Mrs Hinch fans go wild over a 98p trick to deter rats from your garden – they will avoid it like the plague

FANS of the cleaning sensation, Mrs Hinch, are going crazy over a trick to deter rats from your garden – and it only costs 98p.

Spotting a rat in your backyard is never a pleasant surprise, especially when it turns into an infestation.

Not only do these creatures wreak havoc in gardens, digging holes, eating their way through fences and sheds, but they can also spread dangerous diseases.

Often found in sheds, greenhouses, beneath decking or rummaging through compost heaps, rats are a common problem for many gardeners.

Luckily, fans of Mrs Hinch have come to rescue, sharing an inexpensive hack that will deter rats from entering your garden, .

Mrs Hinch, whose real name is Sophie Hinchliffe, 32, has long been a favourite amongst fellow cleaning enthusiasts, with close to 4.5 million followers on .

The star rose to fame a few years ago with various home hacks and now her fans have even started dedicated cleaning pages on social media.

In one such group,  on Facebook, a member sought advice: “My neighbours have a disgusting garden.

“They’ve got rats, how can I prevent them coming into my garden.”

Fortunately for Vickie – and everyone else dealing with the same issue – the post received more than 180 comments from fellow cleaning enthusiasts.

The most common recommendation was to use peppermint oil or peppermint-scented mouthwash to deter the animal.

One mum replied: “My kids excessively love to feed the birds never had an issue until the house next door had major works done.

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“We ended up with rats and mice.

“The only thing we found that worked were traps and peppermint oil, they will avoid it like the plague!

“We only saw them for one summer. Two summers later and we still haven’t found new evidence and kids still feed the birds.”

A second member of the popular group replied: ”Peppermint oil around the perimeter of your garden works and block up any holes that are in your fence so it stops the rat from getting in your garden.

“If they are in housing association property call the HA or the council to report how bad their garden is and that there is rats and they will come out to investigate and get them to sort their garden out and get rid of the rats.”

Someone else suggested: “Peppermint along the fence.

“Get plants and drops and little sachet bags.”

Lillian Millar commented: “Peppermint, or where possible, strong bleach.

“Even coffee grounds help. Anything with a powerful aroma.

“Rats don’t have great eyesight, and depend on their sense of smell (which is very strong) a lot.

“They will avoid areas where the smell is too strong. Especially bleach.”

Peppermint oil can be bought from an array of outlets on the internet.

Peppermint Essential Oil Pure and Natural costs £2.19 from Amazon.

Peppermint Mentha Arvensis Essential Oil is 98p from Craftovator.