How To Make Peppermint Oil To Repel Mice And Bugs

Harvesting the leaves of the peppermint plant is the primary step toward making peppermint oil. It has been suggested to pick the leaves in the morning as soon as the dew evaporates and before the sun gets too hot.

In the early morning period, the leaves have the highest concentration of oils on them. While picking the leaves, make sure to choose only the broad and green ones. Keep in mind not to take down the entire stems while picking the leaves, this can kill the peppermint plant.

After collecting the peppermint leaves, wash them with clean and cool water. Place the leaves in a mesh strainer or any suitable pot and run a stream of clean water over them, making sure it washes away all the dust, dirt, and debris stuck on the leaves.

While washing the leaves, discard any potentially damaged and diseased ones and keep only the fresh and green leaves. You wouldn't want to contaminate the peppermint oil by allowing foreign unwanted substances into it.

Once you've washed the leaves properly, it is time to dry them. Gently shake them on your meshed container to remove any excess water. You can also try draining the water by transferring the leaves into a new container.

After that, place the leaves in a single layer, making sure they're arranged evenly with each other on a cutting board or any flat surface, and let them dry. In the meantime, make sure the leaves are prevented from folding or curling by smoothly rubbing on their surface.

Now is the time to muddle or crush the dried leaves using a heavy and blunt object such as a mortar and pestle, mallet, or simply the back of your spoon. While muddling the leaves, apply a light and even pressure on each stroke.

You can also try squeezing and tearing the peppermint leaves with your bare hands to crush them. This process will cause the leaves to release their natural oils. Keep in mind not to destroy the leaves by grinding them excessively.

After smoothly crushing the peppermint leaves, you need to transfer them to a new container or jar having an airtight lid or covering. While adding the crushed leaves to the bottom of the jar, make sure to leave enough space at its top for the possible motion of the generated steam.

It has been suggested to use a container made from glass or ceramic for this purpose that minimizes the risk of peppermint oil getting contaminated. You might want to avoid the container made up of plastic or metal.

Now, you need to cover the crushed peppermint leaves with mild and unscented carrier oil in the new container. The oils of olive, grapeseed, almond, and wheat germ are quite favored in this case.

It is recommended to pour just enough carrier oil into the new container such that it completely submerges the crushed peppermint leaves, keeping in mind not to create a very high ratio of carrier oil to peppermint leaves. This will unfortunately lower the concentration of the finished peppermint oil.

Once the carrier oil has been added to the container containing peppermint oil, you now need to seal the jar air-tight by closing its lid. This sealed jar should now be allowed to remain still in a warm and dark place for around 1-2 days.

You can use the spot such as a corner of your kitchen, bathroom, or porch. Keep in mind to avoid placing the jar in a very hot or cold location. Warmer temperatures are more likely to encourage the oil to escape, while very cool temperatures might reduce its concentration.

After letting the submerged peppermint leaves remain still for a couple of days, you need to remove the lid or covering of the container. Now, place a soft porous cloth like a cheesecloth over the opening of another container.

Carefully, tilt the jar containing the submerged peppermint leaves over a second container so that oils get collected passing through the cheesecloth into the new container. After that, remove the stray leaf out of the oil using your hand, if any flows along.

There's the possibility of getting peppermint oil of enhanced quality and strength if you continually repeat the process of steeping and straining. You can keep adding the leaves for up to a week and multiply the amount of finished peppermint mint oil with increased potency.

Once you repeat the process, you'll notice the peppermint oil more darker in coloration with a stronger aroma over time. If continued for about a week, you won't be able to differentiate the concentration of oil in the container.

Once you've prepared the peppermint oil as per your need, you now have to seal and store the container containing the peppermint oil. A properly sealed jar has been found to help in the preservation of the freshness and aroma of the oil.

It is recommended to store the peppermint oil jar in a cool and dark place or any spot having a temperature slightly lower than room temperature. Keep in mind to reseal the jar properly after each use. After a couple of months, if the oil starts to develop a strange odor or color, it'd be best not to use them afterward.

