What Will Keep Rats Away? - Keep Your Garden Tidy
If you are wondering what will keep rats away then you need to consider a combination of prevention, deterrence and, as a last resort, elimination. Here are some things that you can do.
Remove anything from the area which will be attracting them. You will find rats in an area because they have found food, water or shelter. Get rid of these and you will keep rats away.
Seal food in air tight containers, clean up any spilt food, however small, as soon as possible.
Don't leave trash lying around and empty bins frequently. Don't leave any standing water, dry up puddles, fix leaky taps and prevent access to bird baths.
Get rid of clutter in garages, sheds and basements as they will use these to hide and make nests.
Seal up entry points. Rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter. Make sure you use something that they can't chew through to block up the holes.
Steel wool, hardware cloth or metal flashing is ideal.
Seal cracks around doors, pipes, windows and vents.
Install draft excluders and door sweeps on external doors.
Use natural repellents to deter them. These have a smell which is strong and unpleasant to the rats. They can work for a while but the smell will fade and rats and mice can get used to them.
Examples include ammonia, peppermint oil, vinegar, cloves, cayenne pepper and other chili derivatives.
Keep outdoor areas clear. Cut grass short and don't leave piles of wood or debris where rats can get to them.
Store wood in sealed containers or at least 12 inches off the ground, away from walls. This will prevent rats accessing it.
Cut back dense vegetation close to your home as this provides cover where they can hide.
Try ultrasonic repellents. These emit high frequency sounds which can deter rats. Again, like the natural repellent, evidence can get used to them over time.
Conventional pest control methods such as traps and poisons. Snap traps can be more humane as they minimize suffering of animals, although they can trap their limbs rather than killing a rat outright.
Electric traps can kill rats instantly as well
Llive traps require rodents to be relocated a long way away.
Poisons are not good as they lead to prolonged suffering of the rodents as they can take some time to die. If the rats are eaten the poison enters into the food chain and can harm animals which eat them.
If you kill all the rats and mice in an area it leaves an opening for others to fill. They will follow the scent left and, before you know it, the problem has returned.
RatMat is great when all else fails. It stands out from both conventional pest control methods and natural repellents. It is ideal if you were wondering what will keep rats away. This is because it gives you a humane, proactive and low maintenance barrier which keeps rodents away before damage occurs. It consists of electric fence style tiles on the floor which deliver a low energy electric pulse (about 0.4 W). This trains rats to avoid the area, in a similar way to how field mice learn to avoid electric fences. Rodents can sense the electric field and will keep away, if they actually receive a shock they won't go near the area again.
RatMat is modular and scalable to fit entry points in garages, industrial units and supermarkets. It can be used as a perimeter around servers and cars. It can be used with both mains and solar power.
RatMat provides continuous protection unlike poisons, traps and deterrents which need frequent maintenance. If you miss one rat the problem continues. There are no deaths, toxins or risks to pets and wildlife. This is unlike poisons and traps which can harm non-target animals. Chemicals can bioaccumulate and traps cause injury and suffering to rodents. The system is far more effective than ultrasonic devices and other repellents. It can often be 100% effective in many situations.
Pest pro Andy Elford installed it in a rodent‑infested garage where poisons and CO₂ traps failed. Activity stopped entirely after installation. It has also been featured in BBC’s Rip Off Britain (Feb 2025), where pest experts demonstrated RatMat around a van. Independent expert Shawn Woods called it “one of the best products out there for protecting your vehicle from rodent damage”. His YouTube channel 'Mousetrap Monday' is renowned for high-quality reviews of pest control methods.
The system is best for many situations as it uses a prevention first approach. There are no toxic recipes or dead animals to dispose of making the system ideal for organic farms, storage of food and in public spaces. Although the system is more expensive than DIY methods it will save money on repeated pest control controller visits. It will also be far more effective. The system is extremely durable. One has been installed in a warehouse where it has had more than 150,000 passes of a forklift with no failure.
In summary; RatMat delivers a powerful preventative barrier that will deter rodents permanently. It works continuously with minimal maintenance, is nontoxic, humane and eco-friendly. It holds its ground in industrial settings and saves money on repeated repairs and recurrent pest control visits. RatMat is a modern, reliable and long lasting solution. It has clear advantages over conventional methods. Please click on ‘Buy Now’ above to find your nearest stockist.