Does Vinegar Repel Mice?

Does apple cider vinegar keep mice away? Let’s find out.

Mice issues can be very frustrating due to the level of damage caused. Such a problem is complicated by the fact that these rodents are quite clever and know how to evade certain control measures such as the use of traps.

This leaves many homeowners wondering what DIY repellent strategy to use.

Does Vinegar Deter Mice?

You might have heard about vinegar as a potential pest repellent. While this is a great idea, the question that should be asked is whether it works as a repellent.

Many DIY mice repellent strategies tend to be ineffective. Is vinegar one of those?

Let’s find out.

Why Vinegar Use Should Be considered

Vinegar, like many other home remedies, is a readily available product that’s likely to be found in homes. You probably have a bottle of vinegar sitting on your shelf at the moment.

Apart from being readily available, vinegar is an eco-friendly treatment option. In other words, its use has no negative impact on the environment.

Plus, you get to keep your surroundings free from pests using one of the most cost-effective treatment options.

What more? Vinegar is a non-toxic substance that can be used without fear of poisoning or toxicity to members of your household.

How Does Vinegar Get Rid Of Mice?

In terms of having a repellent effect on mice, vinegar has may indeed repel mice to some degree but shouldn’t be relied upon. In other words, vinegar can repel mice when applied at high concentrations.

However, you shouldn’t count so much on this treatment as you may be disappointed to find these rodents still active in your home.

A little online search about its efficacy will turn out tons of results about the efficacy of vinegar as mice repellent. While some of these are in support of its efficacy, others are outright dismissive of such efficacy.

With this said, we’ll need to find out why vinegar is considered a mice repellent.

Why Vinegar Might Work as a Mice Repellent

Some people swear by the efficacy of vinegar as mice repellent and attribute the results obtained to vinegar’s pungent smell. Now, mice have a keen sense of smell.

This helps them in locating food as well as keeping away from potential danger. The pungent smell of this product is detested by these rodents.

• Do mice hate the smell of vinegar?

At high levels, it becomes unbearable for mice to remain within treated areas.

These rodents become overwhelmed and move away from your home or a treated area. While this might sound convincing, there are reports of persons who have used or applied vinegar with little to no results.

This brings up the question of whether a particular type of vinegar is best used over others. Vinegar comes in many variants. For more insight, let’s have a look at the different types.

Does a Particular Type of Vinegar Work to Repel Mice?

There are different types of vinegar reach derived from varying products. This sour-tasting liquid contains acetic acid and is quite a versatile product when it comes to its uses.

The different types of vinegar include malt vinegar, distilled white vinegar, sherry vinegar, and cane vinegar.

Other variants include apricot vinegar, white wine vinegar, raisin vinegar, champagne vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and rice vinegar.

There are also beer vinegar, black vinegar, red vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and red wine vinegar. So, is there a particular type that’s most ideal for use as mice repellent?

Quite a lot of the vinegar repellent treatments for mice you’ll find recommend the use of apple cider vinegar, and white vinegar.

You only want results; as such all, you have to do is follow the tips on what vinegar type to use and how to use it.

Vinegar Isn’t Designed as a Pesticide

It’s important to note that vinegar isn’t originally designed for pest control uses. People have only found out that it has additional uses and promoted it.

So, when using vinegar, you’ll need to have it at the back of your mind that although it isn’t a pesticide, its properties such as its pungent smell can be used against rodents.

How to Repel Mice Using Vinegar

Methods used for pest treatment are as important as the products used. In other words, even the best repellent product won’t give many results if it is not properly applied.

You’ll need to use it in a certain way. There are multiple ways to put vinegar to good use.

There’s the spray treatment, cotton balls treatment as well as adding to cleaning equipment. Other methods of vinegar use include pouring in mice nests and also pouring in a cup.

Let’s have a look at each of these.

• Spray Treatment

Vinegar spray treatments are among the most commonly used.

To make an effective spray treatment, you’ll need to mix equal parts vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar) with water. Pour into your spray bottle and apply around infested areas and pathways.

Other treatments recommend adding a teaspoonful of salt for more potency. Also, spray this treatment on chewed or gnawed surfaces.

This treatment will have to be repeatedly applied when the strength reduces.

• Cotton Balls Treatment

The cotton ball treatment is quite easy to carry out.

Get some cotton balls and have them soaked in vinegar. These soaked cotton balls should be placed around areas you’ve noticed mice’s presence.

The repellent effect is derived from vinegar’s pungent smell.

• Adding to Cleaning Equipment

Did you know that that you can incorporate vinegar into your bacterial treatments?

Here, the objective is to get an additional rodent repellent effect. Your cleaning routine can be made more effective by making your home less inviting to mice after each cleaning session.

• Pouring in Mice Nest

Have you seen a mice nest around your home?

You might want to pour in some vinegar. This makes the nest uninhabitable.

Also, sprinkle some vinegar around the nest’s vicinity for greater impact.

• Pouring in a Cup

The cupping treatment only requires filling a cup with vinegar and placing it around infested areas. This will be enough to drive mice out of the area.

Vinegar can repel mice due to its pungent smell. However, you shouldn’t fully rely on this treatment as you may be disappointed.

In other words, vinegar isn’t very effective when it comes to mice control.