Photo: Lina Kivaka

What is the number one rodent repellent?

Essential oils are some of the best natural rat repellents. Rats have a highly developed sense of smell, which makes strong odors such as pine oil, cinnamon oil, and even peppermint oil offensive to them. Cayenne pepper, cloves, and ammonia will keep rats away as well.

bobvila.com - The Best Rat Repellents of 2023 - Recommendations from Bob Vila

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Piles of tiny droppings, scratching noises in the walls, tiny footprints on a dusty shelf, and holes chewed through food containers are all telltale signs that rats have taken up residence in a home. While poisons and traps are effective means for offing these little pests, lethal solutions aren’t always feasible for households with pets and children. Rat repellents offer a solution that’s safer, all natural, and more humane. These products are either scent-based or sound-based solutions. Pellets, packets, and sprayers drive rats away by emitting strong odors that do not bother humans but that rats can’t tolerate. Ultrasonic repellents emit sound waves that humans and pets can’t hear but that cause rats auditory distress. This guide will outline the advantages and disadvantages of these nonlethal rodent remedies and recommend the best rat repellent products for your property.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Rat Repellent

Ahead, discover the pros and cons of ultrasonic and scent-based rat repellents and learn about the important considerations—including coverage and longevity—that shoppers should think about before purchasing one of these humane pest solutions.

Type

There are two types of rat repellents: scent-based and ultrasonic repellents. Scent-based products are sold as sprays, pellets, or packets. They work by dispersing a strong smell, usually peppermint or pine, that rats dislike. Liquid sprays are applied to areas where rats enter the home, such as doorframes, windows, cracks, and crevices, leaving behind an oily residue. Packets are small pouches of dry ingredients and are ideal for positioning around the exterior or interior of a home. Pellets are infused with a mix of nonessential oils and other odiferous ingredients. With pellets, users can fine-tune how much of the product is distributed—a sprinkling of pellets in smaller spaces, such as a drawer or cabinet, and larger quantities in a garage or bedroom. Ultrasonic pest repellents use sound to send rats packing. Their sound waves are inaudible to humans but irritating to rats. Indoor ultrasonic devices are plugged into a standard wall socket and are similar in size to a plug-in air freshener. Ultrasonic waves cannot penetrate walls, so more than one unit may be required to treat an indoor infestation. Purchasing enough of these devices to treat an entire home could be costly, depending on the size of the home. Outdoor ultrasonic repellents are essentially small transmitters that are attached to stakes and powered by a solar cell. Users drive these stakes into the ground just as they would solar walkway lights. These devices typically cover a radius of about 40 feet.

Ingredients

Scent-based repellents use natural ingredients—typically aromatic essential oils, such as peppermint, cinnamon, spearmint, and balsam—to drive off rodents. While the scents from these oils are offensive to rats, most homeowners rather like them. In a way, these fragrant oils sort of double as air fresheners. Packets and pellets use dry forms of these oils, while sprays typically dilute the liquid forms. Unlike rat killers or mothballs, scent-based rat repellents don’t contain harsh chemicals or poisons, making them safe for use around humans and pets. They’re also safe for the environment.

Coverage

Both scented and ultrasonic solutions have limited ranges. Scented sprays are only strong enough to cover the immediate area where the spray is released. Pouches are more potent and typically cover up to a 125-square-foot area. Pellets’ coverage ranges vary depending on how many pellets are used. A few pellets may be enough to treat a small closet, while a handful can create enough scent to protect a whole shed. Most ultrasonic waves can travel up to about 40 feet or until they encounter a structure or other solid object. Using an ultrasonic device to remedy a rat problem inside a home usually requires multiple units because these sound waves cannot pass through walls.

Working Time and Longevity

Rat repellents work fast. Scent disperses quickly into the air, and the irritant drives rats away almost as soon as they encounter it. Ultrasonic repellents begin to work as soon as they’re plugged in, and the sound waves carry to where rats are hiding. A household can expect results from rat repellents within days, if not hours. The length of time these rat-revolting products last has a lot to do with which product is used. Scent repellents eventually wear out but will continue to work after humans can no longer smell them. Expect them to be effective for 6 weeks or more. Rats have a more developed sense of smell than humans, which is why strong odors such as mint and pine are so offensive to them. Though ultrasonic devices may cost more at the outset, they will last much longer because they rely on electricity or solar power to relay an audio tone—there’s no product to run out of. Ultrasonic repellents can last for several years before they wear out.

