No one wants unwelcome intruders in their home like rats, mice, moles, and other types of rodents. Not only may rodents carry diseases, but they can chew holes in your walls or cords, get into sealed bags of food in the pantry and thus cause it to spoil, and otherwise scratch up your home and make it dirtier. And, of course, trapping them can take days or even weeks, and you have to deal with cleaning up after them once they’re caught. The best, most pleasant method of dealing with these furry little intruders is to prevent them from entering your home to begin with. Fortunately, several different types of rodent repellents do just that, by emitting either smells or sounds that will deter rodents without killing or harming them. Here are a few products we recommend.

What to Consider in Rodent Repellent

Here are a few things to think about before buying rodent repellent:

• Type: There are four main types of rodent repellents: Ultrasonic, pellets, sprays, and packs. Ultrasonic repellents are easy to use, will often work against other types of pests besides rodents, and cover a large area, but they tend to take longer to work and aren’t always as effective. They may also require an electrical outlet, which limits where you can place them, and if your home is large enough, you may require multiples since they don’t work through walls. Pellets are easy to use, inexpensive, and most will last for weeks, but they don’t cover as wide an area, they require rodents to get very close to them to be effective, and need to be replaced frequently. Sprays are great for indoor and outdoor use, can be used to cover large surface areas, and often have peppermint and other pleasant aromas, but they often contain oils that may harm some surfaces of your home. Packs are ideal for small spaces, which can be handy since rodents can squeeze into tight areas, and they’re easy to use, but, like pellets, they will need regular replacing. They’re also only effective on a smaller scale, so they may not be ideal for larger houses.
• Safety: If you have pets or small children in the house, you’ll need to be extra careful about what you use as a rodent repellent. You don’t want them ingesting or inhaling the repellent and getting sick. If you pick a spray, pellets, or pack, be sure that they’re made of all-natural, preferably biodegradable ingredients and aren’t harmful to humans or pets. And if you want an ultrasonic repellent, check and make sure that it won’t bother your pets when activated. If you have a rabbit, guinea pig, or a similar pet, you’ll probably want to avoid ultrasonic repellents since the noises they emit will likely bother your little furry friends.
• Indoor vs. Outdoor: The type of repellent you choose will also determine the best place to place them to keep rodents out. Ultrasonic repellents will need to be kept indoors, especially if they require plugging in, and are most effective when placed in a medium to large room. Packs and satchels are meant for smaller spaces like cabinets, pantries, or drawers. Pellets are meant for outdoor use, to make a perimeter around your home to prevent rodents from entering at all. Sprays are most effective inside; they can technically be used out of doors, but the wind may blow them off course when spraying, and they’ll lose their effectiveness sooner.

Best Value: HAZKO Six Pack Ultrasonic Pest Repellent

This set of ultrasonic rodent repellents is a great option for anyone who owns a house, multiple-room apartment, or condo. You’ll receive six total repellents with your purchase, enough to protect most homes and units. The newly upgraded chip makes these repellents more powerful than ever to keep rodents away more efficiently and may extend to work against non-rodent pests as well. Each device is effective for an area of up to 1,200 square feet. They’re easy to use, as all you have to do is plug each repellent into the socket, and you’re good to go. They don’t require batteries, so you never have to worry about spending time or money replacing them. Since these repellents use ultrasonic waves to keep rodents away, they’re humane and non-toxic, free of chemicals and poisons, and safe for humans and pets such as cats and dogs.

Best Spray: Rodent Sheriff Pest Control Spray

Sprays are the most versatile type of rodent repellent, but many contain harmful or even poisonous chemicals. If you have children and pets or are looking for a more humane and safe repellent, this is the spray for you. It’s made with 100% natural peppermint oil, a scent that small furry pests like mice, raccoons, etc. naturally dislike, but that won’t harm humans or pets. It’ll repel rodents almost instantly yet give your home a pleasant minty aroma. You can spray it anywhere, whether in your home or garage, basement or attic, shed or trashcans. Each bottle is 8 ounces—good for 2,000 sprays. Buy one, two, or three bottles at a time.

Best Ultrasonic: Loraffe Plug-in Rodent Repellent

Here’s an ultrasonic rodent repellent that offers multiple settings and easy use and control. No batteries are required, as all you have to do is plug it into a 110-to-220-volt outlet in the desired room. Whether inside a house or apartment, basement or attic, warehouse or office, this repellent will have them all covered; you can even bring it on the go in an RV or camper as long as it has the appropriate outlet. This repellent uses a combination of high-intensity LED strobe lights and a range of sounds to keep rodents away. There are four sound settings (test, ultra, due, and trio) that range between high-frequency ultrasounds, recordings of rodents’ natural predators, and impulse waves that emit in three different directions from the three speakers. The LED lights shine out of three groups on the triangular plate that disrupts the rodents’ eyesight. The volume control lets you adjust the sounds while the LED on/off button control and dusk-to-dawn sensor control the lights.

Also Great: Neatmaster Ultrasonic Indoor Pest Repellent

This is an ultrasonic plugin rodent repellent with three different functional modes that allow you to customize it to your needs. Like all ultrasonic repellents, it’s gentle and humane as well as safe to keep in your living space. The finely tuned, low-frequency ultrasonic waves are ideal for preventing rodents from entering your home in the first place. The three functional modes are identified by green, blue, and red, with green being the lowest setting for minor infestations, red as the highest for major infestations, with blue in-between the two. Note that the red setting will create an audible sound you’ll be able to hear while green and blue will not. A small function button on the side of the device allows you to switch between the three modes. This repellent can cover an area of 800 to 1,200 square feet, though keep in mind that the wave of sound cannot go through walls and other solid objects, so you’ll need one repellent device for each room you want to be protected.