For those struggling with a mouse infestation, a simple solution might lie with a particular everyday houseplant.

For the unfortunate among us, the perils of a household mouse infestation will present themselves at one point or another. The evidence will be there to see, with gnawed-at furnishings and unsanitary droppings all pointing towards a rodent culprit. But is there a simple way to protect our homes from these crafty critters?

Of course, there are traps and poisons available which can help to solve the mouse population inside your invaded home. But these tend to cost money – and many could be considered inhumane and ultimately damaging to the surrounding environment. Instead, you might want to take an alternative method into consideration.

The peppermint plant is a pleasant addition to anybody’s home, thanks largely to its delectable scent. But it’s also said to drive away all manner of bugs from its surrounding vicinity. And on top of that, some people believe that it’s great for keeping away mice. But for this measure to be truly effective, you might need to be proactive.

In 2012 a YouTube channel called BulkHerbStore uploaded a clip explaining how to concoct a peppermint solution to ward off mice. Set inside a kitchen, the host of the video tells us to add a large handful of dried peppermint to hot water. The strength of the eventual solution will depend on how much peppermint is used here. After this, the liquid should be strained and poured inside a spray bottle. Then, you can use the bottle to diffuse the peppermint solution around the house.

The overall effectiveness of this peppermint solution has been debated in the video’s comments section. One person was very positive, stating, “Believe it or not, people, this works! I banished a bunch of mice from my home using peppermint oil – they hate it!” On the other hand though, another person wrote bluntly, “Um, don’t waste your time, this doesn’t work.” Ultimately then, you’ll have to give it a try for yourself and see how you fare.