Opinion: Rid your house of pests using peppermint oil

Dear Editor,

I live in an old house. That doesn’t seem to matter to rats and mice that seem to enjoy the comfortable living conditions indoors. I have a fix that really keeps uninvited visitors outside.

After jamming steel wool in every nook and cranny where critters can find a way in (anywhere a pipe comes in needs special attention), find some small cups of any kind. Put a couple of cotton pads in the bottom and soak them with peppermint oil. Place the cups under the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, and the hot water tank closet. If you have a built-in microwave, stick one up next to the vent, too. 

Mark your calendar to re-soak the pads every three to four weeks. You can buy peppermint oil online or at most drugstores. It’s not expensive and one bottle lasts awhile since it’s highly concentrated.

Peppermint is toxic to cats, so make sure the cups are inside cupboards or otherwise out of reach.

This remedy really works and no one has to die for simply trying to survive another day. Bonus: Your house will have a faint pleasant fragrance. 

Visit PETA.org for more tips.

Yours truly,

Jennifer O’Connor

PETA Foundation

Norfolk, Virginia