Rats have always been a common household problem, even before the days of city living. These pests are known to carry diseases and contaminate food, and getting rid of them can be a challenge.
These pests don’t just carry diseases, but they can also be destructive, chewing through walls and wires.
There are many commercially available rat poisons, but if you’re looking for a DIY method before you’d like to try other solutions, making a homemade rat poison is a great option. An equal solution of ammonia and water is known to effectively kill rats.
Different Homemade Rat Poisons You Can Make
Boric Acid and Sugar
This combination is one of the most effective and popular homemade rat poisons. Boric acid is a white powder that’s derived from boron, and it’s often used as an insecticide.
In fact, it’s a popular insecticide ingredient that can be found in many ant and roach killers.
Boric acid is poisonous to rats, but it takes a while for the poison to take effect. When rats eat boric acid, they don’t die immediately. Instead, it takes a few days for the boric acid to kill them. This is because boric acid disrupts the rat’s metabolism and interferes with its digestive system.
The sugar in this mixture is used as bait, and it will attract rats to the poison.
To make this rat poison, simply mix equal parts of boric acid with sugar. The overall consistency should be that of a thick paste.
Once it’s mixed, place the poison in an empty container with small holes punched into the lid. Place the container in an area where you’ve seen rats or where they’re likely to travel.
Alternatively, you can also make rat poison balls by rolling the mixture into small balls. Once they’re rolled, place them in areas where rats are likely to travel.
Ammonia and Water
As mentioned earlier, ammonia is considered to be one of the most dangerous rat poisons available out there. Ammonia is a common household cleaning product used to clean windows and floors. It contains a high concentration of nitrogen, and it gives off a strong smell.
Inhaling ammonia can be incredibly dangerous for rats. When they breathe in the fumes, it damages their lungs and eventually leads to death.
To make this rat poison, mix equal parts of water and ammonia. You can also mix dish soap with ammonia to make it more effective. Place strategically in areas where rats are often seen.
Just like with the boric acid and sugar mixture, you can also make rat poison balls with this mixture.
As a word of caution, be very careful when handling ammonia. Make sure to wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from the strong fumes.
Mothballs and Peanut Butter
This might be out of the box, but mothballs contain a chemical called naphthalene, which is poisonous, even to rats. Mothballs are commonly used to repel moths, and they give off a strong smell. They sublime in the air, and the scent strongly repels and kills moths. However, they also serve a dual purpose and can also be used to poison rats.
When coated with something like peanut butter, which rats love, they will be attracted to the mothballs and eat them. Mothballs can take a few days to kill rats, but they’re an effective method nonetheless.
To make this poison, simply coat or soak mothballs in peanut butter. You can also cut a few pieces of mothballs to make smaller baits. You can then use this to place inside live traps or to lay out in areas where you often see rats.
If you have pets and small children around your home, ensure that these mothballs aren’t within their reach. This is toxic even to animals and humans, and it can cause serious health problems if ingested.
Blue Cheese
Believe it or not, blue cheese can also be used as rat poison. Rats have a strong sense of smell, and they’re attracted to the strong odor of blue cheese.
They’d rummage through garbage cans, dumpsters, and other areas and wouldn’t mind eating blue cheese if there’s anything lying around freely in your home. If you’re ever wondering what kills rats instantly, blue cheese is one of them.
Take note, however, that blue cheese can also kill your pet if they’ve ingested it. This method works best if you don’t have pets inside the home or if you can keep them away from areas where you’ve placed the poison.
The only problem with blue cheese or other rat poisons is that they tend to die in areas that are difficult to reach or in hidden corners. This can make disposing of their bodies quite a challenge.
Pros and Cons of DIY Rat Poisons
There are advantages and disadvantages to everything, and this includes making your own rat poison. Here are some pros and cons that you should take into consideration before making your own poison:
Advantages
1. Effective in Killing Rats Instantly
Some options, such as blue cheese and ammonia, work almost instantly. This means that you won’t have to wait long before the rats die.
This is ideal if you’re looking for a quick solution and don’t want rats in your home anymore.
Inexpensive
2. Cheaper Alternative to Commercial Rat Poisons
We know that some of the best rat poisons can be quite pricey. If you’re on a budget or are looking for an inexpensive solution, making your own poison is a great option.
You can find most of the ingredients in your local grocery store, and they don’t cost much. This makes it a very affordable solution if you have a rat problem. In fact, some homes already have these ingredients in their kitchen cabinets.
3. Easy to Make
Making your own rat poison is very easy to do. In most cases, you only need two or three ingredients, and the process itself is quite simple.
This means that you can make a batch of poison in just a few minutes. There are no complicated steps or complicated measuring required.
4. More Control Over the Formula
When you make your own poison, you have complete control over the ingredients. This means that you can adjust the amount of each ingredient to get the desired strength.
Disadvantages
1.Toxic to Humans and Pets
Although they’re effective against rats, homemade rat poisons can also be quite toxic to humans and pets. If you’re not familiar with the ingredients, it’s best to stay away from this method.
Even something as simple as salt can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. The same goes for sugar and cornmeal. If you’re not careful, this poison can also kill your pets or even small children.
2. Difficult to Dispose
Rats could die wherever inside your home. As a result, it gives off this stinky smell, and disposing of their carcasses can be quite a challenge.
This is especially true if the rats die in difficult-to-reach areas such as behind the fridge or inside the walls. There are instances when you might need to call a professional to help you dispose of the rats.
3. Less Effective Against Large Rat Infestations
As much as we love homemade rat poisons because they’re widely available, unfortunately, these may not be enough when you’re dealing with larger rat infestations. This is because not all rats will be able to get the poison, and it may keep reproducing faster than you can kill them.
In this case, it’s best to combine this method with others or to seek professional help.
If you feel like you’re dealing with a larger rat problem, resorting to DIY solutions may not be your best bet. A rat or two (without any babies) might not be a problem, but if you’re dealing with more than that, it might be time to seek professional help.
4. Pests Could Become Immune
There’s also a possibility that pests could become immune to the poison. If you continuously use the same poison, rats will eventually become resistant to it, and the poison will no longer be effective.
To avoid this, it’s important to change the ingredients every now and then. You can also try using different mixtures so that rats won’t be able to develop resistance.
Final Thoughts
Water and ammonia mixture seems to be a personal favorite among homeowners because of its effectiveness and easy availability. However, it’s important to remember that this mixture is also quite toxic.
If you’re not careful, it could pose a serious threat to your family and pets. As such, it’s best used with extra caution.
When things get out of hand, always remember that homemade poisons might not just cut it. For this, always remember that trained and experienced professionals are always your best bet.
