From time to time, I have had clients ask what the best way to handle rodents is, and I have tried several options myself. However, I was never really satisfied or happy with the end result. Below is an article I came across from Home & Garden, and I think this is the best rodent advise yet. Check it out:
Did you know that rats can chew through concrete, wood, and even metal? They only need a hole the size of a quarter to get inside—and once they’re in, they rarely leave on their own.
If you’ve ever had rats invade your home, you know how serious—and unsettling—it can be. One day, everything looks normal, and the next, you’re hearing loud scurrying in the walls, finding chewed wires and food packaging, or spotting droppings in hidden corners.
Rats are larger, smarter, and more destructive than mice. They can chew through wood, drywall, and even some metals. They spread disease, contaminate food, and cause thousands of dollars in damage if left unchecked. Once they move in, they don’t leave without a fight—and they often bring friends.
Like many homeowners, we wanted a safe, effective way to get rid of rats without using poison or constantly dealing with traps. So we tested five of the most common rat control methods to see what actually works.
Some gave us short-term relief. Most didn’t. Here’s what we found.
Method #1: Rat Repellent Sprays and Pouches
How it works: These products use strong smells like peppermint, ammonia, or predator urine to drive rats away.
Our experience: We placed scent pouches and sprayed areas where we saw signs of activity—behind the stove, under the sink, and in the garage. At first, the rats seemed to stay away, but the effect wore off fast. Within a few days, they were back like nothing happened.
Final verdict: Only works for a short time. Needs constant reapplying and doesn’t stop the real problem.
Method #2: Snap Traps and Glue Traps
How it works: Snap traps kill rats instantly, while glue traps hold them in place until removed.
Our experience: Snap traps caught a few rats, but setting them up was messy and required checking every day. Glue traps were even worse—cruel and disturbing to deal with. Plus, for every rat we caught, another one showed up soon after.
Final verdict: Gross, stressful, and only solves part of the problem. Not a real solution for a full infestation.
Method #3: Poison Bait Stations
How it works: Rats eat poison-laced bait and die later, often in hard-to-reach places.
Our experience: We tried this method once—and never again. A rat died inside the wall, and the smell was unbearable for weeks. On top of that, poison can be dangerous for pets and kids.
Final verdict: High risk, unpleasant results. Not recommended for indoor use.
Method #4: Blocking Entry Points
How it works: You try to seal every crack, gap, or opening where rats can enter.
Our experience: This is helpful for prevention, but it’s nearly impossible to do perfectly—especially when rats can chew right through some materials. Even after patching up the obvious holes, they found another way in.
Final verdict: Good as a backup step, but not enough to deal with rats already inside.
Method #5: Ultrasonic Rat Repellers
How it works: These devices plug into outlets and send out high-frequency sound waves that rats can’t stand, but humans and pets can’t hear. The goal is to make your home feel unsafe so rats leave and stay away.
Our experience: We plugged in a unit in the kitchen and another in the garage. Within days, the scurrying stopped. No new droppings, no signs of chewing, no sounds at night. It was totally silent, maintenance-free, and didn’t involve handling rats at all.
Final verdict: The easiest, cleanest, and most effective method we tested.
Pam Ryan Anderson with Ryan Realty here now. 😊 I loved this solution, as I have never felt it was a good solution to kill the rats in any way, shape or form. So once I read the above article, I searched for the highest rated product and have ordered them. I am hoping this will eliminate the rats from a warehouse I manage, but I will also be putting these in my home for the random mouse that might show up too.
Now, about real estate, the market has been much more active this year than the past year or so. Interest rates really are not moving much yet, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping people from buying homes these days. Here is what one of my Sellers posted on Google about my service:
“This is the third property Pam has sold for us. Each and every time professional, great advice, immediate response time. Always willing to help with contacts, contractors and referred us to very good people that did good work after the last inspection. Impeccable communication. Thank you Pam!” YS