How To Get Rid Of Ground Moles With Vinegar? 6 Quick Remedies!

Moles are a pest that you may never actually see, but the destruction they leave behind while tunneling is evidence enough! These subterranean pests dig holes and tunnels that leave ghastly scars in lawns, and if you’re currently dealing with a mole problem, you may be wondering how to deter them with natural ingredients.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar, here are 6 fast remedies:

1. Create a vinegar spray
2. Vinegar-soaked rags
3. Vinegar-soaked cotton balls
4. Vinegar combination
5. Vinegar-soaked stakes
6. Diluted vinegar pour

Below, I’ll explain how to use each of these natural, eco-friendly options to control moles in the yard. Before you know it, your yard will be pristine once more, and those burrowing pests will make their homes elsewhere!

How To Get Rid Of Ground Moles With Vinegar

The Virginia Department of Health tells us that vinegar is comprised mostly of acetic acid and water, with a concentration of 4%-6% acetic acid. Acetic acid is what gives vinegar its pungent odor, and the main constituent that will send moles running in the opposite direction.

To use vinegar properly, it must be reapplied often. This is often the price that must be paid to use a natural, eco-friendly pest deterrent in place of a heavy, chemical-based product. If you have an environmentally-conscious mind, it’s worth it!

The best type of vinegar is white vinegar, like Lucy’s Family Owned – Natural Distilled White Vinegar. It typically has an acidity of 5%, which works well to deter pests like moles. Now, let’s dive into the most common methods!

1. Create A Vinegar Spray

The first option for how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar is to create a simple vinegar spray. This choice is easy, effective, and requires just a few ingredients that you likely already have in your house.

To make a vinegar spray, follow these directions:

• Mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle.
• Shake the bottle to evenly distribute the vinegar in the mixture.
• Spray around the yard, concentrating on tunnel openings.
• Reapply the mixture daily until mole activity decreases.

Vinegar is just one possible solution to repel groundhogs. Check out our guide on the 12 natural mole predators to learn how to get rid of moles by utilizing their enemies!

2. Vinegar-Soaked Rags

Another option for how to get rid of ground moles using vinegar is to utilize vinegar-soaked rags. The idea here is to discourage moles from tunneling in your yard by using the powerful and pungent scent of vinegar.

To use vinegar-soaked rags to deter ground moles, follow these steps:

1. Pour vinegar into a 5-gallon bucket or large bowl
2. Place rags or cloth strips into the vinegar, soaking them entirely.
3. Stuff the rags or cloth strips directly into mole holes or anywhere with mole activity.
4. Re-soak the rags weekly for best results.

By placing vinegar-soaked rags near active mole holes and tunnels, you’re creating a pungent scent barrier that will make moles think twice about returning to their homes.

3. Vinegar-Soaked Cotton Balls

Similar to vinegar-soaked rags, cotton balls work by absorbing the vinegar and holding the scent in the cotton. Cotton balls are easy to come by at most stores and pharmacies. Any variation of cotton ball will work, including cotton rounds, as long as it is absorbent.

This is an easy option for how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar, and is also budget-friendly! To utilize this tactic, follow the steps below:

1. Pour vinegar into a large bowl.
2. Dip cotton balls in the vinegar until they are completely soaked. 
3. Place cotton balls directly inside mole holes and tunnel areas.
4. Replenish the cotton balls weekly.

Unlike vinegar-soaked rags, cotton balls are easier to lose on days with high wind or rain, so be sure to stuff them as far down into mole holes as you can to ensure they stay put. Alternatively, you can place the cotton balls in a mesh bag and weigh the bag down with rocks to place it outside of holes or in other exposed areas.

4. Vinegar Combination

Vinegar works well on its own, but when combined with other strong-smelling scents, it increases the repellency! There are a variety of things you can combine with a vinegar solution to make it even more effective against moles.

Here are a few things you can combine with vinegar to make a super repellent against moles:

• Garlic: Steep whole garlic cloves in a 1:1 ratio of water and vinegar overnight. Strain the mixture into a spray bottle and use it near mole holes and tunnels.
• Essential Oil: Castor, peppermint, and cedar essential oils are effective repellents for moles. Combine 10-15 drops of one of these with a 1:1 water and vinegar solution. Place the mixture in a spray bottle or soak rags or cotton balls in the mixture.
• Cayenne Pepper: The spicy nature of cayenne peppers makes them a fantastic mole repellent. Add 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper powder to a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water for a high-octane mole repellent.

So, this method is to combine vinegar with other strong-smelling items! This doubles the potency of the repellent, making it more likely to repel moles from your yard.

5. Vinegar-Soaked Stakes

When you can’t find the entrance to a mole tunnel, vinegar-soaked stakes are an excellent repellent. They can be pounded into the ground directly over tunnels, repelling moles and making them think twice about making your yard their home.

Additionally, vinegar-soaked stakes release vinegar slowly over time, making it a longer-lasting option than other vinegar-soaked items.

