Peppermint Oil
Rats do not like the smell of peppermint. You can put some peppermint oil in cotton balls and place them at the entry points and other nooks you think can be cozy abodes of these tiny creatures. Repeat every few days to keep them at bay. And the great advantage is that your house will smell fresh all the time!
Instant potatoes
Sprinkle the instant potatoes powder everywhere you think the rats are likely to frequent. The rats will eat the powder, but the potato flakes will swell up in the intestines of the rodents, killing them eventually.
Onions
Not just you but even the rats hate the pungent smell of onions. But this hack is a little tricky since onions rot quickly and can be toxic to pets at home. You would need to replace the onion every second day with a fresh one.
Mixture of Plaster of Paris with Cocoa Powder
All you need to do is to mix dry POP with Cocoa or chocolate powder and spread it in the area rats frequent. Once they eat up the mixture, they will run out of your home frantically to drink water and die.
Hot Pepper flakes
This is the most inexpensive way to keep the vermins out of your home. Sprinkling pepper is an age-old way to keep away animals from plants. Spread the pepper along the entryway and other corners and keep the rodents away!
Garlic
DIY your own anti-mice concoction by mixing chopped garlic with water. You can also leave garlic cloves at the entry points of your home.
Cloves or clove oil
Mice don’t like cloves. Place a bunch of cloves in a pantyhose or a muslin cloth near rat holes.
Ammonia
By now you must be aware that mice hate strong smells. Pour Ammonia in small bowls and place near their favorite spots.