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The Right Way to Use Baking Soda to Keep Rats Away from Your Home
Dealing with a rat infestation can be a nightmare for homeowners. These pesky rodents can spread diseases, cause property damage, and create an overall unhealthy living environment. While traditional methods like traps or poison can help, there’s a natural, non-toxic solution that might surprise you: baking soda.
Yes, that simple kitchen staple, known for its cleaning and deodorizing properties, can also help in keeping rats at bay. In this article, we’ll walk you through how baking soda can be used effectively to deter rats and prevent them from entering your home.
Why Rats Hate Baking Soda
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s first explore why baking soda is an effective tool in keeping rats away.
Rats have a highly developed sense of smell and are naturally cautious creatures. They tend to avoid substances that are harmful to them. When rats ingest baking soda, it reacts with the acid in their stomach, producing gas that causes discomfort and, in some cases, can be fatal to them. Although it’s not immediately lethal, it makes the environment undesirable for the rats, which encourages them to leave.
Additionally, rats don’t like the smell of baking soda. This strong scent can discourage them from nesting in areas where they detect the powder. When combined with other deterrents or preventive measures, baking soda becomes an excellent tool in your rat control strategy.
How to Use Baking Soda to Keep Rats Away
1. Creating a Baking Soda and Sugar Bait
One of the most effective ways to use baking soda is by combining it with a sweet substance. Rats are attracted to sweet smells, so pairing baking soda with sugar or flour can make the mixture irresistible to them.
What You’ll Need:
- Baking soda (about 1 cup)
- Sugar or flour (1/2 cup)
- A container or shallow dishes
Instructions:
- Mix baking soda with sugar or flour in a bowl or container. The sweetness will lure the rats in.
- Place the mixture in areas where rats are frequently seen, such as along walls, near food sources, or in areas where you suspect rat activity (basements, attics, or behind appliances).
- Leave the mixture overnight and check the next day to see if it has been disturbed.
- Refill the containers as needed until you no longer notice signs of rats.
Why it works: The rats consume the mixture, and the baking soda reacts inside their stomachs, causing them to become ill or leave the area. However, keep in mind that this method might take a few days or weeks to see results.
2. Using Baking Soda with Other Natural Deterrents
To increase the chances of rats avoiding your home, you can pair baking soda with other natural deterrents. Rats hate strong smells, and combining baking soda with substances like peppermint oil, garlic, or cayenne pepper can make it an even more effective repellent.
What You’ll Need:
- Baking soda (1 cup)
- Peppermint oil or garlic (a few drops or cloves)
- Cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions:
- Mix baking soda with peppermint oil or garlic (or both) in a bowl. The strong odor of peppermint or garlic will help drive the rats away.
- Add cayenne pepper if you want to further intensify the effect.
- Place the mixture in cotton balls or small cloth bags and hang them or place them near suspected entry points—windows, doors, vents, and cracks in the walls.
- Refresh the cotton balls or bags with more peppermint oil or garlic every few days for continued effectiveness.
Why it works: The strong smells of garlic and peppermint overwhelm the rats’ sensitive noses, discouraging them from entering the area. Combined with the unpleasant effects of ingesting baking soda, it creates an environment rats will avoid.
3. Baking Soda and Plaster of Paris Mixture
Another variation is combining baking soda with Plaster of Paris, a substance that hardens quickly and can help seal rats in a particular area if they ingest it.
What You’ll Need:
- Baking soda (1 cup)
- Plaster of Paris (1 cup)
- Water (enough to make a thick paste)
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Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix baking soda and Plaster of Paris.
