To protect your home from rats, it’s easy to exploit their reliance on their incredible smell abilities.

If you’re wanting to learn what do rats hate the smell of, you don’t have to look far. You can simply use a range of household items that either have a potent aroma which interferes with their sense of smell or mimics the way that their predators smell.

 To achieve the maximum effect with your DIY rat repellents, apply them to areas where rats are most active. This includes your roof space, nesting sites, burrows and heavily trafficked pathways.

While we enjoy its pungent flavour for cooking, raw garlic is effective at repelling rats, overpowering their sense of smell and making it hard for them to navigate.

 We recommend placing freshly sliced cloves of garlic around entry points to your home. For a longer lasting option, you can place the garlic in mesh or porous cheesecloth bags and hang them in active sites.

 You can also use garlic infused oil mixed with water to make a potent outdoor spray, perhaps adding other smells which rats hate the most such as peppermint oil for an extra kick if you wish!

A popular deterrent for fabric pests such as moths and silverfish, camphor or mothballs contain naphthalene, which releases a scent that is also disliked by rats. These can be easily purchased from supermarkets and scattered around nesting sites, burrows and entrances to your home.

With a spicy kick that is known to instantly clear the sinuses of people, chilli powder irritates the respiratory tracts of rats upon inhalation.

Given its fine consistency, chilli powder can easily be sprinkled into hard-to-reach places and penetrate deep inside rat burrows and tunnels. You can also use other spices such as cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes for a similar effect.

We recommend reapplying this on a regular basis as it can disperse easily, as well as after heavy rain.

Whether it’s your home or business, at Allstate, our pest control technicians have a deep understanding of rat behaviour and the tools to get to the bottom of all your rat concerns once and for all.

We’ll conduct a thorough inspection of your property, both inside and outside, to identity all active sites, paying close attention to primary and secondary entry points and nesting areas.

After removing the nests and all nesting material, then proofing off the entry points, we will:

• Install tamper-proof chemical bait stations containing targeted rodenticide at entrance sites to your building, or
• Set out physical rat traps at popular activity sites

Not sure how to tell if there’s an increased rat activity in your home? Here’s some things to look for:

Roof damage

To create cosy nesting areas and widen entry points to your home, you may find rats have gnawed holes and damaged insulation in your roof.

Gnaw marks

Known for their relentless gnawing, rats will leave behind bite and gnaw marks on your walls and doors, timber structures, furniture, metal and plastic objects, as well as cardboard and paper based products in your home.

Grease marks

If you notice dark rub marks around your skirtings and walls, this could well be the result of greasy rat fur and may be a sign that the area has high foot (paw!) traffic.

Droppings

Like large grains of black rice, rat droppings are normally 1-2cm long, brown-black coloured and form a pointed oval shape. They will turn grey when dried out.

Unpleasant odour

An accumulation of rat droppings and urine isn’t just messy, it leaves behind a strong, musty and sour smell that lingers in your home.

Noises in your roof

Rats are normally most active at dusk and dawn, and you’ll often hear scratching, gnawing, scampering, rustling, chomping, clawing and squeaking sounds coming from your roof space just as you’re trying to get your beauty sleep!

With the ability to reproduce quickly and at a young age, it doesn’t take long for a large population of pesky rats to be established. We’ve put together our top four tips so that you can make sure this doesn’t happen at your home:

Identify and proof all access points to your home

Quick, nimble and possessing sharp teeth which can gnaw through timber and insulation, rats can squeeze through the smallest of gaps and enter your home. However, by regularly inspecting your roof and exterior parts of your building for any holes, openings and cracks, and then sealing them, you’ll create less opportunities for a rat infestation in your home. We recommend:

• Sealing gaps with waterproof silicone or other appropriate fillers
• Reinforcing windows and doors with weather strips

Remove attractants

Hungry rats can detect food smells from up to 2km away and will actively scavenge for resources when the weather cools down. To keep them away from your yard consider:

