Download Article
Kill rats quickly with this natural DIY
Download Article
Commercial rat poisons contain toxic chemicals that could pose a risk to the people and pets in your home. As an alternative, you can make your own, less toxic, rat poisons from common household items, like cornmeal, plaster of Paris, or flour. Although these are less toxic, you should still keep them out of reach and kids and pets when possible, as they shouldn't be ingested once mixed into poison. Keep reading to learn four natural methods to kill and repel rats.
Steps
-
Mix 1 ⁄ 4 lb (110 g) of plaster of Paris and 1 ⁄ 4 lb (110 g) cornmeal in a large bowl. Weigh out equal parts of your ingredients and combine them in a bowl. Most craft and home improvement stores sell plaster of Paris and you can pick up cornmeal at any grocery store.- If you don't have a way to weigh it, just make a 1 to 1 ratio by using a cup or mug. [1] X Research source
- If you don't have cornmeal, use flour in the same proportions instead.
- The plaster of Paris hardens in the rats' stomach, eventually killing them.
-
Add 1/3 cup (55 g) of sugar to make it more enticing. This step is optional, but the sweetness of the sugar will encourage the rats to eat more of the mixture. [2] X Research source After adding equal parts of plaster and cornmeal, add half a part of sugar.Advertisement -
Pour in 1 cup (240 mL) of milk. Pour the milk into the powdered mixture to form a dough. [3] X Research source You may need more milk as you go along, but start with this much so the mixture doesn’t get too wet, which will cause it not to work.- If you don't have milk on hand, use water. The milk gives it more flavor to draw in the rats, but they’ll still be attracted to the cornmeal or flour alone.
-
Knead the mixture together with your hands. This recipe isn't toxic to humans, but plaster of Paris can sometimes cause skin irritation, so use gloves. [4] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source If the mixture isn't sticking together or you still see loose powder, add more water or milk, a spoonful at a time.- You’re looking for a dough the consistency of clay. If it seems too liquidy, add more plaster and cornmeal/flour in equal parts, only adding a spoonful at a time until you get the right texture.
-
Roll the mixture into different sized balls. Pinch off parts of the dough and roll them between your hands to form balls. Make them small, medium, and large. [5] X Research source Place the balls where you see evidence of rats (out of reach of children and pets), and check back in a day or 2 to make sure they're eating the balls.- Rats have different food preferences, so the different sized balls will help cast a wider net and get more rats to eat the poison.
- If the balls aren’t getting eaten, you may need to move them. If the rats still aren't interested, you may need to make a new set.
- Once the rats start to die, remove their droppings and other litter to keep more from coming back. Rats are attracted to the scent of other rats, so use disinfectant to get rid of their smell , too.
Advertisement
-
Mix together flour, baking soda, and sugar. Mix equal parts flour and sugar together in a small bowl; start with 2/3 cup (135 g) of sugar and 2/3 cup (85 g) of flour. This is what attracts the rats to the baking soda. Add another equal part of baking soda to the mixture and stir it together. [6] X Research source- You can substitute cornmeal for the flour or hot chocolate mix for the sugar.
- Pulse the mixture in a blender to make it more homogeneous.
- Another option is to mix 1 part baking soda with 2 parts peanut butter.
-
Place the mixture into small bowls or lids. For the best results, use disposable bowls or reuse food container lids; you don't want to use the containers again after a rat has been digging around in them! Dump some of the mixture in each bowl. [7] X Research source -
Put the containers in areas where you've seen the rats. For instance, if you've noticed rats near the stove or in your shed, set the bowls along the walls in those areas. If you see places where they've dug, put a bowl nearby for the rats to snack on. [8] X Research source- Watch out for rat droppings (small, oblong feces); they’re a great indicator that there’s a rat nearby.
- The baking soda mixes with the acid in the rats' stomachs and causes a buildup of carbon dioxide, eventually killing them.
Advertisement
-
Place bowls of instant mashed potatoes in the rats' path. Pour instant potato flakes into containers you won’t mind throwing away. Set them down where you've seen evidence of rats so the potato flakes are right in their paths. [9] X Research source- Use shallow bowls or disposable food lids.
