Does Neem Oil Repel Mice? | Easy Ways to Use it at Home

When you find mice in your home, it is more than an inconvenience. Mice are annoying and can bring diseases inside that can spread to your family, so you’ll want to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

Neem oil is a great way to repel mice. It is made from the neem tree and concentrated into a strong oil that you can dilute at home. The smell of neem will keep mice away. It can be sprayed outdoors around window and door seals. You can even strategically place neem oil soaked cotton buds in your kitchen and bathroom.

This article will explore how neem oil repels mice, easy ways to use it at home and other essential oils you can use to keep mice away.

Why neem oil is great for repelling mice

Neem oil is derived from the fruits and seeds of the neem tree, also called the Azadirachta indica tree. They are turned into oil and can be used to treat sap sucking insects like aphids and bronze orange bugs on your citrus trees.

You can also use it to rid of mice and rats. These rodents are sensitive to strong smells so will keep away if they smell neem.

Neem oil is easy to find, inexpensive, easy to use, and most importantly, very effective at repelling pests such as mice. If you want to start with a natural product when getting rid of mice, neem oil is the way to go.

Neem oil is great if you don’t want to kill the pests including rats and mice away from your home. It is a great way to keep the rats and mice away if you have already irradicated them or want to prevent them getting in your home.

Mice are common in dry climates. I used to live in the southern states of Australia where mice were common indoors. Now that I have moved higher to a subtropical climate we no longer have mice problems, but instead we have roaches.

I’m not sure which is worse.

If you’re going to use neem oil or any other essential oil, make sure you buy it from a reputable source. Use only 100% pure essential oil and never buy blends or just “scented” oil because those have already been diluted and won’t be nearly as effective at repelling the mice in your home.

How to use neem oil at home to repel mice

Here are some easy ways to use neem oil at home to repel mice. These tips will make it easy to keep rodents away.

1. Use neem oil either diluted or straight

You can do one of two things when using neem oil to get rid of your mice infestation.

Pour about 15–20 drops of the oil on a washcloth and wipe down your cabinets and behind your appliances.

Use a spray bottle filled about 3/4 of the way with water, add 15–20 drops of the neem oil, then spray any area where you’ve seen the mice.

2. Use the cotton ball method

If you prefer to use the oil straight without diluting it, you can soak a few cotton balls in the neem oil and then place those balls in any crack, crevice, or hole where mice might try to enter your home.

Make sure you replace the cotton balls at least once a month. This way, the smell will be strong enough to continue repelling the mice from that area.

3. Make sure you get all of your entry points

Whether you’re spraying a neem oil and water mixture or placing cotton balls around your house, make sure you get every one of the entry points. Mice are small and can sneak into your home through a lot of different holes and cracks.

Two very popular ways for mice to enter include small holes that are around your windows or your baseboards, but you should also go around your house, both inside and out, to check for other areas where they might come in.

4. Consider using other oils besides neem oil

Neem oil is very effective at repelling mice, but if you’re having trouble finding it, you can consider other oils instead. Combine the neem oil with another type of essential oil if you want. Other scents that mice hate include peppermint, citrus scents such as orange and lemon, lavender, and tea tree oil.

You can also try eucalyptus or citronella, and if you can’t find the oil you want, consider buying a candle with lavender, citronella or eucalyptus oil. As long as the candle has a high content of that essential oil, it should work well.

Another important tip is that these suggestions work great with other pests as well, including flies, mosquitoes, bed bugs, lice, wasps, bees, ants, and cockroaches. They also work well for larger rodents, such as rats.

Keep in mind that you have to apply the mixture regularly so that if any new pests try to enter your home, they’ll be disgusted by the smell and simply scatter away.

It’s amazing that these pests can be repelled by something as simple as a strong smell, but it makes it much easier for homeowners who prefer natural methods of getting rid of the pests in their homes.

Conclusion

Neem oil is just one of the many essential oils you can use to get rid of mice, so if you happen to see these pests in your home, don’t get discouraged. Choosing essential oils to repel pests is super-simple and very inexpensive, and even if it takes several days for you to notice the mice are gone, it’ll be a good feeling when it does finally happen.

Make sure the oil is 100% pure essential oil, and make sure you follow the tips mentioned above to the letter. Most importantly, don’t give up! Give it some time because the pests don’t always disappear the same day you spray the oil around your home.

You can try many different essential oils to determine which one works best, and just remember that rodents can be feisty and stubborn and therefore, may require working with more than one oil.