Using Lemongrass Oil To Keep Mice away (And Why It Works!)

When it comes to using natural remedies for pest control, lemongrass oil might just be the savior you’re looking for! Who knew that this popular essential oil could also help keep your home rodent-free? You’ll appreciate this alternative to traditional traps and chemicals.
Lemongrass oil has proven to be quite effective at repelling mice. You might be wondering how on earth this citrusy essential oil keeps those pesky rodents at bay, and the answer lies in its strong scent. Mice have a heightened sense of smell, and the aroma of lemongrass oil sends them scurrying in the opposite direction.
Now that we’ve peaked your curiosity, it’s time to dive into the science behind why lemongrass oil is such an effective natural mouse deterrent. Remember, knowledge is power! In the following sections, we’ll explore how exactly lemongrass oil prevents these uninvited guests from infiltrating your home, as well as tips on how to use it properly, and the benefits of using natural alternatives to keep mice at bay.
Key Takeaways:
- Lemongrass oil effectively repels mice with its strong scent.
- Use it by spraying around entry points and mouse-affected areas in your home.
- Natural alternatives like lemongrass oil are environmentally friendly and safe for use around children and pets.
What’s Lemongrass Oil?
Lemongrass oil is an essential oil derived from the lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon spp.). Its leaves are the primary source of this extract oil. Lemongrass is commonly known for its various applications, particularly in aromatherapy, cooking, and natural pest control.
If you’re keen on using natural methods to repel mice, lemongrass oil is a potential ally! This oil has a distinct aroma that is unpleasant to rodents. Why is lemongrass oil effective in repelling mice? Well, it masks the scent trails mice follow, making it difficult for them to navigate and ultimately, disrupting their presence in your space!
Researchers at Cornell University note that lemongrass is repellent to vertebrates and mice are vertebrates!
To utilize lemongrass oil to keep mice away from your home, you can:
- Mix lemongrass oil with other essential oils creating a pungent aroma
- Spray the mixture around areas you’ve noticed mice activity
- Place cotton balls soaked in lemongrass oil near potential entry points and hideouts
Now, lemongrass oil is not a one-trick pony. Besides its mouse-repelling properties, it offers plenty of other benefits too! For example, lemongrass oil is known for its antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. So, while you’re keeping mice at bay, you might as well enjoy your home infused with a fresh lemony aroma that offers additional benefits!
Some scientifically backed applications for lemongrass oil include:
- Reducing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
- Easing stomach pain and nausea
- Controlling cholesterol and blood sugar levels
- Relieving stress and anxiety
Remember: the key to successfully repelling mice with lemongrass oil lies in consistent application and combining it with other prevention methods. With this approach, your home is well on its way to becoming a mouse-free zone!
Effectiveness of Lemongrass Oil against Mice

Mice may not stand a chance against the power of lemongrass essential oil! You’ll be amazed by the effectiveness of this natural repellant. Let’s explore some reasons why lemongrass essential oil works so well to repel these pesky rodents:
- Scent: The pungent aroma of lemongrass essential oil is simply too much for the sensitive sense of smell of mice. With their strong sense of smell, mice can be easily deterred by this intense citrus scent.
- Essential oils: Lemongrass belongs to a family of essential oils, known for their natural repellant properties. In comparison to other oils like peppermint oil, which is also considered effective against mice, the scent of lemongrass is more distinct and seems to have a strong impact on their keen sense of smell.
- Disrupting pheromone trails: Mice use pheromone trails to communicate and navigate. The potent smell of lemongrass essential oil can interfere with these trails, making it difficult for mice to find their way back to their previous hiding spots.
- Environmentally friendly: It’s important to use a repellant that won’t harm the environment or affect other wildlife. With lemongrass essential oil, you can rest easy knowing it’s a natural and environmentally friendly option to keep mice at bay.
- Long-lasting effect: Due to its concentrated nature, lemongrass essential oil tends to stick around longer in the areas where you apply it. This makes it more effective than other natural repellants, which may lose their potency over time.
Lemongrass essential oil is a highly effective and natural way to repel mice from your living space.
How To Use Lemongrass Oil to Deter Mice
Spray Application
Spray applications are great to repel mice from your home. Before making your own, you’ll want to purchase some high quality lemongrass essential oil. We like this Majestic Pure Lemongrass Essential Oil. It’s premium quality, 100% lemongrass oil and comes with a handy dropper for dispensing.
To create your own lemongrass oil spray, simply mix 10-15 drops of lemongrass oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Use this solution to spray in the affected areas around your house, garden plants, and entryways to make sure you repel those pesky mice!
