Member-only story
Cheapskate’s Homemade Rat Repellent.
Moving to a new home often brings a mix of excitement and challenges. In my case, the charm of a detached garage in Washington DC came with an unexpected visitor — rats! These unwelcome intruders decided to make my garage their playground, threatening to damage my cherished belongings and create a major nuisance. After experimenting with various solutions, I stumbled upon a simple yet effective remedy that has kept these furry invaders at bay.
The Rat Invasion: An Unwelcome Surprise
A few months after moving into my new home, I ventured into my detached garage, a space that had become a repository for long-forgotten treasures and memories. To my dismay, I discovered that rats had taken over. They were nibbling through boxes, gnawing on stored items, and generally causing chaos.
The Peppermint Oil Experiment
Determined to solve the rat problem without extreme measures, I initially turned to a common natural deterrent: peppermint oil. This aromatic oil is known for its ability to repel rodents due to its strong scent, which rats find unpleasant. While peppermint oil did show some promise in deterring the rats, it had its drawbacks. It was relatively expensive to continuously purchase and apply, and the rats seemed to adapt over time, making it less effective.
