These Kitchen Staples Will Keep Mice Out Of Your Garage
Mice often sneak into garages searching for warmth, shelter, and food, especially when it starts to get cold out. Once inside, they can chew wires, ruin boxes, and leave behind a big mess. Many people turn to traps or poison to deal with mice, but there are plenty safer, friendlier options you can try first. Not only that, but they're also cheaper, and you likely already have them in your kitchen. Here are some examples.
Vinegar
The sharp smell of vinegar both masks odors that attract mice, but its own strong smell will often discouraging them from sticking around long enough to nest. Wiping down shelves, floors, and storage bins with a sightly-diluted vinegar solution keeps surfaces clean while doubling as a natural repellent. If you keep birdseed or pet food in the garage, rinse containers with vinegar before filling them to reduce any lingering food smells.
Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds do more than fertilize gardens. Their strong, bitter smell is a scent that mice really don't like. Spread dried grounds around the edges of the garage or near storage areas. They’re especially helpful if you already drink coffee daily, since you’ll have a steady supply for when old grounds need replaced. This option is also eco-friendly, putting waste to good use while giving you a natural barrier against pests.
Aluminum Foil
Not all deterrents are about smell, though. Mice, like cats actually, dislike walking on aluminum foil because of the noise and texture. Lining small areas, like under shelves or around food bins, with tin foil creates a literal physical and sensory barrier. It's not the prettiest method, but it’s effective in spots where other approaches may not work. Even a small strip can discourage mice from moving further into your garage.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has a powerful drying effect, and when sprinkled around known entry points, it can make that space less inviting to all sorts of critters. You can also mix it with flour or sugar to mask it and make it more trap-like, though keep in mind this approach is more aggressive than simply deterring. As a safer method, just dust it near cracks or along walls where mice often travel to discourage them from returning.
Cayenne Pepper
Mice generally dislike strong spices, and cayenne pepper is one of the most effective. Sprinkle it in thin lines along the garage walls, around storage bins, or near doors where they might try to slip in. The pungent smell and irritation it causes to their noses will keep them from crossing. It's a simple border that you can top up every couple of weeks, especially after sweeping or rainy weather that might wash it away.
Cloves
Whole cloves or clove oil give off a strong aroma that mice avoid. Place small cloth sachets filled with cloves in drawers, on shelves, or near gaps in the walls. Cloves release a vert long-lasting scent, so you won't need to replace them all that often. They’re also a clean option that doesn’t leave residue or stains behind, making them easier to maintain over time.
Peppermint Oil
This one is maybe the least likely to be stored away in your kitchen, but peppermint oil has a sharp, powerful scent that tends to stun humans, let alone mice. A few drops on cotton balls placed along entry points or tucked into corners can create an effective deterrent. It doesn't harm the mice, it just makes your garage far less appealing, especially if you replace the cotton balls every week to keep the scent strong.
Mice don't need much to make themselves at home in your garage, but you also don’t need to rely on toxic methods to keep them away. Everyday items like oils, spices, and even foil can create an environment that discourages them from sticking around. The best results come from combining a few of these approaches and covering every potential gap or entryway. With consistent effort, you’ll protect your space and keep it safer, cleaner, and rodent-free.