Homemade Solutions
If you’re interested in creating a more effective homemade solution, here’s a fun recipe:
- Mix 10-15 drops of lemongrass oil
- 5 drops of tea tree oil
- 5 drops of peppermint oil
- 1 cup of water
By mixing these ingredients, you’ll create a potent mouse deterrent!
Protecting Entryways
It’s important that you apply lemongrass oil around the entryways of your home. Why? Mice hate the scent of lemongrass and can enter your home through small crack and gaps around doors and windows!
Here’s a quick application guide:
- Locate any exterior gaps, cracks, or holes that mice might use to enter your home
- Fill those gaps with steel wool
- Apply the lemongrass oil spray to the steel wool to create a double threat of repelling mice
This method is supported by scientific research, making it an effective way to keep mice at bay!
Comparison with Other Essential Oils
Lemongrass oil is considered to be one of the most effective essential oils for repelling mice. You certainly won’t attract any mice by using lemongrass oil in your house!
Here’s how lemongrass oil effectiveness compares against a few other options.
Essential Oil | Effectiveness Against Mice |
---|---|
Lemongrass | High |
Peppermint | Moderate to High |
Eucalyptus | Moderate |
Tea Tree | Moderate |
Other essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil have also been known to repel mice. However, based on the information above, it’s clear that lemongrass oil is a strong contender when it comes to keeping your home mouse-free!
While these are some of the more popular essential oils that repel mice, there are many other scents you can use to keep mice out of your home.
Other Essential Oils That Will Keep Mice Away
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is another great option for those seeking a natural solution to repel mice! This lovely purple plant not only boasts an attractive scent for humans, but also acts as a strong rodent deterrent.
So, why does lavender oil work in keeping mice away? Well, rodents like mice and rats can’t tolerate the smell of lavender. The aroma overwhelms their sensitive noses, which, in turn, drives them away from your home.
Now, let’s talk about clove oil!
Clove Oil
Clove oil is another natural option you can consider to help repel mice. In this section, we’ll delve into the science behind it, and why it could be an effective ally in your mouse-repelling efforts!
Did you know that cloves contain a compound called eugenol? Eugenol is responsible for the plant’s characteristic scent and taste, and mice happen to find it quite unappealing! That means their keen sense of smell works against them in this case, as the strong aroma of cloves drives them away.
Of course, lemongrass oil is our main hero here, but sometimes we need additional sidekicks. So how does lemongrass oil stack up against clove oil?
- Lemongrass oil has a fresh, lemony scent that mice find unbearable. It’s derived from the lemongrass plant, which has been used for centuries in traditional pest control practices.
- Clove oil has a strong, spicy scent that comes from the buds of the clove tree. While it’s not as widely used as lemongrass oil, it still packs a punch when it comes to keeping mice at bay.
Using these two essential oils in tandem can increase their effectiveness! To make the most of lemongrass oil’s mouse-repelling properties, you can follow these simple steps:
- Purchase pure lemongrass oil from a reputable source.
- Dilute the oil with water or carrier oil, since it can be potent.
- Apply the mixture to cotton balls or fabric strips.
- Place these oil-infused items near entry points and suspected mouse activity areas.
Remember, maintaining a clean and clutter-free home is a crucial step in deterring mice. But when paired with essential oils like lemongrass and clove, you’ll be sending an aromatic eviction notice to any unwanted rodent guests.
Balsam Fir Oil
Balsam Fir Oil, another natural mice repellent! Lemongrass oil tops the list, but Balsam Fir oil is an effective option too. Mice find the scent overwhelming, while you’ll enjoy its pleasant aroma!
This all-natural essential oil is a fantastic option for repelling mice. Here’s why:
- Derived from Balsam Fir trees, it’s totally natural and eco-friendly.
- Mice detest the smell, staying far away.
To use this potent oil effectively, follow these steps:
Step 1. Find a suitable essential oil diffuser or an old cloth.
Step 2. Add a few drops of Balsam Fir oil.
Step 3. Place the diffuser or cloth strategically around your home, focusing on entry points and suspected mice routes.
Step 4. Remember to refresh the oil every few days, as the effect might decrease over time.
Quick tip: Balsam Fir oil can also mask other tempting smells that attract mice, increasing its effectiveness!
But wait, there’s more! You can also create your own natural mice repellent by combining Lemongrass oil with Balsam Fir oil. It’s a simple yet powerful mixture.
Double the potency, double the success! To create this mixture:
- Mix equal parts of Lemongrass oil and Balsam Fir oil.
