Experts reveal 24p hack to keep rats and mice out of your home and garden

There are solutions that don't cost a fortune

As the warmer weather arrives, we see more insects, bugs and wildlife in out gardens. One of the reasons for this is higher temperatures can lead to faster growth and blooming, offering more food and shelter for wildlife.

While some animals may be welcomed into gardens, there are others people are less likely to be happy to see. For many, rats and mice can be a huge problem.

According to DIY experts at Saxton Blades, pest control can cost Brits up to £240, but they are encouraging people to use a "simple solution" that costs just 24p.

DIY expert Glen Peskett says a kitchen favourite may be the answer to ridding your homes and gardens from mice and rats. He says: "Rats rely heavily on their sense of smell to navigate and find food. Garlic, with its strong sulfur compounds, overwhelms their sense of smell and makes them feel disoriented. These compounds are also something rats associate with toxic substances, naturally deterring them from entering your home.”

The experts suggest placing garlic cloves around entry points in your home, as well as any cracks and doorways around the outside of your home.

If you don't have garlic cloves, other potential solutions you can try are garlic oil, cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar, all of which have strong scents which will irritate rodents.

The species, although naturally nocturnal, are known to appear during the day too. They are prolific breeders and the house mouse is often found in homes or gardens.

They can occupy houses at any time of the year throughout Britain. All species of mice and rat, except the black rat, are skilled climbers and swimmers which allows them to access multiple habitats. Brown rats are known to live in sewers.

The RSPCA has also issued advice on their website for the best ways to humanely deter rats and mice from homes and gardens. According to the charity, the best ways of deterring rats and mice from inside homes includes cleaning overlooked areas of your kitchen.

The animals can live off nothing more than crumbs. Food containers such as cereals should not be kept out and dog bowls should be put away overnight. RSPCA outlines changes to make if you want to reduce the appearance of the rodents:

• Reducing or removing any accessible food sources and ensuring food containers are airtight

• Cleaning up after feeding wildlife or taking a break from leaving it out altogether

• Plant repellents are known to help keep rodents at bay

• Grass, shrubs and other greenery close to the house should be cropped and kept short

• Keep storage areas tidy

• Move furniture around - rats and mice have a deep fear of new things or change