• Keeping outdoor dining areas clean and wiping down barbecues
• Storing food in tightly sealed containers
• Keeping less fruit and vegetable plants
• Remove pet food, bird and chicken feed overnight

Waste management

Easy to access with plenty of food scraps on offer, rubbish bins, compost and waste areas are popular feeding sites for rats. You can avoid this problem by:

• Keeping waste areas clean and disinfected
• Washing rubbish bins regularly with detergent and hot water
• Ensuring that rubbish is stored in sturdy bags and bins have well-fitted lids
• Emptying bins regularly to prevent overflow

DIY rat deterrents

You can purchase ultrasonic rat deterrent devices and place them around your yard, making it a more hostile place for rats to visit. These targeted devices emit unpleasant ultrasonic sounds that are only detected by rats and not people.

Another natural approach is to apply strongly scented homemade sprays around your garden. These can be made by mixing water with eucalyptus and citronella oils, vinegar or cayenne pepper. Use this method with caution, however, if you have pets.

With the weather cooling down, the last thing you need to worry about is rats running around your home and leaving a mess.

Rest assured, Allstate has you covered.

Our friendly and highly trained pest technicians are always fully equipped with modern and targeted treatments to successfully resolve rat problems in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

Since 1986, Allstate has provided premium pest control services to all suburbs of Adelaide.

We’re available 24/7 for urgent enquiries and offer payment plans and competitive warranties on all our treatments.

Don’t let a few rats turn into a full blown infestation and ruin your cosy winter plans – reach out to Allstate today.

Yes, and it’s not pleasant. Rat droppings and rat urine emit a strong musky smell, especially when there’s a large number of fresh droppings. That odour can linger in enclosed spaces and may be your first clue that rats are nesting nearby.

In addition to the unpleasant rat poop smell, their waste contains harmful bacteria that can contribute to poor indoor air quality and even pose serious health risks.

Knowing how to identify rat poop can help you act quickly. Here’s what to look for:

• Quantity: Rats defecate frequently. Finding a lot of droppings in a small area? That’s a red flag.
• Location: Find rat poop near food sources, walls, roof voids, or under furniture.
• Fresh vs old: Fresh rat poop is shiny and soft, while old droppings are dry, crumbly, and dull. This can tell you if the infestation is active.
• Dropping size: Larger droppings likely mean adult rats, while smaller droppings could mean babies—or mice.

One or two droppings may indicate a curious visitor. But clusters? That’s usually a sign of a growing rat infestation. Don’t ignore it.

Keep an eye out for other signs of rodents too: gnaw marks, musky smell, noises in the roof at night, rat urine stains, or sightings of a dead rodent.

Rats and mice are most active at night, and they love warm, food-rich environments. Rats love pet food, grains, and crumbs—so keep all food sealed and stored properly.

What does rat poop look like compared to mice or possum droppings?

Rat poop is larger (12–18 mm long) while mice droppings are smaller and pointy. Possum droppings are more cylindrical and often mistaken for rat droppings, but they’re usually larger, more clumped, and found outdoors near trees or roofs. Location and shape help differentiate them.

Is rat poop dangerous to touch?

Yes. Rat faeces can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Always use rubber gloves and avoid direct contact with the substance. Inhaling dust from dried droppings can also pose serious health risks, such as lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), which has been reported in Australia and is associated with exposure to rodent droppings and urine in poorly ventilated areas.

How can I tell if rat poop is fresh or old?

Fresh rat poop is soft, shiny, and dark. Old droppings look grey, dry, and are easily crushed. The condition of the droppings can indicate if the infestation is still active.

Where do rats usually leave their droppings?

Rat droppings are often found near food, in roof spaces, wall cavities, behind kitchen appliances, or along skirting boards. Rats defecate near their nesting and feeding sites.

What are the safest ways to get rid of rat droppings?

Use rubber gloves, a paper towel, and a bleach solution. Never vacuum or sweep. Dispose of waste in a sealed plastic bag and disinfect the area thoroughly. Contact us at Allstate Pest Control to remove the rats or mice.