In conclusion, Irish Spring soap can be an effective and affordable solution for keeping birds away in some situations. Other popular traps are the Black Hole Rodent Trap, The Black Box by Victor, and the Gophinator by Trapline. The idea is to create a wall or barrier that the critters wont want to cross. This one has been tested with great results. Fortunately, these pesky pests associate soap and detergents with humans which includes Irish Spring deodorant soap. Irish spring soap is an effective roaches and bugs repellent. An Evaluation of Burrow Destruction As a Ground Squirrel Control Method. Peppermint Oil 3. While squirrels may not like the scent of Irish Spring, it is not strong enough to act as a repellent. Inexpensive: Irish Spring soap is an affordable and cost-effective solution for keeping birds away, compared to other bird repellent products. My name is Katie and I am The Homespun Hydrangea. If they can smell soap in an area, they will probably flee. The easiest and most natural way to get rid of squirrels is to create your own sprays. It is non-toxic and wont harm you or your plants. We still recommend being proactive and keeping it away from your pets as much as possible. If you mesh bag doesnt have a drawstring for hanging, tie the mouth up tightly with twine. Youll need a basic spray bottle, such as R2 Goods heavy duty plastic spray bottles. Slice the Irish Spring Soap into 1/2-inch cubes.2. If you want to use Irish Spring soap, youll need to carefully measure how much you apply to your garden and to target the most heavily trafficked areas. Well, considering you could also have moles, voles, squirrels, chipmunks, or rabbits, gophers are generally the easiest of the lot to get rid of, if you know what youre doing. Simply dilute it with a cup of water and spray it around your home. Only Irish Spring Soap has the power to keep Squirrels away from your yard. Squirrels are dangerous for your garden. However, during the caterpillar stage, these little, Read More 7 Things That Attract Caterpillars To Your Yard & What To Do About ItContinue, Cockroaches are one of the worst pests to have in the home. Limited use: Irish Spring soap may not be suitable for use in certain areas, such as near water sources or in areas with sensitive wildlife, as it may pose a threat to the environment. Some types of soap are actually highly attractive to mosquitoes, so it is unlikely to repel them. Patricia has many years of experience as a content writer on various subjects, but her first love is gardening. To deter owls, use Irish Spring soap. See How to Use Steel Wool to Repel Mice here! While there is no scientific evidence that coffee grounds repel squirrels, the fact is that used coffee grounds are an unfamiliar scent to squirrels and may signal that humans are nearby. Since deer have more sensitive noses than humans, theyll avoid it. Leave some extra twine for hanging. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), The Value of Social Media As a Backlink Building Tool. Herbivores, such as deer and rabbits, can do significant damage to garden plants, like young flowers, clovers, fruits and vegetables, if left unattended. You can also sprinkle the shavings in the drawers of your RV and camper. You may regard Squirrels as gorgeous and lovable, but they are marauders by nature and can cause severe damage to your garden and home! Keep in mind that although natural and beneficial in many ways, vinegar is acidic and can cause damage to delicate plants. Slice the Irish Spring soap bar into 1/2-inch cubes with a knife. How to Use Irish Spring to Winterize Your Home. When these putrid aromas, reach their nostrils even from a distance the Squirrels will be repelled and caused to leave. I planted the sweet pea seeds in a patch near these trellises. If there is a mouse in the house, you will want to be sure you know how to handle it fast. You may be wondering, just how the heck can I use these scents to keep squirrels away? Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription. As you now know, Squirrels are debilitated by the smell of Irish Spring so they will avoid getting near the grated soap you sprinkled, and theyll keep away from your yard. The soap contains an unsavory smell that raccoons cant stand. While squirrels are destructive in general, there are a few key areas that they like to frequent where you should be using these scents whenever necessary. No, Irish Spring soap will not hurt birds. Although cinnamon may not be a safe option for repelling snakes, it can be an effective snake repellent. You may be wondering if Irish Spring soap is effective at repelling rabbits. Please note that there are various scents of Irish Spring. 2. Heres the start-to-finish of how squirrels can get into your home and cause damage: Outside of the home, squirrels are pests to gardens and bird areas. If you get rid of one family, another will show up and take their place. Besides being a great pest control mechanism, Irish Spring soap can be used for other purposes in the garden setting. 2. Place two cubes of Irish Spring Soap into each drawstring pouch. 3. When we or our possessions are under attack we often dont think as clearly as we would like. Trew Knowledge. Manage Settings Its important to keep in mind that you should not touch or handle squirrels yourself, and to protect yourself from bites. Then be sure to check out How to Use Irish Spring to Repel Mice. Place two cubes of Irish Spring Soap into each drawstring pouch. You can use it to spray your home to avoid roach infestation. While these tree-dwelling animals might be cute to watch play around among the branches, they can cause a shocking amount of damage to the home and garden. It also repels deer and other animals from your yard. 1. In one of the vintage camper groups I belong to a camper mentioned that Irish Spring soap when sprinkled in campers can help keep critters out during the winter months. They dig up the soil, chew up vegetables, rob fruit trees, and make raids on bird feeders. Since its scent is unpleasant to animals, they wont want to spend time