Our Top Picks

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Below are the choices for the best rat repellent products in packet, pellet, spray, and ultrasonic forms. While these products may employ different means, they will all help drive rodents from your property. Best Overall 1 Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent Photo: amazon.com SEE IT Many rat repellent solutions don’t just drive away rats; they’re also offensive to humans (we’re looking at you, mothballs). This botanical isn’t just an effective rodent repellent; it also functions as an air freshener. Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent’s main ingredient is balsam fir oil, which is an appealing scent to humans but encourages rodents to steer clear of your homestead. This product is all natural and is thus both safe for use inside the home and easy on the environment. Fresh Cab is super easy to use: Simply place a pouch or two in every room (one pouch treats about 125 square feet) to create an effective rat-repelling barrier. Although Fresh Cab is one of the more effective means of keeping a home rodent-free, it’s also one of the pricier options because it may take 20 pouches or more to protect larger homes. Fresh Cab comes in packs of 4 and 12 pouches. Product Specs Type : Scent-based

: Scent-based Coverage : 8 square feet per pouch

: 8 square feet per pouch Longevity: Up to 30 days Pros Provides air-freshening capabilities

Made with all-natural balsam fir oil

Easy to use

Comes in varying sizes Cons May need multiple shipments for large homes

Needs replacement after 30 days

Expensive Get the Fresh Cab rat repellent at Amazon, Tractor Supply, and Walmart. Best Bang For The Buck 2 Victor M756K Pestchaser Rodent Repellent Photo: amazon.com SEE IT Ultrasonic sounds cannot pass through walls, which is why outfitting an entire home with plug-in ultrasonic devices for each room can get pricey. Victor’s set of six ultrasonic Pestchasers offers terrific value for money: There are enough gadgets here to outfit an average-size home, and they each have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. This set offers very good value for money because it costs about the same as a single ultrasonic device from another manufacturer. When plugged into a standard electrical outlet, each unit emits a high-frequency noise that is loud enough to cover a medium-size room. The sound is inaudible to humans but really irks rodents. The units are low profile, measuring less than 2 inches by 2 inches, and emit a soft blue glow—they’re essentially rat repellents and night-lights in one compact device. Product Specs Type : Ultrasonic

: Ultrasonic Coverage : 100 square feet per unit

: 100 square feet per unit Longevity: Between 3 to 5 years per unit Pros Comes with six plug-in ultrasonic devices

High frequency is silent to humans

Each device lasts for 3 to 5 years Cons Not suitable for larger houses

Not suitable for homes with caged pets

Made for indoor use only Get the Victor rat repellent at Amazon, Tractor Supply, Walmart, and L&M Supply. Best Ultrasonic 3 Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Indoor Repellent Photo: amazon.com SEE IT For homeowners who don’t want scented repellents and don’t mind spending a little more to solve their rat problems, this ultrasonic device from Neatmaster is an excellent option. It measures less than 5 inches tall and about 3 inches wide and plugs into a standard wall outlet. One of this unit’s main advantages is that it can be set to one of three ultrasonic sound frequencies. The green and blue settings are for minor to moderate rat problems. At these levels, the Neatmaster emits sounds that are inaudible to humans. The red setting is for severe infestations, and the sound emitted is actually audible to humans. Colored LED lights indicate which setting is activated. Remember that ultrasonic waves do not pass through walls, so you’ll need a Neatmaster for every affected room. Product Specs Type : Ultrasonic

: Ultrasonic Coverage : Up to 1,200 square feet

: Up to 1,200 square feet Longevity: Indefinite plug-in unit Pros Emits one of three ultrasonic tones

LED illumination identifies each frequency

Can cover 800 to 1,200 square feet Cons May cover entire wall outlet

One frequency is audible to humans

Expensive Get the Neatmaster rat repellent on Amazon and at Walmart.

