Mothballs

• Mothballs are a common household item that is typically used to prevent the destruction of clothes caused by moths, which eat the natural fibers found in your wardrobe. Mothballs emit a very strong odor as a result of the chemical used to create the repellent. These fumes have also been found to repel rats. Because the size of a rat is significantly larger than a clothes moth, you will want to place a couple of mothballs next to the outside corners of your house and any other area susceptible to rats. You can place them directly on the ground or in a small, well-ventilated cup. For increased protection, you can put mothballs at close intervals around the entire perimeter of the house.
  
  

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

• Toilet bowl cleaner is also an effective rat repellent. Because this solution will dissolve if you put it directly on the ground, you will want to store it in a ventilated jar. You can use a small glass jar with holes poked through the lid to allow the fumes to disperse. Place one jar at all four outside corners of the house.
  
  

Cat Litter

• Using cat litter as a homemade rat repellent is one of the most popular methods for riding your home and yard of rats. Because cat litter resembles small pellets of gravel, you can sprinkle it around your house without causing any noticeable aesthetic changes. For mild protection, sprinkle a cup of cat litter onto the ground in spacious intervals around your home. If you have a high population of rats in your community, sprinkle the cat litter around the entire exterior of the house.