- Put at least 1/2 cup (50 g) in each bowl so the rats can really chow down.
-
Put bowls of water near the poison. For this method to work, the rats need to drink water after consuming the potato flakes. They're typically pretty good at finding it on their own, but set out small bowls of water near the potato flakes just to ensure they have something to drink. [10] X Research source- Rats are drawn to the food, so they'll come to eat the dried flakes. Then, when they drink water, the subsequent bloating will eventually cause their deaths.
-
Check the bowls once a day to make sure the flakes are being eaten. If they're not being eaten, you may need to move the bowls elsewhere or add 1-2 spoonfuls of sugar to the mix to make the food more enticing.
Advertisement
-
Combine bleach and peanut butter in a bowl. Put 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of bleach and 2 tbsp (32 g) of peanut butter in a bowl and mix well. [11] X Research source Make sure the liquid is fully incorporated with the peanut butter.- Use a ceramic, glass, or plastic bowl for this method. Metal bowls react when they come in contact with bleach.
-
Place the poison in the path of the rats. Put the peanut butter mixture into small, disposable containers, like takeout container lids. Look out for rat droppings to determine where they’re coming from, then put the poison in their paths. -
Check the containers once a day. Check the bowls to see if the poison is being eaten, and refill them when they get low.
Advertisement
-
Spray peppermint oil where rats are getting into your home. Add 15-20 drops of peppermint oil or peppermint extract to 1 cup (240 mL) of water and put it in a spray bottle. Rats don’t like the smell, so spritz it in the areas where you want to repel them. [12] X Research source- Spray the area again from time to time—at least once a week.
- Peppermint may also deter spiders.
- Alternatively, dip cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them in the areas where you've seen rats.
-
Place bay leaves around your home. Rats dislike the smell of bay leaves, plus, if they chew on them it could be toxic enough to kill them. Sprinkle the whole, dried leaves around or use fresh leaves if you grow your own bay plant. [13] X Research source- Keep in mind that this can also cause stomach issues in other pets, such as cats and dogs. [14] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
-
Drizzle castor oil in continuous lines to help repel rats. Castor oil tends to keep rats away, as they don't like the smell. It's similar to how citronella works on mosquitos. Make continuous lines of the oil where you don't want the rats to go to form a scent barrier. [15] X Research source- If you’re using castor oil outside, remake the lines after it rains.
-
Spritz ammonia or glass cleaner nearby. Rats aren't fond of the scent of ammonia . Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of ammonia in 4 cups (0.95 L) of water and spray it in the areas you've seen rats. Alternatively, use a glass cleaner that has ammonia in it. [16] X Research source- Never mix ammonia and bleach, as it creates toxic fumes.
-
Consider “hiring” a cat . Some areas have “working cats” programs through humane societies which rent out rodent-hunting stray cats to rat infested homes. [17] X Research source Not every cat hunts rodents, but you can contact your local shelter to see if they have any that do.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Add a dab of peanut butter on top of the poison to attract the rats more quickly. [18] X Research sourceThanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- While a lot of these recipes didn't work on my London city rat problem, I did find one that works perfectly: One tub of peanut butter, 4 packs of 16 aspirin, a pack of vitamin d3 tablets, and a tub of baking soda. Blend the aspirin and vitamins in a food processor until they're dust. Mix with the peanut butter in a bowl and add baking soda slowly until it's firm enough to roll into balls. Make around 16 balls from the mix and place them within easy reach of the rats. In 48 hours, the rats will be gone!
- Adding a little bacon grease to the plaster of Paris recipe will help it attract the rats and keep the mixture from drying out too quickly. Other oils or fats are fine, too.
- You can also spread indomethacin or Indocin powder on meat/fish and rice and lay it in a rat-friendly location.
- Be careful when trying to attract rats with sugar, as this can attract sugar ants and other pests.
- Add some brown sugar or molasses to the baking soda mixture to attract rats quicker.
