Mice live almost anywhere at home. These skillful rodents can invade your home and cause unbelievable havoc. When left alone, mice destroy carpets, fabrics, and anything vulnerable at home.
Wax candles are among mice’s favorite nibbling alternatives. But do they prefer all types of candles?
Well, this article looks at why mice prefer wax candles and how to stop them from eating wax candles.
Do Mice Eat Wax Candles?
Yes! Mice eat almost anything they can reach. These mammals are omnivorous and scramble on fruits, grains, worms, and spiders. But as scavengers and foragers, they can destroy anything along their way, even when with nutritious edibles on their way. These include paper, window putty, and burning candle wax.
Today, you will find mice around sheds, garages, buildings, and houses. They prefer the indoors, away from extreme weather. In your home, you might find them in confined spaces like under the cabinets & furniture or between pantries, cupboards, and old boxes. Mice prefer spots that are usually close to food and water sources in the kitchen.
You can notice the nibbling of candle wax in the kitchen. So, never keep wax candles close to your pet mice. When you switch off the lights and leave a candle burning, mice will consume the burning wax.
Remember that you might not find them in action, but you will notice mice turds around candle wax and nibble marks on the candles. You can also find partially eaten spattered candle wax on the floor.
Why do Mice Eat Candle Wax?
Candle wax is an oil-based blend. So, mice will presumably enjoy the fatty components in the candle wax. Also, mice get the necessary calories from candle wax, thus consuming it in huge quantities. On the contrary, these rodents like cheese and other oil-based food items. So, candle wax is another tempting alternative for them.
Mice enjoy eating and nibbling candle wax. They will eat a lot of wax than you expect if uninterrupted. Sometimes, mice will ignore leftovers and consume candle wax.
Mice are also attracted to oily-based material, and the smell of burning candles is a gold mine for them. Candle wax contains fats mice need for their bodies. According to animal care research, mice consuming wax is usually a sign of fat deficiency in the body. The amount of the unending wax at home will attract mice more.
Will Candle Wax Kill a Mouse?
No! Consuming candle wax will not kill a mouse. Candle wax is a source of fat if consumed in small quantities. But when they eat excess candle wax, it might cause digestion discomfort. If you have a pet mouse, check for signs of discomfort and excessive oily poop.
In such cases when you notice your pet mouse has consumed a lot of candle wax, take him/her to the vet for a checkup.
Scented candle wax, on the other hand, contains chemicals that might harm a mouse. Depending on the quantity and nature of chemicals in the candle, it can cause serious health complications in the mice’s digestive tract.
Do Mice Eat Citronella Candles?
Again remember that mice eat anything on their way, including candle wax, plastic, soap, and leftovers. Citronella candles are not an exception. Mice are attracted to citronella candle wax scent. So, they will comfortably eat citronella candles without a doubt.
Ironically, citronella repel mice. Mice will avoid areas with citronella scents but eat citronella candles. Moreover, mice prefer citronella candles because they make their eyes happy.
Do Mice Eat Scented Candles?
Mice are attracted to food and anything else that smells food-like. These home-dwelling rodents prefer oily-based blends. Mice will eat up to 20 times a day, and scented candles are oily and smell food-like. So they will consume it comfortably.
When mice are near scented candles, they will consume them profusely. Unfortunately, scented candles contain chemicals that are unsafe for mice. So, ingesting it in large quantities can cause digestion problems.
Remember that as much as mice love to eat scented candles, they should not consume all scented candles. Some scented candles like Cedarwood and Cinnamon candles will repel mice.
Do Scented Candles Attract Mice?
Yes! Scented candles are often appealing to mice because they smell like food. Note that you will find many scented candles in vanilla or strawberry flavor. When the candle is burning, it produces strong smells that attract mice.
Most homeowners use scented candles to freshen the atmosphere at home. Though, these candles are a deal breaker if you have mice invasion. Mice will camp close to a scented candle area.
Also, mice are attracted to greasy smells. So, burning scented candles will attract them to your home. Scented candles are a favorite food alternative for mice if food is scarce. Most scented candles are sweet-smelling and edible.