Peppermint oil is the oil extracted from the leaves of the peppermint plant. This oil has been found to produce a strong and aromatic odor in the surroundings. This smell of peppermint oil plays a crucial role in keeping the mice and bugs away from your place if used properly.

Mice and bugs have a strong sense of smell. Having a very sensitive smell, these species find the smell of peppermint oil to be highly offensive and irritating to their nasal cavities. It has been recommended to apply peppermint oil daily, in high doses around your place to keep these critters at bay.

1. Make Use of Cotton Wool

Using cotton wool is one of the simplest and easiest ways to assist peppermint oil in keeping the mice and bugs away from your house. You can simply soak the cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them in different places around your house regularly.

Make sure to locate and plan the spots earlier before soaking the cotton balls. It has been suggested to choose the spots where these creatures are more likely to be found such as around your bed, any potential holes and openings in the walls or eaves, hidden and dark places, and so on.

2. Use a Diffuser

A peppermint diffuser helps to diffuse the strong odor of peppermint around your house. Since the task is to fill the surrounding atmosphere with the aromatic smell of peppermint, the use of a diffuser can make an excellent choice to deter the mice and bugs.

In addition to that, a diffuser might ensure a reduction in the population of other sensitive creatures such as ants, fruit flies, and spiders. A diffuser in your house can solve your problem at any time even if mice and bugs reappear.

3. Use a Peppermint Spray

To make a peppermint spray, you can mix two teaspoons of peppermint oil with 1 cup of water and 3-5 drops of detergent. Properly shake this solution to mix them up evenly. You can make use of a spray bottle for this process.

Now, spray this solution in every problematic area around your house. Make sure not to leave any of the spots such as every corner, hole, or crevice, around your bed, window, and door frames, in fact, every potential spot where mice and bugs are highly probable to be found. Also, if you spot any of them in front of you, spray them heavily right away.

Well, the effectiveness of peppermint oil entirely depends upon you. Most importantly, you need to choose the fresh peppermint oil for spraying, or if you've decided to buy it from the local store, make sure to purchase the freshly prepared and packed one. The oil must possess a strong and aromatic odor.

In addition to that, your application method of the peppermint oil also matters the most. You've multiple options for using the oil, you can either go for a diffuser, spray, or a simple cotton ball. If you effectively apply the peppermint oil on the mice and bugs or the potential spots, you can see the result from day one.

How Long Does Homemade Peppermint Oil Last

The strong flavor and odor of peppermint oil have been found to last up to six months. However, this largely depends upon the location chosen for the storage and application method of the oil.

You need to make sure, the container containing the peppermint oil has been kept in a cool and dark place. Also, keep in mind to properly close the lid or covering of the container after its use for the intended purposes. Whenever you use the oil, keep in mind to choose the clean tools to avoid any potential contamination.

Harvesting Peppermint at the Right Time

The best time to harvest the leaves of the peppermint is just when its flowers have started to bloom or just before it begins to flower. Similarly, it has been recommended to pick the leaves of the plant in the early morning.

The essential oils that carry the essence of the peppermint plant are at their peak during the morning period with high concentration, so harvesting the leaves should be performed early in the day for the strongest flavor and odor.

Increasing Oil Yield

A study conducted in New Zealand around 2012 reported that the highest oil yield of peppermint leaves is more likely to occur at the early bloom when the leaves on the main stem have matured and no new leaves are in the line to form on the lateral branches. Also, a high leaf number is more important than a high leaf area.

In addition to that, the increment of the oil yield could be achieved by distilling a larger amount of leaves. You can try repeating the steeping and straining process multiple times for a high oil yield.

Ensure Safety First

You should know that peppermint oil is a potent element. It produces a very strong odor with an aromatic smell around the atmosphere. So, its use must be handled with care. It is recommended not to apply the oil directly to your skin without dilution. Make sure to avoid direct contact with the potent peppermint oil while using it to repel the mice and bugs.