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Make sure to look for and dispose of the dead rats; a decomposing animal carcass can stink up the house for months, and it's potentially hazardous, too. [19] X Research sourceThanks
- Do not place rat poison where pets or children can get to it. Even though homemade rat poison is less toxic than those made of strong chemicals, it can still be dangerous. [20] X Research sourceThanks
- Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up leftover rat poison, and don't let the poison come into contact with your skin. [21] X Expert Source Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.Thanks
Advertisement
Things You'll Need
Plaster of Paris, Cornmeal, and Milk Poison
- Plaster of Paris
- Cornmeal or flour
- Sugar
- Water or milk
- Bowl
Baking Soda Poison
- Baking soda
- Sugar
- Flour
- Bowl
- Disposable lids or bowls
Instant Mashed Potato Poison
Natural Repellents
- Peppermint oil
- Bay leaves
- Castor oil
- Ammonia or glass cleaner
- Spray bottle
- Cotton balls
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/BB9gDMFAqWs?t=396
- ↑ https://youtu.be/BB9gDMFAqWs?t=390
- ↑ https://youtu.be/BB9gDMFAqWs?t=399
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0518.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/BB9gDMFAqWs?t=403
- ↑ https://youtu.be/BB9gDMFAqWs?t=471
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZJoXsw4vKA&feature=youtu.be&t=125
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZJoXsw4vKA&feature=youtu.be&t=135
- ↑ https://www.pests.org/get-rid-of-rats/
- ↑ https://www.today.com/home/rats-here-s-what-do-about-these-pesky-critters-t81701
- ↑ https://www.siawildlife.com/does-bleach-keep-rats-away/
- ↑ https://www.today.com/home/rats-here-s-what-do-about-these-pesky-critters-t81701
- ↑ https://www.pests.org/get-rid-of-rats/
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/bay-laurel
- ↑ https://www.pests.org/get-rid-of-rats/
- ↑ https://www.pests.org/get-rid-of-rats/
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/vital-signs/2014/nov/03/feral-cats-working-pest-mice-control-trend
- ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/02/remote-scottish-islands-declared-rat-free-rodents-lured-captivity/
- ↑ https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/rats/pest-notes/
- ↑ https://www.verywellhealth.com/rat-poison-first-aid-1298860
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To make rat poison with baking soda, start by mixing equal parts flour and sugar together in a bowl. If you’re not sure how much rat poison you’ll need, start with 2/3 cup of each. Once you’ve mixed the flour and sugar together, add another equal measure of baking soda. Then, transfer the mixture to small disposable bowls or lids and leave them in areas where you’ve seen or heard rats so they'll ingest the mixture. The baking soda causes carbon dioxide to build up in the rats' stomachs, which eventually kills them. For more tips, including how to make rat poison with instant mashed potatoes, read on!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,634,002 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Our community has been overrun with mice this year owing to unusual weather conditions. We have a large house and cannot keep up with them. Conventional poisons have helped somewhat, but they are costly and we are running out of ideas as how to eliminate the problem. Thank you kindly for your homemade recipes, we'll try them ASAP." ..." more
Advertisement
89%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"Our community has been overrun with mice this year owing to unusual weather conditions. We have a large house and cannot keep up with them. Conventional poisons have helped somewhat, but they are costly and we are running out of ideas as how to eliminate the problem. Thank you kindly for your homemade recipes, we'll try them ASAP."
..."
more
"Having a rat problem in and around the outside of the house where there are domestic animals. Rat poison is not an option, so I gave this a go and it has surely killed rats. I have removed eight in just over a day and a half. I set out five tuna cans, not cleaned, and they went for it. Had to keep refilling cans, they loved it. "
..."
more
"We have a mouse and rat problem. We made the soda recipe for the mice, then we adapted the recipe to make rat balls by using spreadable butter in a flour and baking soda mix with a dribble of milk, then a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. The balls are out tonight, so fingers crossed."
..."
more
"After putting the bait out, the mice I had in my bedroom went crazy on it. I knew they had to be hungry, because there was nothing else in the house they could eat. I made sure everything was clean and trash was in a covered container. Mice gone in 2 days."
..."
more
"A mouse or rat got into my garage. Ate a giant hole in my car's air filter. The pieces of paper in the air filter went through the airflow sensor. Cost $427.00 for new air filter and air flow mass sensor. This will kill them and keep them out of my car."
..."
more
