Rodent repellent pouches for a winter mouse problem: do they actually work, or is sealing entry points the only real fix?
Mice are getting into my kitchen every winter and I am looking at those peppermint rodent repellent pouches that cost about 15 dollars for a pack of eight. The reviews are all over the place. Some people swear the smell keeps mice out of pantries and garages, others say the mice chewed right through the pouch. I rent, so I cannot do major repairs, but I can stuff steel wool into the gaps I can reach. Has anyone actually solved a mouse problem with these pouches, or is the money better spent on traps and sealing?
1 answer
- They help a little, they do not solve it
I tried the pouches in my garage last winter and honestly they are a mild deterrent at best. The peppermint smell is strong for the first two weeks and then fades fast, and I still found droppings near the pouches by February. What actually worked was steel wool plus caulk around the pipes under the sink, and snap traps along the wall for the ones already inside. Use the pouches as a bonus after you seal, not instead of sealing.