Scented candles are ideal for home setups as they create beautiful, pleasant aromas that help set positive moods. There have even been reports of some animals positively reacting to them. That being said, will a scented candle attract mice to your home?
Do scented candles attract mice? Scented candles can attract mice to your home if the smell is appealing to them. The most attractive candle scents for mice are food-inspired scents, such as vanilla, pumpkin, and cinnamon. Food-scented candles should be avoided if someone had previous interactions with mice.
If you want to know more about what prevents and attracts mice, and how you can prevent these rodents from wreaking havoc on your property, then stay with us till the end. We have also found some scented candles that can be used in almost any household. Let’s begin!
What Attracts Mice to Scented Candles?
No one can blame mice for being attracted to the food-scented candles. If you think about it, you are basically signaling to them that there is food in your house. Naturally, this only applies to the food-scented candles, there are candles that are not attractive to them.
The average mouse will eat approximately 15-20 times a day, which explains why they nest close to their food sources. Although they’re omnivorous, mice can eat almost anything they get their tiny hands on, especially when food is scarce.
If you plan to keep mice away, then you should consider avoiding food-scented candles as some of them are even made with actual. Anything that smells sweet and edible will probably appeal to these tiny omnivorous rodents.
What Scented Candle Repels Mice?
There is one scent that really bothers and repels mice and that is certainly peppermint. People have been using Peppermint essential oil as a natural mouse repellent for years and it has shown some effective results. This is why peppermint-scented candles might also do wonders in your fight against mice.
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Also, the ones that are not food-based will not really attract mice but they will not repel them. We suggest getting these candles only if you have had previous encounters with mice. The best-case scenario would be to use peppermint essential oil as it is much more potent.
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Should I Store Scented Candles With Other Valuables?
An unlit-scented candle will not attract mice. However, the problem arises when storing scented candles during the summer. Due to their heightened sense of smell, mice will capture the attractive aroma of scented candles once they start melting.
Therefore, you should avoid storing your scented candles next to your fragile valuables when it gets hot enough for the candle wax to melt. Once a mouse pounces on scented candles and realizes they’re not food, the next meal on his diet will be your neatly ironed clothes or important documents.
When storing scented candles, it is advisable to create space in an empty drawer and cover them well. Sealing these candles in a plastic bag will help preserve the scents that could potentially attract mice. To reduce the chances of melting, be sure to store your candles in cool and dark places.
8 Effective Tips for Keeping Mice Away
Once mice classify your house as a reliable food source, then you are in trouble. These rodents can wreak havoc almost anywhere, for example, they will invade your garage, closet, pantry, and even your car!
Due to their insatiable appetite, mice tend to nibble through everything they can, so valuables left in the open aren’t safe if mice have infiltrated your house. On that note, here are some tips to keep mice away from your property:
1. Clean and Cover Your Furniture During Storage
If you’re moving furniture to store it in the basement, attic, storage room, or garage, it is crucial to previously clean it carefully and attentively. Ensure that you thoroughly vacuum all the surfaces in order to remove dirt and dust.
Furniture crevices tend to store loads of debris, so you’ll need to take your time to clean all the stains and eliminate the small chunks of food. Storing your furniture without proper cleaning will almost certainly bring unwanted guests such as mice or ants. And you most certainly don’t want that, especially since mice can nibble through the wood as well and consequently destroy your valuable piece of furniture.
After a thorough cleaning, it is advisable to cover the piece of furniture with plastic covers or fabric to keep the dust off and to discourage mice.
2. Caulk and Fill Up Small Holes That Act As Entry Points
Mice are pretty resilient and can squeeze into the tiniest of spaces. To keep these tiny pests out, you’ll need to fill up the small spaces around your house that act as potential entry points. Silicone caulk can come in handy when looking to fill spaces that allow mouse access to your home.
Another alternative to caulking is filling holes with steel wool. Placing steel wool on potential entry points will almost certainly keep these gnawers away. Mice hate steel wool as they can’t chew through it. Even if they do, the chances are that they will die before making it into your home.
3. Sprinkle Potential Entry Points With Ammonia
Besides helping you keep your glass shiny, ammonia can also help keep mice away from your home. The smell of ammonia alone is enough to deter mice.
When using ammonia, it is advisable to sprinkle small amounts on the potential entry points. However, you’ll need to re-sprinkle ammonia once it rains or after a while to keep the smell strong enough to keep the mice away.
4. Use Hard-Sided, Well-Sealed Containers for Food Storage
Due to their sharp sense of smell, mice can detect unsealed food from afar. Using soft packaging to seal food in your pantry will do you no good, either.
As a result, you should purchase containers that don’t release the scent and prevent mice from chewing through and contaminating food. You’ll want containers with harder sides (glass instead of plastic) to prevent the mice from gnawing their way in.
5. Hot Sauce on the Entry Points
Use hot sauce to deter mice as they loathe spicy smells. Take a small amount of hot sauce and place it strategically at all the potential entry points. The mice will soon move on to a better hunting ground.
6. Keep All Storage Areas Food-Free
Storing furniture and electric appliances after a thorough cleaning isn’t enough to keep mice away. You have to avoid eating or snacking in your storage area if you want to prevent a mice infestation.
Although small, mice are highly intelligent animals, and once they pick up a scent, they’ll rarely hold back unless scared away. So, to keep your valuables safe, it is advisable to snack elsewhere, preferably far away from your storage area.
7. Set Mouse Traps
Unfortunately, mice might still find their way into your home despite your efforts to keep them out. Setting up traps around your storage area will prevent a potential infestation, especially if you store scented candles together with your other valuables.
If you choose to buy a mouse-kill trap, it is advisable to get a quality trap like the Coscov Mouse Trap, which comes in a pack of 12 units and is known to kill the tiniest mice.
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But if you prefer a more humane catch-and-release trap, you’ll be better off with the Smart Mouse Trap. This one is reusable and safe around pets and children.
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Pro Tip: Always use peanut butter as bait instead of cheese. Mice are more attracted to peanut butter and will 99% of the time set their feet and hands in traps that use peanut butter. What is even better is, peanut butter is sticky, which increases the efficiency of a trap.
8. Clear Potential Hiding Spots for Mice
You’ll need to lighten your landscaping to eliminate mice nests and hiding spots. Hedges can act as a brilliant spot for sneaky mice to hide before getting inside your home. Also, take the time to cut off branches that hang too close to your house.
Firewood stacks should also be kept far away from the house (at least 20 feet) to prevent mice from nesting in the piles. While they might not be nesting in your home, any mice nesting near your house after some time are likely to sneak into your house for food.
If you really want to use scented candles and you also had a previous history with mice, the best option is to get peppermint-scented candles as they will repel mice. For more pest control-related content, keep following our site!
List of Sources
Potter M., Control of Mice, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
House Mouse Management Guidelines, University of California
B. Kay Clapperton, A review of the current knowledge of rodent behaviour in relation to control devices, Department of Conservation, New Zealand
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