How to Repel Mice With Peppermint in 3 Easy Steps

Mice can be cute as a character in the movies or books, but it’s a whole different story when they’re crawling around your home. If you’ve had issues with mice in the past and want to prevent another problem, you can repel them with mint. It smells good and is safe to use around children and pets.

3 Easy Steps to Repel Mice With Peppermint Oil

If you love the idea of using the power of Mother Nature for pest control, you’ll enjoy it even more when your house starts smelling minty fresh. Also, using peppermint oil as mouse repellent is easy and quick. You can get it done in a half-hour or less, so you can move on to the more exciting things on your to-do list.

DIY Mouse Repellent With Mint vs. Hiring a Pro

Using DIY mint repellents is most effective as a preventative measure or after professional extermination. A 1-ounce bottle of peppermint oil costs $5 to $10, or a 16-ounce bottle of peppermint-based mouse repellent spray costs $20 to $30. Additionally, mint repeller packs cost $10 to $25 and mint plug-ins cost $20.

Repelling mice with mint oil or mint-based products is a more humane approach to pest control because it harnesses the rodents’ aversion to the peppermint smell. Since the essential oils and most mint products are made with natural products, it’s safer to use around children and pets than chemical alternatives.

However, if you struggle to keep mice out of your home, you might try other DIY options or call in an exterminator.

If using the mint is not working on the mouse invasion, call a local pest control company near you. They will remove all of the mice on the property, clean up thoroughly, and seal all entry points into the home. Professional rodent control costs $200 to $500.

Additional Questions

Can I use fresh mint from the garden, or plant mint in my yard as a mice repellent?

There's conflicting information on whether fresh mint plants repel mice. If possible, it makes sense to choose essential oils. Peppermint oil has a very concentrated amount of the herb, making the smell overwhelming for any mice that dares to step foot into your home.

Of course, it wouldn't hurt to plant mint in your garden if you've had a history of mice invasions (plus mint will be super useful for recipes). Keep in mind that your plants won’t smell as strong during freezing temperatures, so using the plants may not work as well in the colder months.

What other smells do mice hate?

Peppermint isn’t the only smell that mice hate, as they’re known to also have an aversion to clove, cayenne pepper, and chili oil or powder. Mice also seem to hate the smell of ammonia, which is found in some cleaning products.

What are other natural ways to control mice?

If the peppermint oil trick isn't working and you're not quite ready to call in an exterminator, you can check out other DIY options. You could try using mothballs and dryer sheets instead of mint products.

Or, consider getting a cat. Not all cats will be excited to go on the hunt for you, but some breeds are known to be mousers. These include the Domestic Shorthair, Maine Coon, Siamese, Turkish Angora, Manx, and Siberian.