Table of Contents
Introduction to Peppermint Oil
Why Use Essential Oils to Repel Insects and Rodents
Is Peppermint Essential Oil an Effective Repellent?
Which Insects Does Peppermint Repel?
Does Peppermint Work on Rodents?
Which Type of Peppermint Oil is the Best Repellent
How to Use Peppermint Oil as a Repellent
Australia is well known for many things – the sunshine, sand, surf...and SPIDERS!
These eight-legged critters are just one of many unwanted intruders that invade our homes on a daily basis. Alongside them, flies, cockroaches, and mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance; they can harm our health, too. If you're looking for a way to deal with these creepy crawlies naturally, essential oils can be an excellent place to start.
Today’s article considers Peppermint oil as a natural repellent for household nasties, including spiders, cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies, rats and mice, and its efficacy in keeping our homes critter-free.
Introduction to Peppermint Oil
If you’re new to Peppermint essential oil, prepare to be positively bowled over!
Highly popular, Peppermint oil has a crisp, refreshing and minty aroma that smells incredible. Yet beyond its invigorating scent lies a hidden treasure trove of therapeutic properties that support a healthy body and mind – a mood lifter, senses awakener and healer of ailments from coughs and colds to flu and fatigue.
It’s no wonder people globally enjoy using Peppermint oil topically and via a diffuser to appreciate its benefits, relying on this wonder oil to support their overall health. Some even use Peppermint oil in their cleaning products, thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
What many people don’t know about Peppermint is its natural ability to ward off unwanted guests in our homes. The types who love flying around our food and waste bins, hiding in cornices and behind curtains, and scurrying across our floors when darkness falls: irritating insects and repulsive rodents!
Why Use Essential Oils to Repel Insects and Rodents
Visit your local supermarket, and you’ll find countless products ready to stop these unwanted guests in their path, keeping our homes pest-free. Why bother with a homemade remedy for insects and rodents when you can pick up an aerosol spray at the shops whenever you need one?
Well, there are several reasons to go for a natural repellent over a product in your local store:
Kinder to our health
While the local shops might offer you plenty of choices in repellents, many of these products contain toxic ingredients than can cause sickness when inhaled or when in direct contact with the skin. Using a natural repellent helps you avoid those toxins and protects you and your family’s health.
An all-natural remedy for insects
Most of us have become more aware of the environment and ways to reduce our carbon footprint in recent years. If you’re conscious about the environment (or doing away with critters as naturally as possible), essential oils like peppermint are an excellent way to achieve the same result as a shop-bought product in an eco-friendly way.
Less costly than sprays
Often, the repellents you see in shops or online are not cheap – and they never last long either, most running out quickly after just a few sprays. Using an oil can be much more cost-effective, with only a tiny amount (less than a drop) required to deter unwanted critters from your home.
Works hard in the home
The great thing about Peppermint essential oil is its natural ability to repel. It immediately goes to work tackling nasty critters since that’s its job. And with only a natural aroma left lingering in the home, too – unlike those shop-bought spray cans!
Is Peppermint Essential Oil an Effective Repellent?
In a word, yes! One of the many Peppermint essential oil benefits is its ability to repel critters and keep them away from our bodies and homes.
The reason Peppermint oil makes such an effective repellent is down to its key constituent, menthol. A natural chemical found in mint plants (Peppermint included), menthol is highly potent and complex, with the power to send these tiny creatures running in an instant. It’s so effective you would think menthol was designed purely for this job. Fortunately, it has multiple properties, making this versatile oil great for a plethora of things besides repelling insects.
In short, if you’re already using peppermint oil for health benefits, why not use it to protect yourself from nasties at home?
(And if you’re not already using Peppermint essential oil, WHY not?!)
Which Insects Does Peppermint Oil Repel?
All these insects absolutely detest the strong scent of Peppermint oil and will do anything to escape its potency. Placing the oil close to entry points to the home helps keep these critters where they belong: outdoors!
- Spiders
- Cockroaches
- Mosquitoes
- Flies
- Wasps
While these are among the most common insects proving a nuisance to Australian households, it’s likely that once it’s dotted around your home, Peppermint oil will repel other insects, too.
Just remember to replace your oil regularly for an optimum bug-free home.
Does Peppermint Oil Work on Rodents?
Like insects, rats and mice are not at all fond of Peppermint oil!
Using Peppermint oil in small quantities works incredibly well as a deterrent, particularly when left in places where rodents are most common. One whiff of pure peppermint can be enough to keep them from entering the area, although you will need to apply fresh oil regularly to ensure it continues working.
Of course, there are other actions to take besides applying Peppermint oil around your home, like keeping rooms free of garbage and food scraps.
Which Type of Peppermint Oil is the Best Repellent?
Before you hit the shops or screen and begin your search for a Peppermint Oil, be aware there is more than one type of Peppermint oil in Australia.
Here are the two most common Peppermint oils available locally:
- Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha Piperita)
- Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha Arvensis) - also available in a Certified Organic option
Essentially, both these oil types work the same way against insects and rodents. It’s all down to the menthol content, the critical constituent with the power to repel these nasties and keep them at arm’s length.
So, does it matter which one you buy to safeguard your home from unwanted guests? Not quite, although you may want to think about which suits your values – for example, if you’re already a fan of organic products, it makes sense to stick with organic oils. Also, with a typically higher menthol content, Mentha arvensis should always be used in small amounts, which might mean your oil bottle lasts for longer, depending on the size of your house and the area you want to protect.
How to Use Peppermint Oil as a Repellent
Around the home
To repel insects, dilute 25 drops of Peppermint oil into 2 cups of water in a spray bottle, shake well and disperse outside the home where insects are likely to enter – doors, windows, and floor cracks. Remember that the oil will lose potency quickly, so reapply every week or so for the best results, and always perform a patch test first to ensure the oil won't affect your surfaces.
To repel rodents, take a handful of cotton balls, wool balls, or tissues, apply some drops of Peppermint oil, then pop them in areas where you believe mice or rats are entering the building or hiding out (such as the roof). Replace them after a few days with fresh Peppermint oil.
On the body
Add eight drops of Peppermint essential oil to a 15ml roller bottle, topped up with a carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil) and apply to the skin to repel insects.
When Should I NOT use Peppermint Oil as a Repellent?
As with all essential oils, there is an element of risk when using them. This is mostly due to their potency, which can cause harm if used without due care. Before you begin using Peppermint oil as a natural repellent, here are a few things to consider.
- Skin Irritations: If you have highly sensitive skin and are prone to irritations, you may want to limit your use of essential oils like Peppermint, even when it’s indirect! Applying it to your skin should only be done if you have diluted it with a carrier oil, and always perform a patch test first.
- Animals: Pets do not tolerate Peppermint – they are toxic to dogs and cats and can prove fatal when ingested. Leaving Peppermint oil dotted around your property may lead to a pet accidentally swallowing some. So, if you own pets, it’s a good idea not to use Peppermint oil freely.
A Final Word About Peppermint Oil and Pests
Peppermint essential oil is a complex compound and should be used with care. We recommend you follow our dilution guidelines when using Peppermint oils, whatever the purpose.
The best results always come from high-quality, pure Peppermint oil. When purchasing yours, look for a dark glass bottle with the Latin (botanical) name on the label – Mentha piperita or Mentha arvensis.
Buy Peppermint 100% pure essential oils from AWO, leaders in authentic, high-quality aromatherapy oils. Available in small and bulk quantities at wholesale prices.