No, Dryer Sheets Do Not Keep Mice Away – Pest Pro Reveals the Natural Scent-Deterrent That Actually Works

As the weather cools down, mice start looking for warm places to settle in. Unfortunately, our homes are the perfect hideaway.

It's no wonder that so many of us turn to quick fixes such as dryer sheet scent deterrents to try and keep them at bay, but unfortunately no, dryer sheets do not help to keep mice away.

If you’re dealing with these unwanted visitors in your home, you’ll need a deterrent such as peppermint that’s actually proven to send them packing. It’s simple, natural pest control that is far more reliable than any laundry-room hack, say pest pros.

Why Dryer Sheets Don't Repel Mice

There are several uses for dryer sheets around the home, such as using them to clean shower doors and as part of a hidden fragrance hack for living rooms. However, despite their pleasant scents, they are far from the ideal deterrent for mice.

While strong odors can help prevent mice from getting into your house by making your home uncomfortable for their sensitive sense of smell, dryer sheets do not last long enough, nor do they all have the same potency, making it a hit-or-miss trick at best.

As a non-toxic pest essential, it may work for a day or so, but these sheets will need constant replacement, and mice can quickly adapt to the smell.

What To Use Instead

If you want to create a real barrier against mice and stop creating unnecessary trash at home, the trick is to use peppermint to prevent mice instead.

Daniel Baldwin, board-certified entomologist at Hawx Pest Control, explains that, 'The bold, minty aroma of peppermint oil can be surprisingly off-putting to them. It’s not a magic fix, but it can help make your home less inviting. Think of peppermint oil [from Walmart] as a polite but firm “no vacancy” sign: It won’t stop determined visitors, but it might encourage them to look elsewhere.

'To use it, soak cotton balls [also from Walmart] in 100% pure peppermint oil and tuck them into corners where you’ve noticed mouse activity, under sinks, behind appliances, near entry points. Refresh the scent every few days to keep it potent.'

It helps that, in winter, fresh mint is also an easy way to make your home smell nice for Christmas, killing two birds with one stone. According to one fragrance pro, peppermint is one of the best ways to erase cooking odors at Christmas, too.

For a more convenient option, you can find 100% natural peppermint plug-in air fresheners from Scent Fill at Amazon. Several verified shoppers mention in their reviews that the scent was enough to get rid of mice from a garage, making sealing up gaps more effective.

'For best results, pair this method with sealing up cracks and gaps,' Daniel continues. 'Just a gentle note: Pure essential oils are powerful stuff. When handling them, avoid direct contact with your skin and eyes, and keep the bottle capped when not in use. A little goes a long way, especially when you’re working with scents that mice find overwhelming, and humans might find memorable.'

It is also important to know when to call a professional pest control in. If you spot signs of mice in your home, contact an exterminator such as Orkin Pest Control, who offer free exterminator estimates.

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Meet the Expert

Daniel Baldwin

Daniel is an entomologist with over a decade of experience, working at Hawx Pest Control, which, since being founded in 2013, has grown as a business across 12 states, offering both residential and commercial pest control services.

Mice aren't the only indoor pest you need to worry about in winter. Other winter pest infestations, such as silverfish and spiders, are also a concern as the temperature drops and homes become prone to damp.