The 7 Best Mouse Repellents to Keep Your Space Pest-Free
Updated: Sep. 27, 2023Need a good mouse repellent? Pick up one of these seven products to send mice packing, and keep them away for good.
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Mice are notoriously difficult to keep out of your home, so it’s optimal to keep them from getting inside in the first place. A mouse repellent can help prevent these pesky critters from getting comfortable inside your house, garage, RV or boat. Plus, if you’d prefer not to deal with messy traps and disposing of bodies, these are a convenient and pro-active solutions. While the best mouse repellent is probably a house full of hungry cats, these products should keep them away for good.
The Best Mouse Repellents
- Best Overall: Mighty Mint Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spray
- Best Budget: Grandpa Gus’s Mouse Repellent Pouches
- Best Plug-In: Ultrasonic Mice Repeller Plug-In
- Best for Outdoor Use: Natural Armor All-Natural Rodent Shield
- Best for Cars: Loraffe LED Under-Hood Rodent Repeller
- Best Versatile: Harris Rodent Repellent Spray
- Best Ultrasonic: Bectine Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
Best Overall Mouse Repellent
Mighty Mint Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spray
This rodent repellent spray from Mighty Mint comes in an easy-to-use 16-ounce spray bottle, and uses pure peppermint oil to deter rats and mice without harming your pets or children. Its 4% peppermint oil concentration makes this product stronger than similar peppermint sprays, allowing it to be more effective and last longer. Plus, the minty smell won’t leave a chemical-like odor in the air. Grab this eco-friendly mouse repellent and breathe easy.
Pro tip: When choosing a product with peppermint oil, make sure that it uses pure oil (like Might Mint does) and not artificial mixtures that just smell like peppermint. This will give you the best results.
Pros
- Extra-concentrated strength
- Made with pure peppermint oil
- Safe to use around kids and pets
- Plant-based formula and locally sourced
Cons
- Not recommended for those sensitive to smells
Best Budget Mouse Repellent
Grandpa Gus’s Mouse Repellent Pouches
Hang ’em and forget ’em! These mouse repellent pouches from Grandpa Gus’s are simple to use—just hang them up wherever you want to prevent mice from feeling at home. Each pouch covers 50 square feet of space. They release a peppermint and cinnamon scent that keeps the pests away for up to three months, making them ideal for winterizing your boat or RV, or storing your classic car.
Pros
- Won’t break the bank
- Lasts up to three months
- Natural formula made from essential oils
- Available in four-, 10- and 16-count pouches
Cons
- Effectiveness can fade quickly depending on airflow
Best Plug-In Mouse Repellent
Ultrasonic Mice Repeller Plug-In
This ultrasonic pest repeller is powerful enough to cover 1,076 square feet, so your basement will be safe from various creatures. Although you won’t be able to detect the frequencies, the unit emits ultrasonic sounds and uses nine light-emitting diode (LED) strobe lights to disturb a rodent’s activity in a dark environment. This machine also regularly changes the type of sound being produced, so mice and other pests won’t get used to it.
Pros
- Plugs into a regular socket
- Uses both ultrasonic and electromagnetic frequencies
- Works on mice, rats, squirrels, spiders and more
- Won’t disturb humans, dogs or cats
Cons
- On the pricier side
Best Mouse Repellent for Outdoor Use
Natural Armor All-Natural Rodent Shield
The 1-gallon size and convenient sprayer nozzle make Natural Armor’s rodent repellent fitting for outdoor use, like covering the entry points of your home or keeping mice out of your cabin when you’re not around. You can also use it indoors to spray your attic and basement. Its peppermint formula is safe for children, pets and the environment and, if you’re not satisfied, the brand offers a 100% money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Available in 1-gallon container
- Can also be used indoors
- Top-mounted handle is easy to carry
- Doesn’t leave a lingering smell
Cons
- Has to be use regularly for best results
Best Mouse Repellent for Cars
Loraffe LED Under-Hood Rodent Repeller
Designed to be placed under the hood of a car, this rodent repeller device uses ultrasonic noise and bright LED strobe lights to dissuade critters that might chew through electrical wiring and cables. It’s powered by your own car battery and automatically shuts off when you start the car—then powers back on when you park.
Pros
- Uses ultrasounds and LED lights
- Includes zip ties to mount in place
- Works with 12- to 24-volt batteries
- Automatically shuts off if car battery level drops too low
Cons
- Installation required
Best Versatile Mouse Repellent
Harris Rodent Repellent Spray
Whether you’re looking to spray your home, under the hood of a car or around children and pets, Harris’ rodent spray repels mice and rats. The formula’s natural oils smell pleasant to humans, but the peppermint and cinnamon combination discourages critters you want to keep away. Just use the handy nozzle to spray the 20-ounce bottle wherever there are concerns as part of your pest prevention.
Pros
- Can be used in homes, cars, boats and barns
- Combines peppermint and cinnamon oils
- Provides a pleasant scent for humans
- Made in the U.S.
Cons
- Has to be used regularly for best results
Best Ultrasonic Mouse Repellent
Bectine Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
You’ll have all the mouse repellent power you need with this six-pack of ultrasonic repellers. Each unit covers up to nearly 400 square feet. The devices use ultrasonic waves to irritate pests and disturb their nervous systems, convincing them to move along and, hopefully, preventing them from taking up residency in your home.
Keep in mind, however, that ultrasonic waves can’t penetrate walls and solid objects, so it’s best to place one in each room you’re having the mice problem. Also, since the devices make pests uncomfortable, they’ll be driven out of their spaces, meaning you might see more of them in the beginning before they pack up and ship out.
Pros
- Covers up to nearly 400 square feet
- Affordable
- Comes in a pack of six
- Also works on cockroaches, spiders, ants and more
Cons
- You may see more pests in the beginning (it means it’s working!)
What to Look for When Buying a Mouse Repellent
Before you add-to-cart, look for a product that’s going to be convenient to use. The best mouse repellent isn’t worth the money if it’s too much of a hassle to apply. A small dropper isn’t going to be a practical choice for covering multiple spaces—a larger spray bottle would be easier and more efficient. Also, like all purchases, keep your budget in mind.
How We Found the Best Mouse Repellents
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
Do mouse repellents work?
Yes, mouse repellents work, but you need to understand their limitations. If a mouse is really hungry and your home or vehicle is inviting enough—like it’s easy to gain entry to and access food—even the best mouse repellent won’t keep it outside. Relying on a single product alone isn’t as effective as using it in conjunction with other methods, like putting food away and eliminating holes or cracks that they can squeeze through. This is especially important to keep in mind when it comes to ultrasonic mouse repellents. Although there’s limited evidence that these devices are as effective as they advertise, especially when a reliable food source is nearby, combining them with other repellents can increase their overall effectiveness. Essentially, the more steps you take to convince a mouse to disregard your space, the better.
How do you repel mice?
You repel mice by creating an environment that they don’t want to live in. In addition to using these dedicated mice repellents to create an irritating and foul-smelling space (to their noses, at least), you should also prevent them from seeing your home or vehicle as an attractive place in the first place. Plugging small holes with steel wool, cleaning crumbs off the kitchen floor and not leaving dog food out are all favorable ways to convince the creatures to look elsewhere.
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