# Gimme the skinny on mice vs. peppermint.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-the-skinny-on-mice-vs-peppermint/95587>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 27, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-the-skinny-on-mice-vs-peppermint/95587 "2001-11-27T21:05:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-the-skinny-on-mice-vs-peppermint/95587/1 "2001-11-27T21:05:04Z")

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I’m trying to find out just how effective peppermint is at repelling mice. Google searching turns up a few tips to repel mice using peppermint oil, but very few testimonials. So, here are a few questions:

1. What types of (walk-in) stores sell peppermint oil?

2. Does peppermint tea work, too? Bags? Brewed? (I put fresh bags of peppermint tea in my computer every few days; hopefully the heat plus the leaves plus the fans makes my computer a very unattractive place for mice.)

3. Do mice ever overcome their hatred of peppermint?

There were a few mice threads on this board a while back:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=59647](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=59647)  
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=10226](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=10226)

But there was only a passing mention of peppermint.

And…GO!

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**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-the-skinny-on-mice-vs-peppermint/95587/2 "2001-11-27T21:10:53Z")

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No clue about the peppermint, but I have to ask. You had mice in your computer?

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**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-the-skinny-on-mice-vs-peppermint/95587/3 "2001-11-27T21:14:53Z")

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In my old one, oh yeah. Since it was warm and dark and shoved up against the wall, they must have loved it in there. When I gutted it for parts for my new computer, I found a lot of mouse turds and those sticky waste piles that they create.

Dis-gusting.

I lovingly assembled my new computer, and it runs too hot to keep the case shut, so I have to take extra precautions with this one.

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**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-the-skinny-on-mice-vs-peppermint/95587/4 "2001-11-27T21:32:23Z")

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This site offers some suggestions. I don’t think the one about the cat litter will work for you, though, unless you’re really in dire need.

Sounds like you need something stronger than teabags, though.

[http://www.thefunplace.com/house/tips/hhtips.html](http://www.thefunplace.com/house/tips/hhtips.html)