Most mice might think there is food when you burn scented candles. If they get a chance, they will nibble any scented candle. They will even consume the candles in large quantities when food is scarce.
If you want to keep mice away, store scented candles individually with paper towels, then in tightly sealed boxes. But remember that mice are not attracted to all scented candles. Peppermint-scented candles, for instance, repel them. Use peppermint-scented candles if you have a mice infestation at home.
What Smells do Mice Hate?
Mice are sensitive to smell. Either savory or balmy. But usually, they are attracted to food-like smells and repelled by peppermint or clove fragrance. That is why mice avoid areas with pungent smells.
So, you should apply, spray, or place pungent-smelling items around your home to repel mice. Similarly, mix cedarwood and eucalyptus oils for boosted repelling scent.
Here are other pungent smells mice hate.
- Cedarwood oil has an irritating wood-like scent that mice do not like
- Cinnamon sticks have a strong spicy fragrance
- Dryer sheets have pungent odor mice also avoid
- Eucalyptus oil is unpleasant to most rodents, including mice. They find it extremely strong for them to tolerate
- Chili powder or oil irritates a mouse’s respiratory system
- Mice will also avoid areas with ammonia odor. The ammonia smell can cause eye irritation and skin damage
- Mint toothpaste works like peppermint by repelling mice. The scent is too strong for them
- Soak Mothballs in naphthalene to produce irritating order mice cannot tolerate. Furthermore, mothballs soaked in naphthalene causes serious health complications when inhaled
- Today, homeowners use Peppermint oil as a pesticide for most rodents, including mice. Mix peppermint oil with enough water for effective results.
Other techniques include.
- Strong-scented cloves repel mice. Place cotton balls soaked in clove oil along mice paths in the kitchen.
- Teabags and scented teabags have strong smells mice do not like. After drinking tea, reuse the teabag to repel mice.
- The taste and spicy scent of cayenne pepper repel mice
- Undiluted vinegar has a sour fragrance mouse will also find repelling
Effective Tips to Keep Mice Away
Mice are a nuisance and unsanitary. They will nibble on almost everything at home. Keeping them away will benefit not only your items but your health. So, always use repellants to keep them away. Mice traps and baits guarantee effective results if the repellants do not work efficiently.
If you notice mouse droppings, food droppings, nibbled candle marks, noises at night, and mice sittings, it could be a sign of mice infestation. Unfortunately, dealing with mice invasion can be challenging.
Try the following easy tips to keep mice away.
1. Cats
Go the old-fashioned way used for centuries. Adopting a single cat will reduce the mice population in your home. Also, cat urine and fur repel mice immediately.
2. Clean surfaces and cover food sources
Cleaning food droppings in the kitchen and dining room helps eliminate mice infestation. Mice migrate when they lack food and water at home. Additionally, tightly seal all grain, scented, and dry food containers.
3. Cover all mice entry points
Silicone caulking, duct taping, concealing, and patching mouse entry points in the pantry are effective techniques for keeping mice and other tiny rodents away.
Alternatively, cover these spots with items like concrete, stainless steel mesh, and steel wool that mice cannot chew through.
4. Eliminate all mice nesting areas
Store blankets, fabrics, and upholstery in tightly sealed plastics to keep mice from nesting. Clean areas around your home with mice repellant disinfectant and ensure no litter. This keeps away mice from camping.
5. Try live traps
Bait mice in all the areas you might have noticed unusual activity. You can lure mice with edible food like cheese, butter, meat, pet food, and fish.
6. Ultrasonic sounds
These electronic devices are effective mice-repelling alternatives. Most high-frequency ultrasonic sound scare mice and keeps them away from your home.
7. Use mouse repellents
Try natural repellents like fabric softeners on textile and stuffing them in all mice entry points. Spray a mixture of apple cider and water to repel mice around your home. Also, mixing hot pepper, dish soap, and water vexes mice and keeps them away.
8. Use repelling fragrances
Peppermint, cloves, cedarwood oil, and cayenne pepper are a few fragrances mice hate. Use them around your home to keep mice away. Mice find these smell repulsive, thus avoiding such areas.