Best Spray 4 Natural Armor Peppermint Repellent Photo: amazon.com SEE IT The active ingredient of Natural Armor’s spray-on solution is peppermint oil, which drives rodents crazy but leaves a pleasing aroma behind for us humans. Applying the spray to areas where rats enter the home, including doors, windows, vents, pipes, and cracks, will create an effective barrier against rats and other rodents. This product does not contain chemicals, so it’s safe to use around pets and children and isn’t harmful to the environment. Natural Armor comes in a 128-ounce bottle, which includes a trigger sprayer for application. One bottle covers about 4,000 square feet. While this product will not stain woodwork or furnishings, it will leave an oily residue on surfaces. Product Specs Type : Odor-based

: Odor-based Coverage : Around 4,000 square feet

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: Around 4,000 square feet Longevity: Unspecified Pros Utilizes natural peppermint oil

Covers over 4,000 square feet

Comes in a large quantity

Safe for pets and children Cons Heavy

Leaves residue where applied

Leaves an aroma behind Get the Natural Armor rat repellent at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, and Natural Armor. Best For Car 5 Loraffe Under Hood Rodent Ultrasonic Rat Repellent Photo: amazon.com SEE IT Rats can wreak havoc on an automobile, chewing through wiring or even building a nest inside the vehicle. Loraffe’s device repels rodents by deploying a two-pronged strategy: It emits a high-pitched sound and flashes three LED strobe lights, and rats detest both the noise and the lights. This repellent installs under the hood of a vehicle and attaches to its 12-volt battery via a simple, two-wire installation. The emitter uses minimal battery power but will automatically shut itself off if it senses that the battery’s voltage has dropped below 10.5 volts. This product is not suitable for hybrid electric vehicles. Product Specs Type : Ultrasonic

: Ultrasonic Coverage : Unspecified

: Unspecified Longevity: Indefinite Pros Emits ultrasonic sound and light

Long-lasting 12-volt battery included

Automatic shutoff when battery is low

Easy to install Cons Not fit for hybrid vehicles Get the Loraffe rat repellent on Amazon.

Our Verdict

For its varying sizes, user-friendly operation, and all-natural ingredients, the Fresh Cab rat repellent is our Best Overall pick for those looking to rid their home of rodents. This product has the added benefit of leaving a pleasant scent behind. For those looking for something with a slightly smaller price tag and with ultrasonic abilities, the Victor Pestchaser is a suitable alternative. With six devices provided in one shipment, this option provides long-term relief from infestations while being inaudible to human ears.

How We Chose the Best Rat Repellents

Finding a way to rid your home of rodent infestations without the use of inhumane methods is possible with ultrasonic devices, scented solutions, and even LED lights. Some of our top picks are ultrasonic devices that emit frequencies that are inaudible to the human ear but irritate rats, mice, and other rodents. Plus, many of these plug-in devices are long lasting and cover a large square footage of up to 120 feet. For ample coverage, there are ultrasonic devices made for protecting your vehicle that also employ strobing LED lights that irritate vermin. However, these options may be annoying to any caged pets you currently have. Other options mentioned above use powerful scents like peppermint and balsam wood oil to ward off pests while being completely safe for children and other pets. Some of these options are even capable of covering up to 4,000 square feet. But be warned, some of these options can leave residue and scents behind.

FAQs

If you’re wondering how nontoxic repellents can rebuff rodents from property or are trying to determine if rats have invaded your home, read on for answers to these important questions.

Q: What are the signs of a rat infestation?

There are numerous warning signs that indicate there might be a rat infestation on your property. The most common evidence is rat droppings. A single rat can produce up to 40 droppings per night, so this is one of the best ways to identify a rat problem. You might also notice damage to walls and food containers, which could be signs of rats chewing through walls and packaging to get food or gain access to the home. Other indications include scratching noises in the walls or ceilings and tiny footprints in dusty areas.

Q: What are natural repellents for rats?

Q: What frequency keeps rats away?

Ultrasonic sound waves with frequencies above 20 kilohertz cause rats auditory stress and thus ward off the pests.

bobvila.com - The Best Rat Repellents of 2023 - Recommendations from Bob Vila

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