Yes, you can spray peppermint oil around your house as a natural pest deterrent (ants, spiders, rodents) by mixing it with water in a spray bottle, but you must dilute it and use it cautiously, especially around pets like cats and dogs, as it can be toxic to them, so focus on entry points and well-ventilated areas.
Peppermint oil repels a wide variety of common pests, including mosquitoes, ants, spiders, roaches, flies, fleas, moths, and beetles, along with some garden pests like aphids and whiteflies, and even small rodents like mice, due to its strong menthol scent that disrupts their senses. It works best as a deterrent in a spray or diffuser around entry points, but its effectiveness is temporary, requiring frequent reapplication, especially outdoors, says The Spruce and Pestco Professional Services.
☺️ Mix 25 drops of peppermint oil and a cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and then spray all around your home (inside and out) where spiders hang out or might enter your home. Spray your baseboards, around doors, windows, porches, corners or rooms, etc. Be careful to not use too much.
Peppermint oil typically repels bugs for 2–3 hours after application, but its effectiveness fades as the scent dissipates. For lasting results indoors, it helps to reapply every few days or weekly, depending on pest levels and area treated.
Essential oils like peppermint oil can definitely be irritating to the eyes, nose, mouth, throat and lungs and digestive tract. You might see sneezing, wheezing, coughing, labored breathing, vomiting, or diarrhea or drooling. As they say, the solution to pollution is dilution.
Peppermint oil is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take it if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to peppermint oil, aspirin or any other medicine. have liver disease or gallstones.
The 30/50/20 rule for essential oils is a blending guideline for creating balanced, harmonious scents, suggesting you use 30% top notes, 50% middle notes, and 20% base notes for longevity and depth. Top notes are light and fast-evaporating (like citrus), middle notes are the heart of the blend (like florals/herbs), and base notes are grounding and long-lasting (like woods/resins). For a 10-drop blend, this means 3 drops top, 5 drops middle, and 2 drops base.
The smell of peppermint oil disturbs mice and can help temporarily keep them away. Mice rely heavily on their keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of peppermint can be irritating and overwhelming to them. Although peppermint oil can deter mice momentarily, it doesn't guarantee their removal.
Spiders do not like peppermint, and because they “taste” with their legs, it is an easy way to keep them away. Make a mixture of 1-1/2 cups water, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and 20 drops of peppermint oil. Spray this concoction on windowsills, entryways, and where you find spiders.
You can use peppermint oil to keep away flies, ants, spiders, and sometimes cockroaches. The oil has compounds, such as menthol, that can help manage mites, mosquito larvae, and other pests. These compounds give peppermint oil its strong scent, which insects like ants and spiders don't like.
Combine water and peppermint oil in a spray bottle. Shake bottle before use and spray the solution around entry spots such as windowsills and door frames, or places where insects may hide. The strong odor acts as a repellent.
EarthKind founder, Kari Warberg Block, tested using peppermint oil for pest control extensively in her farm equipment over a 3 year period. Kari says, “It would work for a couple of weeks, and then just lose its scent.
Let's break down the pests that are most likely to avoid peppermint oil:
Hydrogen peroxide: Add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spray it over your porch, patio or pergola. Make sure to spray the perimeter of your outdoor living space, as well — that will prevent bugs from getting close to you and anyone else.
Debris, clutter, trash, and dirt each scream out "food" and "shelter" to mice, who possess a keen sense of smell and taste. Cleanliness is crucial. The fix: Tidy up regularly. Seal up trash bags, reduce or remove clutter, and thoroughly clean thrifted items, including clothing and furniture.
Serious side effects
Amish communities get rid of mice using a mix of traditional, low-tech, and natural methods, focusing heavily on prevention (sealing entry points, removing food sources) and humane trapping, often with handmade cage traps, while also using strong scents like peppermint oil or cayenne pepper as repellents, sometimes alongside cats for natural pest control. They avoid modern poisons to maintain their lifestyle and focus on practical, sustainable solutions.
Rats have a highly sensitive sense of smell, and the strong menthol aroma of peppermint overwhelms their nasal passages. This causes discomfort and confusion, making them avoid areas treated with this scent.
Peppermint oil can not only help your home sparkle, but leave it smelling fresh. Use a diffuser to fill your home with peppermint's clear aroma, or try one of the methods below: Add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil to a spray bottle of water and use it to mist rooms, leaving its clean, energising scent in its wake.
If small amounts are swallowed, inhaled, or applied to skin or eyes, it can cause irritation and burning. Large doses can cause serious toxicity due to the menthol.
Mice absolutely detest the smell of peppermint. Cotton balls dabbed with peppermint oil can work well to repel mice, as can dried mint sachets. Just place oil-soaked cotton or mint-scented sachets in problem areas, refreshing as often as needed.
16 ounce glass spray bottle and spray nozzle, 4 ounces of rubbing alcohol (you can also use witch hazel or plain vodka) 50 drops of lavender essential oil and 40 drops of rosemary essential oil. Distilled water. Start by adding your oil to the rubbing alcohol, it will stay blended better if you do it in this order.
Failing to safely dilute your essential oils before use can lead to two main safety risks for the skin: Irritation and sensitization.