The very thought of having rats crawling about in your walls and under your floorboards is enough to send a shiver down the spine. They’re not the most welcome of visitors in the home and if left unchecked, they can breed at a staggering pace (not to mention the damage that they can cause to your property).
But, what do you do if in the event that you have an infestation? What is the best way to get rid of rats? In order to find out, we’re going to look at things that rats hate the most! So, what are rats the most afraid of? Because they certainly don’t have a problem with hunkering down in other people’s homes, that’s for sure!
What is the best way to get rid of rats?
What is the best way to get rid of rats? In this article, we’re going to take you through a few DIY options that you can try if you’d like to tackle the rat infestation by yourself.
However, if you are looking for the single most effective way of getting rid of rats, then you should hire a professional rat exterminator to take care of the infestation for you.
This is the fastest, easiest, and most effective way of dealing with a rat problem. That, and you don’t even need to lift a finger!
So, if you have an infestation and the very thought of rats crawling around your home while you sleep is giving you nightmares, then get on the phone immediately and call your local, professional rat exterminator.
Otherwise, here are a few alternatives that you can try:
- Rodent traps: Rodent traps are arguably one of the most effective means of getting rid of rats in your home. There are several different types of traps that you can use, each with its own pros and cons. For example, snap traps are highly effective, but they will kill the rodent in the process. If you are looking for a more humane alternative, then there are live traps that you can use to capture them and keep them alive to relocate and release.
- Poison bait: If on the other hand, you aren’t too fussed about keeping them alive (they certainly aren’t in any danger of becoming extinct, that’s for sure), then you can use poison bait (aka anticoagulant rodenticides). You can purchase rat poison baits in stores all across Australia and the main ingredient is bromadiolone; a substance that prevents the rat’s body from recycling vitamin K, which helps clot blood. Once the body runs out of vitamin K completely, it will shut down and the rat will die. Just be aware of the fact that this might take several days to happen and they could likely end up dying in their nest, which means taking up floorboards and knocking holes in walls.
Again, to avoid all of this hassle, we would strongly advise skipping these and contacting your local pest control company instead.
What do rats hate the most?
Given the fact that rats have exceptionally poor eyesight, they’re blessed with an extremely sensitive sense of smell. This is why many people debate that if you want to really piss them off, then you should opt for smells that they cannot stand. Here are some smells that rats hate the most:
- Mothballs: Mothballs are effective rat repellents because they simply cannot stand the smell. That being said, mothballs can be harmful to humans as well, so if you do decide to use these, make sure you place them in areas that your children will not be spending a significant amount of time in.
- Ammonia: Ammonia is a pungent odour that rats are unable to tolerate. The following mixture in a bowl will keep them well away from your home:
– two cups of ammonia
– one-quarter of water
– two teaspoons of detergent
- Peppermint: Peppermint oil is a pleasant aroma for us, making it ideal as a rat repellent, given the fact that they cannot stand it! With a few drops of peppermint oil on some cotton wool, you can scatter these around the areas that you’ve sighted rats (e.g., kitchen and attic), and it should effectively drive them away.
- Pepper flakes: Pepper is an excellent repellent for rats because not only can they not stand the smell, but it actually makes it harder for them to breathe. As such, by scattering some pepper flakes along skirting boards and entryways, and replacing them every couple of days, you can effectively keep them away.
What are rats afraid of?
Rats are rather bold creatures and don’t seem to have many fears. Certainly, once they spot you walk into the room they will bolt, but that doesn’t help you capture them and flush them out. So, what can you do to scare rats away from your home? Or prevent them from coming to your home in the first place?
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- Caulk & steel wool: These are difficult for rats to chew and can get stuck in their teeth.
- Predators: Get yourself a cat or a dog to scare them away (and in some cases, catch them)!
- A clean home: Keeping your home clean is an effective rat repellent. They aren’t necessarily afraid of a clean home, but they definitely do not like it.
- Keep food sealed and stored correctly: Without a steady food source, rats will not thrive in your home. Store food correctly and be sure to clean your kitchen thoroughly after use.
- Seal gaps in the walls: When you make your home a fortress by sealing up any potential entry points for rats, you’ll have a much easier job of keeping them out.
Conclusion
Again, for the most effective means of getting rid of a rat infestation, your best bet is to hire the professions, such as SWAT Pest Control. Otherwise, try any of the tips that we have listed in this article, and you should have an easier enough job of keeping them away, at the very least.