- Use the mixture in the same way as a single oil – diffuse or place on a cloth in strategic spots.
Mice will certainly hate this potent combination! Beware, rodents, your days are numbered.
Balsam Fir oil is an effective natural method of repelling mice. Use it alone or combined with Lemongrass oil for even greater success.
Cinnamon Oil
Lemongrass oil may take the spotlight as a mice repellent, but let’s spice things up and talk about cinnamon oil!
Cinnamon oil is effective against mice for a few good reasons:
- Mice dislike the strong scent of cinnamon.
- It’s eco-friendly, making it a great alternative to harmful chemicals.
- It’s easy and affordable to use.
Chop chop, shall we dive into how you can apply cinnamon oil to repel mice?
Soak some cotton balls in 100% pure cinnamon oil and strategically place them in troublesome areas, such as drawers, closets, cabinets, and even under furniture. This will send the mice sprinting in the opposite direction!
As with any scientific adventure, it’s important to consider the right proportions for these oils:
- For lemongrass oil, maintain a 3:1 ratio of water to oil.
- For cinnamon oil, use it undiluted (100%).
Keep in mind that reapplication is necessary for both oils, as their potency may fade over time.
Lemon Oil
Bold and bright, lemongrass oil is a natural mice repellent that is pleasant for us and keeps them away! It’s an effective option because its unique scent prevents mice from entering your home.
Why is it so effective? The essential oil produced from lemon oil deters mice from approaching areas where it’s used. Here are a few tips on how to incorporate this citrusy solution at home:
Mix 10–15 drops of lemon essential oil with some water in a spray bottle, and focus on targeting entry points and living places of mice.
Create a barrier along baseboards, under furniture, and near doorways. This will give the mice the message that they’re not welcome.
We’ve covered a wide range of essential oils you can use to repel mice, but there are even more available! Head on over to our article about how to naturally repel mice with essential oils, for a full breakdown!
Alternative Mice-Repelling Methods

Plants Can Also Keep Mice Away
Apart from using lemongrass oil to repel mice, there are other plants that can help in keeping these pesky creatures at bay. One such plant is mint! Mice can’t stand the strong smell of mint, so planting this in your garden will work wonders.
Another effective plant is the marigolds that have been known to deter mice due to their distinctive odor. It’s an added bonus that your garden will look vibrant too!
Household Items Can Repel Mice Too
Believe it or not, some common household items can also help in repelling mice. Let’s break it down:
Break the Scent Trail:
- Mice rely on scent trails to navigate, so disrupting these trails will confuse and deter them.
- Mix a solution with water and lemongrass oil, as its pungent aroma effectively breaks the scent trail.
- Spray your lemongrass solution around the house, especially in areas where you’ve spotted mice activity.
Boiling:
- Boil a pot with water and add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice, such as lemongrass oil.
- Mice are turned off by the strong odors produced, so leave the pot simmering to disperse the scent throughout your home.
Remember, it is essential to maintain consistency in the application to achieve maximum effectiveness.
By utilizing these alternative mice-repelling methods along with your trusty lemongrass oil, you’ll stand a better chance in winning the battle against these pesky rodents, all while keeping your home smelling fresh and natural!
Conclusion
In conclusion, lemongrass oil is an effective, natural method to repel mice from your home! So, if you’re tired of dealing with pesky rodents, give lemongrass oil a try.
To make the most of lemongrass oil, simply create a mixture with water and spray it on affected areas. This will help to deter mice with the strong aroma they cannot tolerate. Here’s some more info on why it really works:
- Lemongrass oil contains natural compounds that are unappealing to mice and rats.
- The strong scent of lemongrass oil effectively masks attractant odors, driving rodents away.
To make your own lemongrass repellent spray, follow these simple steps:
- Combine 10-15 drops of lemongrass essential oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle.
- Shake well to mix the solution evenly.
- Spray the mixture in areas where you’ve noticed rodent activity.
Make sure to reapply the spray as needed to keep the aroma strong and uncompromising in the face of unwelcome mice invaders. This will ensure that your home remains a mouse-free haven!
Armed with your newfound knowledge about lemongrass oil and its efficacy in repelling mice, you can now confidently take a stand against rodent intruders. Good riddance, rodents!
Zack is a Nature & Wildlife specialist based in Upstate, NY, and is the founder of his Tree Journey and Pest Pointers brands. He has a vast experience with nature while living and growing up on 50+ acres of fields, woodlands, and a freshwater bass pond. Zack has encountered many pest situations over the years and has spent his time maintaining and planting over 35 species of trees since his youth with his family on their property.

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