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Does Lime Repel Mice and Rats? (All You Need to Know)

If you have a home with a yard, you would know the struggle of having uninvited guests all the time. These uninvited intruders range from small insects to mice, rats, and rodents. 

To make sure, these pests do not cause damage to your property, it’s best to get rid of them immediately. Could lime help to drive away mice and rats as well? 

Does lime repel mice and rats?

Lime, which is either used in powder form or the form of garden lime, is used as a repellent to keep away insects. In the same line, lime can sometimes be used to repel mice and rats.  Although there is no such standard practice, lime dehydrates pests around it, keeping rats and mice away.

As mentioned, using lime is not considered to be a standard practice, even among professional pest controllers. It is worth noting that lime is a natural gardening product that may deter rodents, mice, and rats for two specific reasons. 

The first is how lime powder works to keep most pests away, which is using its dehydrating abilities. Lime is known to dehydrate what is around it, and hence suffocate the animal or insect that goes near the repellent. 

In the case of hydrated lime, which is also used to drive away rats, rodents, and insects, the oxide gets turned into hydroxide. This is the process that is responsible for making wildlife or pests avoid areas where lime or hydrated lime has been applied. 

Other than that, it is known that rodents, rats, and mice are not fond of certain strong smells, which lime possesses. However, the problem with using lime is how it can affect both plants, beneficial pests, and non-beneficial pests when used to keep rats away. 

When using pelletized lime, the method of application is vital since inhaling the powder can also cause damage to human health. It is suggested that you may want to seek the help of a professional before using lime as a mouse, or rat repellent.

Do lime trees attract rats?

Rodents are fond of fruits and hence you can expect lime trees to attract rats. Although there are certain cats, known as citrus rats that are more attracted to lime trees, other types of rodents would also visit. 

If your lime tree is a welcoming attraction for rats, they would often visit and gnaw at the bark or nibble on the leaves, even if they do not eat the fruits. 

Do mice like the smell of lime?

Mice do not like a strong smell, and lime may be one of them, although it would depend on how much was applied. 

In most cases, mice would dislike more minty smells and would avoid areas with strong scents. Unless the strong scent is of oil, cheese, or chocolates. 

How to use lime to deter mice?

You can use lime to keep away mice, but the catch is you would have to know the proper ways of using lime. Here are a few tips that might help: 

Safety first: 

It is important to remember that lime is not the safest of minerals to handle or inhale. Since it comes in powder form, you would want to use gloves and goggles before handling the mineral.

Spray some on and around the plants: 

Rodents and mice would come to your open yard, if not inside your home. One effective way is to mix lime with a liquid sulfur solution. Use your yard hose to spray it around the area where you might expect the rats to visit more often. 

If you wish to keep your plants and soil safe, you may want to use the less corrosive agricultural lime. 

Hydrated lime: 

You can also use calcium hydroxide or hydrated lime to keep mice away from your house. 

However, in this case, it is important to dilute the hydrated lime with water. Do not apply this mixture to the roots or even the foliage of a plant, for it can damage the plants.

Sprinkle in closed areas: 

Since lime is caustic, you may sprinkle the lime powder in close spaces such as garages or attics, or even basements. This works if there is a particular hole or crack that you wish to protect. 

What is lime powder?

Lime powder is a form of white powder that is chemically known as calcium hydroxide. It is dry and colorless and obtained from calcium oxide mixed with water. 

Lime powder has many names among which gardener’s lime, builders’ lime, and slack lime are some of them. There are several applications of lime powder whether it is in industrial uses or agriculture. 

However, lime or lime powder is most used when it comes to environmental and construction applications, which include waste regulation and road building. 

What is a hydrated lime powder used for?

It is crucial to remember that hydrated lime powder is not the same as limestone as they differ in both chemical composition and reactivity. Hence the use of hydrated lime powder is slightly varied. 

Hydrated lime is mainly used for wastewater treatment, which includes acid neutralization as well. The mineral helps to remove acidic gasses from the environment by neutralizing them. 

In construction applications, cement mixed with hydrated lime increased the quality of the substrate. Hence it is also used in road building and other industrial uses. 

Other than that, the hydrated mineral is used in gardening applications, like fertilizers, and pesticides. 

Hydrated lime powder is more potent, as well as caustic, and inhaling or ingesting it can cause severe burns to both humans and animals alike. It can cause initiation to the skin of anyone coming in contact. 

Does lime powder repel mice and rats?

Lime powder, in its granulated form, can repel mice and rats because of its irritating and corrosive properties. When the lime powder is inhaled or ingested by rodents, mice, rats, or any other animal or pests, it can cause burning and damage to the throat, nose, and intestines of the animal.

While lime powder alone is said to be less harmful to mice and rats than moist lime powder or wet hydrated lime, both are potentially caustic. 

Although lime powder has been used for eons as a pesticide and an insect, it is not the first choice for mice control. Lime does have a smell that may drive away mice and rats, but only temporarily. 

The powder works as a repellent only by causing health damage to the animal. Sometimes if a rodent comes in contact with lime powder with moisture, it could burn its skin, and make the animal run away. 

Because of its caustic nature, you would need to use proper tools as well as clothing before spreading the powder. It is best to use a rotary spreader or drop spreader and concentrate the powder in specific areas. 

Do so by protecting yourself by wearing safety goggles, gloves, and skin protectants all the while. It is also worth noting that you would have to avoid areas like the kitchen and other common spots around the house.

Baits and traps are much more effective and safer in that regard. 

How to keep mice and rats out of your house?

The following tips will help you to keep mice and rats out of your house –

Keep the entry points blocked: 

Where do these rats and mice enter your house from? they sneak in and squeeze themselves inside your garage and attic through every tiny crack they find. 

First things first, you would want to inspect your home thoroughly to check for potential entry points. If you do find cracks and holes, you would want to seal them up as soon as possible. 

Keep the garbage cans closed: 

Nothing attracts mice and rats like an open, smelly garbage can. It is vital to keep the lid of the trash can completely closed, without any scope for rodents to sneak in. Moreover, you may want to keep the garbage as far from your home as you possibly can.

Traps and baits always help: 

You certainly cannot ignore the importance of having some traps and baits set around the house. Prevention is all good until the rodents have already entered the home. 

If so, you would want to use cheese or chocolate as a good bait, while setting the traps against the walls. 

Keep food sources sealed: 

Whether it is seeds or pet food, you may want to keep them sealed and stored tightly in a container. 

Use natural repellents: 

Fill your home or potential rodent visiting spots in your home with the scent of peppermint, cayenne, or cloves. Rats and mice dislike such scents and would not come to a place that inhibits such smell.

Final thoughts

Lime, lime powder, or hydrated lime are natural, corrosive repellents that can repel mice and rats if used properly. While smashing mice and rats or even using strong repellents may do more harm than good, luckily you do have several ways in which you can keep rodents away from your house.