We get a lot of calls in the office asking some pretty crazy questions about different ways to get rid of pests. You can’t imagine all of the old wives’ tales that people have passed down over the years on ways to keep pests away from their homes.
But one of the ones that we keep hearing over the years is that Irish Spring Soap can keep mice away from your home. Chances are that you may have heard this tale before as well.
If you have ever spotted a mouse running around your house you will try just about anything to keep them away. So, is there any truth to the claim that Irish Spring Soap will keep these pesky critters away? We’ve got all the details on this pest control method for you today.
Why Mice Are Attracted To Your Home
You may be wondering, why should I even be concerned about how to keep mice away? I have a perfectly clean home, those mice would never want to hang around here. Mice only make their homes in unclean places.
We are sorry to tell you but that isn’t necessarily true. Mice just want to live somewhere that has a shelter, is warm, and has a water supply. And that sounds exactly like most of our homes. If we aren’t careful, we can provide a pretty nice environment for mice to live and reproduce.
And it isn’t just the interior of your home that can attract them. The exterior of your home can make for a nice living space as well. Think about your yard full of debris and all of those things you are saving for “next month” to clean up. Mice will keep nice and cozy in them until you do so. They don’t mind you waiting.
Will Soap Keep Mice Away?
S
o, since anyone can have mice. Here is the big question you want to know the answer to. Will Irish Spring soap keep mice away? The short answer is no, there is no hard evidence that is actually happening when people use it as a repellant.
The main part of this myth comes from the idea that soap is mainly made from animal fat and mice eat animal fat. So, by placing the soap around your home, the mice would eat it and then die.
However, the amount of soap that one mouse would have to eat for them to be affected would have to be huge. And if you had a mouse problem, it is not very likely that they would all eat enough soap to all be exterminated.
Unfortunately, we are going to have to say that soap is not going to be one of the ways that you can DIY your way out of a pest problem.
How To Actually Keep Mice Away
Keeping mice away from your home can be done. And we always suggest to our clients that prevention is best. You always want to do everything you can to pest-proof your home, so that your likelihood of a pest issue is cut down.
Going around the exterior of your home and checking to be sure that any entry points for tiny mice are sealed is one of the best ways to pest-proof your home. These entry points include things like weather-stripping, window screens, foundation cracks, and any other ways you think a mouse could get in. Be sure to check your attics and basem*nts as well for entry points.
When it comes to the interior of your home, you want to make sure that your food is sealed in containers so that mice can’t get in for any late-night snacks. This means pet food as well. Mice have a very keen sense of smell.
And if you do notice any signs of a mouse problem, you want to call in your local pest control expert as soon as you can. If you see a mouse, it is never usually ONE mouse. Their friends are usually very close by, and a mouse problem can turn into an infestation very quickly.
Call us for Help
Even though Irish Spring soap was definitely a bust with keeping mice away, Kapture has a full-proof system for keeping mice and all types of pests away from your home. We also offer mouse-proofing as part of all of our maintenance plans.
And if you ever have any other questionable pest control methods you would like us to weigh in on, give us a call, we always offer free phone consultations.