It is suggested to dilute the peppermint oil before any of the use. For the dilution, carrier oil like almond or olive oil is most commonly used. You need to properly mix the peppermint oil and the carrier oil in the appropriate ratio before using them for the intended purpose.

Avoid Potential Side Effects

Many people are found to develop allergic reactions in their bodies with the application of peppermint oil. So, you must be careful when using this oil to repel the mice and bugs. The first use can go very wrong and you mightn't get a second to overcome the effects.

The most common side effects of peppermint oil application are found to be skin rashes and irritation. If your skin is exposed while applying the peppermint oil to deter the mice and bugs then you might be prone to side effects of the oil. To overcome this, dilute the oil first and make sure to perform a patch test on your skin before using it.

Peppermint Mice Myth

Mice have a keen sense of smell through which they can detect and distinguish between the smell of foods and the scent of predators. This is why, many people prefer using potent peppermint oil, and yes, peppermint oil has the potential to irritate the nasal cavity of the mice.

However, upon being exposed to the surroundings, peppermint oil's strong odor is found to eventually dissipate and its effectiveness gradually decreases. Over time, this can no longer affect the areas inhabited by the mice. But, daily use of fresh peppermint oil might be more productive and it can reward you with positive results.

Sonic Deterrent Mice Myth

Sonic Deterrents are tools or small electronic devices that emit sound with high-pitched frequency in an attempt to repel, deter, or kill animals such as insects, rodents, birds, and large mammals. Many people are seen adapting this technology to repel mice from their houses, but are they effective? This is the question.

According to several concerned professionals and public health departments, sonic deterrents mightn't be very useful in repelling the mice from the house or property. These creatures are found to be very good at adapting to their surroundings because of which there's a high potential they can train themselves to get used to such sound.

Mothball Mice Myth

The use of mothballs also falls under the old wives' tale. People have been using these strong-smelling white substances around their houses to deter rodents. Also, the mothballs indeed reduce the ability of mice's blood cells to carry oxygen and this is certain to affect them.

However, the amount of such odor in the mothballs is so small that it won't be very effective in repelling the mice for a longer term. And significant positive results are extremely rare. There's a high possibility for the mice to avoid such substances and seek for another entrance toward your house.

Mice are very nasty creatures. It mightn't be very surprising to hear, mice are one of the key elements that are responsible for transmitting diseases around your house apart from causing physical damage to your property.

These creatures also possess a high potential to invite illness and diseases through bugs. Yes, if mice have been living under your roof, then your house is highly likely to get infested by bugs like fleas, ticks, and mites. Let's dive into the preventive measures one should adopt to avoid mice and bugs:

1. Seal Entry Points

We are pretty sure there could be tiny holes and openings around your house. You might've ignored all these years, but the narrow and small openings are where the rodents and bugs make the entrance to your house.

Properly inspect every potential entryway and seal them immediately. Make sure to check for cracks or holes in the walls, flooring, windows, and doors. Do not forget to look out in the attic or basement for possible nesting areas.

2. Hire a Professional to Inspect

It has been suggested to hire or call for a professional to inspect your house and property regularly for the early detection of infestations. You should know that prevention is far better than cure.

These types of preventive measures might save you from a huge loss concerning both property and life that is highly probable to occur in the future if ignored or turned away.

3. Develop a Habit of Cleanliness

Creatures like mice and insects are attracted to the food sources. If you ignore the hygienic aspect while living in your house, these nasty creatures might infest your home, contaminating your food and spreading hazardous diseases.

You need to take extra caution in your kitchen and dining areas. These places should be kept highly neat and clean every day. You should make sure your foods are stored in a sealed tight container and always clean the spills right away.

4. Avoid Cluttering and Mess

You need to develop a habit of keeping your things and materials tidy and well-managed in your rooms and house. The cluttered spaces might attract rodents and bugs who are in search of a potential home or nest.

The risk of infestation can be significantly reduced if you start to live a hygienic lifestyle. Make sure to clean the bed sheets, curtains, pillow covers, floors, doors, and windows, in fact, every washable thing in your house periodically to avoid mice and bug infestation.