Do home remedies keep rats away? What the evidence says

Fact-checked against 4 sources · Updated 25 September 2026

Why people try home remedies first

They’re cheap, easy to buy and they avoid poison, which is a fair instinct when you have children or pets. The trouble is that most of them have little or no reliable evidence behind them, and rats breed quickly. The BPCA says a female can have a litter of six to eight pups about every six weeks in good conditions, so a few weeks spent testing something that doesn’t work is a few weeks the problem can grow.

Ultrasonic repellers

These plug-in devices claim to drive rats away with high-pitched sound humans can’t hear. It’s a plausible-sounding idea, because rats can hear well into the ultrasonic range (the BPCA says up to around 90,000Hz) and use ultrasound to communicate. But being able to hear a sound isn’t the same as being driven out of a home by it.

In 2002 the US Federal Trade Commission alleged that a manufacturer of ultrasonic pest-control devices did not have a reasonable basis for claims that ultrasound will eliminate or repel pests, including rodents, from a home. That was a US action against one company rather than a UK ruling, but it’s a useful reminder that these claims are easy to make and hard to prove. We haven’t found reliable UK evidence that a plug-in device clears an established rat problem.

Peppermint oil, mothballs, vinegar and other smells

The University of New Hampshire’s Extension advice service says repellents overall haven’t shown to be very effective, whether they’re mothballs, essential oils or another home remedy, partly because the active ingredients evaporate quickly. At best you might see a short-lived effect. That matches the BPCA’s advice, which puts its weight on removing food, tidying shelter and sealing gaps rather than on smells.

Vinegar is often suggested for the same reason as peppermint oil. We haven’t found reliable evidence that it drives rats out of a property either, so don’t rely on it.

Why a quiet week proves very little

The BPCA notes that rats are wary of new objects in their surroundings and will often avoid them for a period before exploring them. That works against anyone testing a repellent: if you put something new down and the noises stop for a few days, it can look as if it worked, when the rats may simply be cautious for a while before carrying on. The real test is whether the signs stop for good — no fresh droppings, no gnawing, no new noises — not whether they pause.

The risks of doing nothing effective

• The colony grows. Rats breed fast, and the longer they have food and shelter, the more of them there are.
• Damage builds up. The BPCA warns that gnawing on cable sheathing is a fire risk and gnawed pipes can leak.
• Health risks continue. Rats can carry infections such as leptospirosis. See whether rats are dangerous.

What actually works

Everything effective comes down to taking away what rats need and blocking where they get in, then treating the rats that are already there:

1. Remove easy food. Use a bird table or feeder tray and clear spilt seed, keep bin lids closed, keep compost covered with wire mesh, and don’t leave pet or chicken food out overnight.
2. Tidy shelter. Clear piles of wood and debris and cut back overgrown areas next to buildings and fences.
3. Seal the gaps. The BPCA says rats need a gap of only about 15mm. Seal with materials rats can’t chew through — see rat proofing.
4. Treat the infestation properly. The BPCA recommends contacting a professional for any infestation. See how professional rat control works, or garden rat control if it’s outdoors.

What about DIY poison and traps?

These are different from home remedies because they’re made to kill rats, but they come with their own rules and risks. The HSE says the public can use rodenticides, but with tighter restrictions than professionals, and the BPCA warns that widespread amateur use has helped spread resistance to conventional poison. If you do use bait, follow the label exactly and use a tamper-resistant station. Our guide to rat poison and the UK rules covers the safe way to do it.

Home remedies: quick questions

This site connects households and businesses in the Newark-on-Trent area with an independent local rat-control technician. We are not the servicing contractor and do not carry out treatment ourselves. See our terms & disclosure.