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Does Irish Spring soap keep mice away?
2020 UPDATE! FULL DISCLOSURE:
While many folks have sworn by this critter control hack for years, I have heard from a few readers who have said the mice actually ate the soap and did not in fact move far away.
Before you begin PLEASE test this idea by placing out a small chunk of soap first and seeing what happens.
Will bar soap keep mice away?
I get so much feedback on this post with readers curious about this method. So does bar soap keep mice away?
Many say yes and have used this method for decades. Some have found that the mice eat the soap, which is why I am making the suggestions below.
DO NOT shred 20 bars of soap and sprinkle them everywhere without testing.
Because types of mice will vary, as will soap recipes, your results may vary.
By offering a small piece of soap first you can see if the mice you are dealing with are runners, or nibblers.
If you notice bites in the soap piece or droppings around the soap, this method may not work for you and should not be used.
Before we begin, let’s answer a few of the most asked questions people have when it comes to repelling mice.
Hopefully these answers can help you fight these critters for good and solve any issues you are having.
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Do moth balls repel mice?
One common question I hear is: do moth balls repel mice? In short, yes. The smell of moth balls will help keep mice away from your space.
However, the smell may repel more than just mice, it might repel guests as well.
Since the smell of moth balls is so strong and unpleasant, it is best used in spaces where guests aren’t active, such as barns and garages.
Do mice eat soap?
Ahhh the age old do mice eat soap debate! It depends on the ingredients in the soap. Soaps that contain animal fat or food ingredients may be edible to mice.
It is always smart to read the ingredient label before trying soap as a mouse repelling strategy.
What scents repel mice?
So…what scents repel mice? It seems as though mice dislike strong and spicy scents.
This could mean a heavily scented soap, moth balls, and spicy scents such as peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, and red pepper flakes.
Some people also swear by hot sauce, clove oil, and eucalyptus oil. It is a good idea to test these various scents and see which one may work best for you.
How to Repel Mice with Irish Spring this Winter:
When the leaves start to fall and the temperatures drop, I know that snow (and critters) aren’t too far behind.
And while we love all creatures big and small, I don’t want them in my house and camper come winter.
Irish Spring has been the one pest repelling hack that works wonders, so let me grab a bar and show you how it’s done.
Look below at how to use Irish Spring to repel mice this winter, so you can enjoy a critter free season!
Supplies needed:
– 2-3 bars of Irish Spring soap (find a value pack for under $6 here)
– cheese grater (find one for under $10 here)
So a few things you should know: just any bar of soap won’t work. You have to use Irish Spring. Why? I wish I had more answers.
The bottom line is the perfumes in this soap tell mice, rats, chipmunks, and other critters to stay clear.
Irish Spring comes in different scents and varieties, and I have found that as long as it is Irish Spring in general it will work just fine.
Directions:
1. Start by grating the bars of soap. To make it easier to grate them, place the soap in a warm window for a few minutes to help soften it up.
2. You may wish to place the grater in a plastic bag as you grate, so the bag catches all of the soap shavings.
3. Grate 2-3 bars until you have a nice pile of shavings.
4. Immediately place the shavings in areas you wish to repel pests.
RELATED: Remember, you can also repel mice with steel wool! See How to Repel Mice with Steel Wool here!
RELATED: Learn How to Repel Deer with Irish Spring Soap and prevent your garden from becoming an all you can eat buffet!
How to get rid of mice indoors:
Here are some of the places you can put the shavings to repel pests:
– Sprinkle them in the corners of attics where mice may enter.
– Add them to the corners of basements and crawl spaces.
– Sprinkle shavings in the drawers of campers and RV’s where critters may wish to hide.
– Add a handful to your car trunk or any car you store over the winter.
– Don’t forget the garage! Place shavings in corners or near entryways.
Personally I just place a handful of shavings down. If you wish to be a bit neater, you can always place the shavings in a butter dish or a mesh bag with holes in it.
RELATED: Are your fall pumpkins under attack by squirrels? See how to keep squirrels from eating your pumpkins here! I LOVE these tips.
Here are a few benefits of using this method:
– The soap simply repels. It does not kill the critters.
– The critters will NOT eat the soap. This means you don’t need to worry about larger animals who eat the critters (cats, owls) ingesting the soap and getting sick or poisoned.
– It is safer than using poisons or traps.
– It is inexpensive!
Related: See how to get rid of stink bugs for good with this helpful tutorial.
ICYMI: How to Repel Stink Bugs with Essential Oils
How to Keep Mice Out of Your Home:
– seal all holes in your home’s siding and foundation.
– keep all food products tightly sealed.
– avoid storing food items in the garage and basement, even if the items are sealed.
– keep blankets, pillows, and other items mice may want to shred and use for bedding in air tight containers.
– try applying peppermint oil to windows and doorways where mice may try to enter.
As always, use caution when doing any kind of pest repelling in a home with children.
RELATED: See how to repel flies with Pine Sol and say goodbye to the buzzing for good. This is such a cheap way to keep flies away!
Now, all you have left to do is enjoy your pest free home. Keep a few extra bars of soap on hand for spring, because you will want to use this same method to keep critters out of your garden.
See How to Use Irish Spring to Repel Garden Pests when you visit here.
Consider these tips on How to Use Irish Spring to Winterize Your Home and Camper and see what a difference they can make this winter!
Want to learn more ways to use Irish Spring around the home and garden?
Check out my 10 Creative Uses for Irish Spring!
Or, learn How to Repel Deer with Irish Spring when you visit here. Who knew?
If deer are using your yard and garden for an all you can eat buffet, put a stop to it with soap!