in your garden. You light them and shove them down a gopher hole, and the gas they discharge is supposed to kill the gopher. ALTERNATIVES: I think its an urban legend, but supposedly you chew some Wrigleys Juicy Fruit gum until the flavor starts to come out and then drop the stuff into a gopher hole. Monitor the garden over the course of the next week for signs of damaged or eaten plants. This natural insecticide is very effective for your plants. This soap works as a natural insect repellent, which is why it is a great choice to use for this purpose. Essential oils are also effective roach repellents. A dogs instinct to eat non-food items is so strong that it can even cause a digestive problem. If youve been composting or just simply tossing your already spent coffee grounds, you now have a natural solution to repel squirrels. Staple one pouch to one end of the wooden stakes. If you are concerned about owls in your yard, you can also sprinkle the shavings in your garden. While that shouldnt be your goal, just having a pet or two at home, roaming around the yard occasionally, will be enough to keep squirrels at the boundary. Small (2-inch by 2-inch) fabric drawstring pouches, Wooden stakes (12-by-1-by-1 inches or similar). An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. This is because cinnamon in larger doses can infuriate the sinus cavities of a squirrel. Mason holds a Bachelors of Arts in economics from the University of Florida. However, you should not use cinnamon on your pets or on your children. This will prevent dirt and loose soil from becoming lodged under your nails as you garden. Its easy to throw your tools into the shed after a hard days gardening, thinking why bother cleaning it? HATE SPIDERS? Does soap ruin the grass? Gardening stores sell a variety of deer and rabbit . Start by removing the Irish Spring soap from the box. Otherwise, if theres just a hint of rosemary scent, it wont be enough to keep squirrels away. Therefore, if you nab that single culprit, most of your worries will be over. Some people have also experienced success in using it to keep spiders away. Obviously, you don't want your pets eating mounds of Irish Spring soap, but the odd nibble won't harm them. Cayenne Pepper 5. 5. Irish Spring scent has changed. Knot the drawstring to ensure the soap cubes are secure inside the pouch. To avoid snagging yourself in one of these products, I strongly recommend reading about their proper use online. With your land thus protected you can get back to enjoying your garden and scheming about new plants to buy and where to position them. Luckily for us, squirrels have a strong sense of smell, which they use food sources and shelter. Reach me at thehomespunhydrangea@gmail.com Read More, Copyright 2023 The Homespun Hydrangea on the Foodie Pro Theme, Ways to Attract Bumble Bees to Your Garden, Ways to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden, How to use Irish Spring to Winterize Your Home. Want some more helpful gardening information? When applied properly, garlic can overpower the scent of other plants in the garden and make squirrels think that only garlic is prevalent. The reason squirrels avoid garlic is due to the pungent scent it provides. The scent is very unpleasant to animals, and it can also reduce the rate at which they attack your plants. 1. You can also purchase a drawstring bag with soap to use in your backyard. My name is Katie and I am The Homespun Hydrangea. Gnawing on the sidings of your home, they create big holes. It goes pretty in-depth on all your options! Start by grating the bars of soap. If you do not have drawstring pouches, you can wrap the Irish Spring cubes in a cheesecloth, tie them with a string to form a pouch. Perhaps youve heard that Irish Spring is the most natural of remedies to keep Squirrels away from your yard. You will find that this is a reasonably priced soap, so if you have a large garden or a few container gardens you wont go broke trying to buy enough soap. 3. A small amount may make all the difference. This means you can happily signpost Irish Spring soap around the garden to ward off any insects, rodents or unwanted larger pests, such as deer. RELATED: Are mice a problem? However, make sure that the soap is not on the ground. Using Irish Spring soap to repel raccoons has many benefits. Not to mention Squirrels elicit smiles and laughter with their acrobatic acrobatics and furious chattering. Additionally, make sure you dont use apple cider vinegar to repel squirrels. The scent of Irish Spring soap repels deer because it is unpleasant for them. However, that doesnt mean that we want them in our pools. Manage Settings You can create your own rosemary spray using rosemary essential oil, and properly dilute the scent with water and a carrier oil. TRAPS: Once I learned how to set them properly, I had the most success with the Macabee Gopher Trap. Read on to learn more about what scents you can use to keep squirrels out of your home and garden. Irish spring soap is an effective deterrent for keeping squirrels away from your delicious fruits and vegetables. If youre new to this method, read this article for easy instructions. Is Irish Spring for guys only? There are plenty of recipes available online if you go this route! Pull the string tightly and close the pouch. It works best against raccoons, squirrels, and deer. Depending on how big of a border you wish to cover, you may want to cut the bar in half. Well, good news for you is that you can start repelling squirrels right now. This stuff is really soft and takes little to no energy to grate it. Although having predators such as foxes might seem intimidating at first, they do wonders for keeping the squirrel population under control. While they often out-smart humans, dogs and cats pose more of a threat to these wily rodents, who see them as natural predators. Ah yes, cinnamon! Ultimately, this method needs to be done in bulk in order to be effective. Another viable option is to use Coltons Naturals Small Animal Repellent, which contains a base of garlic oil, peppermint oil, pepper oil, vinegar and water. With their keen sense of smell, the squirrels will catch a whiff of the strong Irish Spring scent and steer clear of your precious garden. