The Right Way to Use Baking Soda to Keep Rats Away from Your Home‍

#### 3. **Place the Mixture in Key Locations**

Now that you have your baking soda mixture, place the small balls or discs of the mixture near areas where you’ve observed rat activity. These areas may include:

– **Along baseboards or corners**: Rats often travel along walls and corners to stay hidden, so place your bait in these areas.
– **Near food storage areas**: Place the bait near pantry shelves, cabinets, or areas where food is stored.
– **Near holes or cracks**: If you’ve identified entry points, position the bait close to these openings to discourage rats from entering.

Make sure to place the bait in areas that are out of reach of pets and small children.

#### 4. **Monitor and Refresh the Bait**

Rats are cautious and may take some time to trust new food sources. Check your bait regularly to see if it’s been consumed. If the bait is gone, you can replace it with fresh mixtures. If it hasn’t been touched, you may need to adjust the location or add more attractants.

Additionally, keep in mind that rats may eventually become suspicious of the same bait if they don’t feel safe around it. You can rotate the ingredients or mix in new scents to keep the bait enticing.

#### 5. **Seal Entry Points and Clean the Area**

While baking soda can help deter rats from coming into your home, it’s important to eliminate any access points to make sure they can’t get back in. Seal cracks and holes in walls, floors, or foundations using materials like:

– **Steel wool**: Rats can chew through most materials, but they have difficulty getting through steel wool.
– **Caulk or expandable foam**: Use these to fill smaller gaps around windows, doors, and pipes.
– **Mesh wire or hardware cloth**: For larger openings, use a fine wire mesh to cover the holes.

In addition, keep the area clean and free of food scraps to make it less attractive to rodents.

#### 6. **Consider Other Natural Repellents**

While baking soda can be effective, using it alongside other natural rat repellents can increase its effectiveness. Some additional natural deterrents to consider include:

– **Peppermint oil**: The strong smell of peppermint is disliked by rats. You can soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them around the areas where rats are active.
– **Ammonia**: The pungent smell of ammonia mimics the scent of predator urine, which can scare rats away.
– **Cloves or bay leaves**: The strong scent of cloves and bay leaves can also discourage rats from entering certain areas.

### Safety Tips When Using Baking Soda for Rats:

– **Avoid direct contact with bait**: Baking soda can irritate the skin, so wear gloves when handling the mixture.
– **Monitor pets and children**: Keep pets and small children away from any areas where you’ve placed baking soda bait.
– **Use caution around other animals**: While baking soda is safe for humans and pets, other animals might find the bait enticing as well, so be mindful of their safety.

### Conclusion:

Using baking soda to keep rats away from your home is a natural, non-toxic, and cost-effective method that can help reduce rodent activity. By combining baking soda with an attractant like peanut butter, flour, or sugar, you can create a repellent that discourages rats from entering your home. Pairing this technique with proper home maintenance, such as sealing cracks and keeping food areas clean, will make your home less inviting to these pesky rodents.

By following the right approach, you can help keep rats away in a safe and environmentally-friendly way. So, the next time you spot a rat, reach for the baking soda and start protecting your home!