Which Repellent is Right for You?

When it comes to rodent repellents, the choices may seem overwhelming. Scent repellents and ultrasonic repellents are the two main options when it comes to driving away rodents. But the best repellent for you can depend on whether you want to use it indoors or outdoors, the size of the area you’re trying to protect, among a variety of other considerations. Find out how to choose the right repellent for your needs below!

Rodents have a keen sense of smell, which means potent smells can be overwhelming to them. Scent repellents utilize combinations of essential oils like peppermint oil, citronella oil, or cinnamon oil to send mice and rats scurrying. For a species that relies on a strong sense of smell over its weak vision, rodents find the potent aroma of menthol, citrus, or spices to be offensive and irritating to their nasal cavities. While humans enjoy these aromas, rodents find the powerful scents repulsive. As a result, they will seek shelter elsewhere.

So why should you choose scent repellents over other types of repellents? Victor® scent repellents also non-toxic and poison-free. The active ingredients are naturally derived, so they can be applied around children and pets when used as directed.

Additionally, we offer both indoor and outdoor scent repellents so you can protect your home and prevent rodents from entering in the first place. One downside of scent repellents is that they need to be replaced when the scent dissipates or reapplied outside as the rain wears the scent away. However, unlike DIY scent repellents, many Victor® scent repellents offer a slow release, so they last longer.

Unlike ultrasonic repellents, scent repellents aren’t going to be impeded by objects in the rooms, such as furniture. The Victor® Plug-in Scent Repellent can be plugged into any outlet and diffuses the peppermint scent throughout the room. It’s great even for large rooms. If you want to protect a smaller room, you can use the built-in toggle switch to adjust the fragrance intensity. Or protect closets, cupboards, pantries, and other compact spaces with our convenient Scent-Away™ Rodent Repeller Packs.

Best for:

• Perimeters / outdoors
• Living rooms and bedrooms
• Closets, cupboards, and small spaces

In addition to a strong sense of smell, rodents also have keen hearing. Ultrasonic repellents utilize high-frequency sound waves to drive away mice and rats. While these sound waves cannot be heard by humans or non-rodent pets, they are highly irritating to rodents. The frequencies vary so that rodents can’t get used to them, creating an unpleasant environment so they seek shelter elsewhere.

For your convenience, ultrasonic repellents, such as our PestChaser® repellents, are incredibly easy to use. Unlike scent repellents, they don’t need to be reapplied, just plug them in! However, be careful to plug the unit into an outlet that is open to the rest of the room, not behind furniture where the sound waves may be blocked.

In a room with mostly hard surfaces, like a kitchen, ultrasound will "bounce" around giving coverage that is more effective. The ideal placement would be one that allows the sound waves to cross in front of an entrance way. However, in living rooms or bedrooms that tend to have many soft surfaces, the sound will be absorbed and therefore may not be as effective at warding off rodents.

Also keep in mind that ultrasonic waves behave more like light than sound. Ultrasound cannot penetrate solid surfaces such as walls, floors, and ceilings or travel around corners, so you need a unit for each affected room.

Best for:

• Indoor only protection
• Open areas
• Rooms with hard surfaces, such as kitchens, garages, and laundry rooms

Feeling better prepared? We certainly hope so! Share your stories on our Facebook page! Did these tips fuel your curiosity? Take a look at our articles, how-to pages, and so much more by heading over to our learning center to get all the information you need on a wide variety of pests. You can also sign up for our e-Newsletter for regular updates and great deals on products.