Rats and mice will swerve your house if the 24p hated ingredient is left out

There’s nothing worse than seeing an unwanted guest in your home, especially when they’re small, furry, and eat out of the rubbish.

can be hard to get rid of; they can squeeze through the tiniest gaps, making it nearly impossible to your home. Spring, in particular, is a key breeding season for rodents, making them hungry, seeking shelter, and rapidly multiplying. However, before you turn to an expensive exterminator or waste your time setting out ineffective traps, it may be worthwhile to try .

, and you likely have it on hand. Garlic is particularly effective for keeping rats and mice away from your home throughout the year.

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Glen Peskett, DIY expert from , explains: "Garlic is a favourite all around the , it smells amazing, has health benefits and transforms any dish you put it in. But for rats? That strong, pungent smell is their absolute nightmare.”

Glen adds: "Rats rely heavily on their sense of smell to navigate and find food. Garlic, with its strong sulfur compounds, overwhelms their sense of smell and makes them feel disoriented. These compounds are also something rats associate with toxic substances, naturally deterring them from entering your home."

Using garlic to deter rats is a relatively simple process. Firstly, peel and place individual garlic cloves around the house, with a primary focus on entry points.

Typically, rodents gravitate towards basements, garages, kitchens, and sometimes even lofts. To deter them, try scattering garlic cloves in cracks and doorways around your home.

Similarly, garlic oil also works wonders. However, be careful not to put this near any wooden or marble floors as it could potentially cause a smelly oil stain. To use garlic oil, simply soak a cotton ball or cotton pad in the liquid and apply it to the hotspots listed above.

Alternatively, if the idea of leaving garlic around your house is unappealing, peppermint is another scent that rodents tend to dislike. By adding a few drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle filled with water and spraying it in and around entry points, mice and rats will keep clear.

However, sometimes the easiest way to deter rodents is by reducing the amount of food waste left around the house. Therefore, ensure all rubbish bins are kept tightly sealed, and try to take them out every second day if possible to reduce the smells and odours that could attract these unwanted guests.

If rodents become an ongoing problem, start investigating the cracks in your home. It might be worthwhile filling them in, as rats and mice have an amazing ability to squeeze through even the tiniest of gaps, so be cautious!