Rat Repellents and How They Work
- Best Natural Rat Repellents
- Best Ultrasonic Rat Repellents
What is a Rat Repellent and Why Do I Need One?
A rat repellent is exactly what it sounds like – something that keeps rats away. It makes the environment undesirable for rats. Repellents have a few advantages over other types of rat control. A rat repellent would prevent you from having to kill the rodents. Pest control companies can be a lot more expensive than rat repellents. Traps, as stated before, may simply not work. Another thing to consider is that if you wait until rats are in your home to try to get rid of them, they may cause considerable damage while they are there.
How Does a Rat Repellent Work?
Rat repellent (or deterrent) works by either taste, smell, or sound aversion. Thus rat repellents can be represented in either substances that avert rats by smell and taste or devices that use sound to make rats go crazy and leave the treated area.
What to Consider When Buying?
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t regulate the use of rat repellents and doesn’t require their efficacy testing. While botanicals (natural repellents, that we are going to discuss further) are considered safe by the EPA, there’s little data available on their effectiveness. I’ve found the only study that specifically addressed the efficacy of natural repellents was conducted outside of the United States, in Thailand, and primarily concerned the following substances: wintergreen oil, chili, peppermint, bergamot, and geranium oils. The researchers concluded that the oils used were effective, but indicated that more studies and research were necessary. The same situation is with the electronic repellents: there are not reliable studies available to prove their true effectiveness.
So whenever buying a repellent, consider that there’s no scientific data on its efficacy. But we still recommend it as a preventative measure.
Types of Rat Repellents and How They Work
I will introduce you to two types of rat repellents: natural and electric repellents. Natural repellents are things that grow naturally that rats try to avoid. An example of an electric repellent would be an ultrasonic repellent. The general way that both of these repellents work is by giving of a smell or sound that drives rats crazy and out of the door.
In the next section, I will cover some relatively effective natural rat repellents as well as some electric repellents worth buying.
Natural Rat Repellents
Natural rat repellents could include things like essential oils or botanicals (plant-based repellents). Natural repellents are preferable to other types because they aren’t toxic to people or pets. Here are three really good natural rat repellants you may be interested in.
Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent
The main ingredient in Fresh Cab is balsam fir oil. Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent non-toxic repellent that is easy to use. Simply unwrap the outer plastic, then place the pouch in an enclosed space and leave it.
The granules in the pouch gives off a scent that rodents can’t stand, but one that generally doesn’t offend humans (depending on your personal tastes). To increase the effectiveness of the pouches, the manufacturer recommends placing one pouch per every 8 sq. ft of floor space and replacing every 30 days.
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Eco Defense Rodent Gone Organic Mice Repellent
The Eco Defense Rodent Gone Repellent spray uses the power of essential oils to keep rodents away from your home. This formula is 100% natural and organic, so you don’t have to worry about where you spray it.
Active ingredients in Eco Defense spray are peppermint, cinnamon, and castor oils. Unless you are allergic to any of the above mentioned ingredient, you can use it safely and without specific precautions.
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Essentially KateS Peppermint Essential Oil
Rats can’t stand peppermint oil, so it is one of the best essential oils to use as a repellent. It has a strong scent and you can mix it with water to spray around your house. Or you put a few drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls, place them in water for freshness, and put them whenever you’ve seen rats or their excrements.
The best part of this essential oil is that it’s harmless to your health (unless you’re allergic) and it smells great.
Each item comes with a long glass dropper and a phenolic cap for long-term storage. It also comes with an E-guide for tips on how to best use it (if you decide to use it for more than a repellent).
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Ultrasonic Rat Repellents
Ultrasonic rat repellents are electronic devices that emit an ultrasound at a high frequency that deters pests. The sound is inaudible to the human ear, but pests can hear it and the sound disturbs them enough to make them stay away.
There is a lot of debate about how effective ultrasonic repellents are, but some of them actually seem to work fairly well. Here are two of the best that I’ve seen on the market.
Pest Venator Ultrasonic Mouse Repellent
The Pest Venator Ultrasonic Mouse Repellent is really a system–it comes with four inconspicuous devices that can cover up to 3,600 square feet (a single unit covers an area of 260 sq.ft). The frequency doesn’t bother pets but will drive rats crazy. According to the manufacturer, you should be rat-free in three to four weeks when you use them as directed.
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T3-R Triple High Impact Rodent Repeller
Unlike the previous system, this is a one-device system. It has what the manufacturer calls a Triple Attack technology. The device features three speakers, each with a different sound/frequency so that it is very effective against all kinds of rodents including squirrels.
According to the manufacturer, rats will be gone within 16 days. The gadget comes with 6 ft plug in cord. Good for use indoors and outdoors, as it is waterproof. Covers an area up to 6000 sq.ft
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Pros & Cons of Using Rat Repellents
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FAQs About Rat Repellents
Are rat repellents effective?
There has been a lot of scientific debate on whether or not they are effective. From what has been shown, some people have better results than others.
Do you have to re-apply repellents after rain?
If the repellent is a liquid or spray, yes you will have to reapply it, but only if it is used outdoors.
How do rat repellents work?
They work by irritating the rodents so much that they just want to leave. This is done either through scent or sound.
What are the rat repellents for cars? Rat repellents for car engines?
You can use the same rat repellents for vehicles as you do for home. Most of the ultrasonics will need to be plugged up so they may not be suitable for a vehicle unless it’s an RV or something similar. However, there are special ultrasonic repellents that can be used in cars, they are usually battery operated and can be placed directly under the hood.
How to repel rats with peppermint oil?
Just mix it with water, spray it or dab it on cotton balls and distribute them throughout your home.
Does mint repel rats?
Yes. Generally any type of “mint” smell repels them. Peppermint especially.
What rat repellents for yards and gardens do you recommend?
Growing mint in your yard is a way to repel rats. But it’s a very short-term solution. Also, many of the repellents in the list above can be used outdoors.
Which rat repellent is best for office?
I would recommend the ultrasonic repellents, like Pest Venator Pest Repeller, because when clients come into your office, they may be put off by the herbal smells.
Comparative Chart for Rat Repellents
| Name | Type | Ease of Use |
Fresh Cab | Granules | Easy |
Eco Defense Check Price | Spray | Medium |
Peppermint Oil Check Price | Essential Oil | Medium/Hard |
Pest Venator  | Ultrasonic | Easy |
T3-R Check Price | Ultrasonic | Easy |
Tips and Lifehacks for Using Rat Repellents
Tip#1
Try not to use ultrasonic devices in rooms with a lot of soft fabrics. They may absorb the frequency and the device won’t work as well as it should. The main rule of ultrasonic effectiveness: If there is no soft furniture, curtains, carpets and other soft things in the room, then the result will be better — ultrasound can fill all the space due to multiple reflections from walls, ceiling, and floor.
Tip #2
Although rat repellents can be used outdoors, the point is to keep rats out of your home, not out of outside.
Tip #3
You may not want to use repellents with traps. After all, the trap will attract the rat while the frequency repels the rat. This may not work out to your advantage the way you think it will.
Conclusion
Having rats in your home is really disturbing and getting rid of them can be hard. Rat repellents will get them out and keep them out and you won’t have to lift a finger. On top of that, your home can remain chemical and poison free. While rat repellents may not be the strongest remedy or technology right now, as time and research progresses, these solutions will become better and better. Hopefully the list above provided you with a good starting point in your search for a good rat repellent. Now you are that much closer to a rodent free home!