To use vinegar-soaked stakes to repel ground moles, follow these steps:

1. Purchase wooden stakes like HAINANSTRY Store Bamboo Plant Stakes.
2. Use a large, shallow tray to soak the stakes overnight in a vinegar solution.
   1. If you don’t have a tray large enough to fit the stakes, consider using your bathtub. Put the stopper in the drain and fill the tub with vinegar to soak the stakes.
3. Pound the stakes into the ground near tunnel entrances and over top of tunnels, which are usually evident aboveground with raised soil ridges in the yard.
4. Re-soak the stakes every two weeks to keep the scent strong.

In your quest of getting rid of ground moles with vinegar, stakes are a great choice for a hassle-free repellent that lasts longer than sprays, rags, or cotton balls.

By the way, if you’re wondering why you have moles in the first place, head over to our article on why you have moles in your yard. It covers what attracts moles to your yard and how to remove those attractants.

6. Diluted Vinegar Pour

Our final solution for how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar is to use a diluted vinegar pour directly into mole holes. Unlike using gasoline or harmful pesticides, vinegar is biodegradable and safe for the environment (though we wouldn’t recommend pouring it near your flowerbed or vegetable garden due to the acidity!).

To make a diluted vinegar solution, you’ll follow the same steps for making a spray. However, this solution will be dumped directly into mole holes instead of being sprayed.

1. Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl with a pouring spout. 
2. Look for small, conical piles of dirt in the yard that indicate a mole hole.
3. Pour the mixture directly into mole holes.
4. Repeat weekly, pouring the mixture into any new mole holes that pop up over time.

At first, moles will likely abandon the holes you pour vinegar into and create new holes. However, with a little persistence, moles will get the idea that they’re not welcome in your yard and scurry off to another area.

Other Ways To Repel Ground Moles

The above options are excellent solutions for how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar, but vinegar isn’t the only natural mole repellent! There are plenty of other eco-friendly options to send these rodents packing.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds have a dual-repellent effect against moles. Firstly, they contain caffeine, which is toxic to moles. Secondly, the strong smell of coffee grounds acts as a secondary repellent. Moles may be small, but they know not to go near anything toxic with a strong smell.

Anyway, what else are you going to do with your used coffee grounds? Might as well put them to use! 

To use coffee grounds, simply spread them around on the ground near mole tunnels and mole holes. If possible, collapse the mole tunnels and place coffee grounds directly into them.

Improve Drainage

Moles prefer moist soil over dry, arid soil. If there’s a lot of standing water in your yard, low spots, or poor drainage, it’s likely to attract moles. Try to improve your yard’s drainage to dry out the soil, making it less attractive to moles.

This may involve sloping the yard, adding sawdust to low spots, or repairing broken underground pipes.

This mole deterrent may be tough since it can be a major construction job to improve the drainage in your yard. However, if it’s possible, it’s one of the first steps you should take to get rid of moles.

Onions and Garlic

The strong scent produced by crushed onions and garlic makes for an excellent ground mole repellent. Onions and garlic can be used on their own or combined together for a super spray.

To use onions and garlic to repel ground moles, you have a few options:

• Spray: Steep whole garlic cloves and chopped onions in water overnight. Strain the mixture into a spray bottle and spray in areas with mole activity.
• Whole: Crush garlic cloves (this is what releases the smell) and place them near areas of high mole activity. The same can be done with onions; just make sure to chop them up or crush them to release the scent.
• Powder: Add 1 tablespoon of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of onion powder to a quart of warm water. Let the mixture sit for at least one hour. Place the mixture into a spray bottle or pour it directly into mole holes.

Garlic and onions get their distinctive smell from sulfur-containing compounds like allicin that are released when the plant is crushed. This is a natural defense mechanism of the plant, and although we humans love the flavor, moles will not appreciate it.

Plant Power

One passive way to get rid of moles is to use plants that moles dislike. Moles spend most of their time underground, so if they happen to dig through the roots of a plant they would normally avoid, they’re likely to avoid that area in the future.

Here are a few plants that moles tend to avoid:

• Daffodils
• Marigolds
• Lavender
• Molehare
• Mint
• Crown Imperial

Plant these around the perimeter of your yard or around any area that is vulnerable to mole damage, such as around your garden or flowerbed. This method should be combined with others to create a complete, mole-free yard.

That’s All For Now!

Vinegar is an eco-friendly, biodegradable option to deter ground moles from the yard. It’s comprised mostly of acetic acid and water, which means it can be used directly on mole holes and tunnels without worrying about its effects on the soil or environment.

To recap, if you’re wondering how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar, here are 6 fast remedies:

1. Create a vinegar spray
2. Vinegar-soaked rags
3. Vinegar-soaked cotton balls
4. Vinegar combination
5. Vinegar-soaked stakes
6. Diluted vinegar pour

If the vinegar solutions above don’t seem to be working or if the mole problem becomes overwhelming, you can always reach out to a professional for help. Check out our pest control finder to locate a pest expert near you!

Remember, using natural repellents like vinegar takes time and persistence to be effective, so give it time, stay on top of it, and you’re bound to have a mole-free yard!