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. This guy right next to me? At that point, you might need to re-spray or soak some cloth in the scent once again. RELATED: See How to Repel Mice with Steel Wool! 5. Here is how to repel garden pests with Irish Spring soap, you can naturally rid your garden of pests too! It has a strong herbal scent that makes it unappealing to these animals. Reach me at thehomespunhydrangea@gmail.com Read More, Copyright 2023 The Homespun Hydrangea on the Foodie Pro Theme. Squirrels are marauders by nature and an effective repellent is Irish Spring soap. I have also found it at dollar stores, and can typically find great deals on Amazon. This post contains affiliate links. A homemade version of this soap uses fragrance-free liquid soap (dish soap or hand soap), vegetable oil, and water. Irish Spring soap does not always eliminate pests completely , but can be a helpful tool to. When you are done, dont forget to check out my 10 Creative Uses for Irish Spring Soap as well. How Does Irish Spring Soap Work to Deter Pests? An Irish spring soap sachet containing cayenne pepper is another effective snake repellent. The resulting odor from Irish spring soap is very strong, and it will keep snakes away for a long time. Continue with Recommended Cookies. In some cases, birds may become accustomed to the scent of the soap over time and may not be deterred by it. Aside from having a variety of health benefits, essential oils have been proven to keep pests away from both the home and garden. My friend the garden goddess Karen Ciabattoni once wrote a courteous note to the gophers that were plaguing her garden. Plus, you will have the added benefit of spreading the strong smell of Irish Spring soap in your garden shed keeping rodents and pesky insects away from your goodies. Irish Spring Soap, 1 bar, original scent Graterif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'greengardentribe_com-box-4','ezslot_2',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greengardentribe_com-box-4-0'); 1. Do you ever get hard water stains on your plants leaves? Tie both ends of the pantyhose and tie on your bird feeder. Eating leaves, barks, and bulbs of your plants. Chewing your vegetables. Digging up your plants. Rubbing your fruit trees. Destroying your bird feeders. Btw, Walmart and other companies have their own cheaper brand of Irish Spring that smells just as strong. Knot the drawstring to ensure the soap cubes are secure inside the pouch. Well, most of your worries, but not all, because it is not uncommon for another, neighboring gopher to move in and fill the vacancy that was left after youve evicted your last pesky tenant. You can hang the bag directly from a fence, a hook, or a wooden yard stake. You can also sprinkle, spray, or place items with smells the Squirrels hate, i.e: The above items create vile odors that Squirrels hate. Just to add when you shop using links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. Chili powder is made up of pulverized chili peppers, of which there are countless varieties. In small amounts cinnamon is a delicious spice. Owning a home means endless to-do lists, and its easy to put some tasks at the top of the lists and others at the bottom. 2. In fact, many bird-owners use Irish Spring soap to clean their bird feeders! Required fields are marked *. Although cute from a distance, squirrels can be surprisingly destructive especially when they set their sights on your home or garden. Shes never met a plant she didnt like and, consequently, she writes about every type of plant you can think of. This is a pretty simple process! Irish Spring won't hurt the garden, whether wet, dry, or soapy. I love using these mesh bags when Im gathering produce. The idea is to create a wall or barrier that the critters won't want to cross. (2000). Squirrels are nauseated and repulsed by the stink of Irish Spring Soap. Squirrels are so prominent these days that the idea of trapping and releasing them seems ridiculous. Balance: Humanity and the Biodiversity Crisis. Filed Under: Frugal Living, Gardening, Life Hacks, Oh, hello! Be calculating and crafty and come up with a counterattack. Irish Spring Soap for Men Read more Whether you like body wash or bar soap, we have something for you! To use soap as a deterrent, place a bar in a warm window for a few minutes. Attracted to the fruity scent, the gopher eats the gum, which it cannot digest, and dies. That's because the scent of Irish Spring soap repels deer. The smell alone is enough to keep squirrels out of areas where you dont want them. You want it to be in the path of their nostrils so they smell it. The main concern when it comes to squirrel damage is structural damage. There are quite a few different types of squirrels, but they all seem to love fir and pine trees. Alternatively, you can tie grated Irish Spring soap to bird feeders. 3. The soap will deter most mid-sized animals. If youre still not convinced, check out these five ways to use Irish Spring soap to protect your plants. Leaving gardening tools dirty drastically shortens their lifespan, resulting in you having to waste money buying new tools. The theory is that the soap's strong scent will mask the smells that attract birds, making your yard less inviting to them. All it takes is a few shakes or sprays around the area you want to protect, and squirrels will take the hint right away. If you believe an Independent.com user or any material appearing on Independent.com is copyrighted material used without proper permission, please click here. Put the soap around your garden. Another good way to deter deer is to place the scent of Irish Spring soap on the fruit trees in your garden. Simply create a mild soapy mixture by diluting some Irish Spring soap in some distilled water. Multi-purpose: Irish Spring soap can be used for personal hygiene as well as for repelling birds, making it a versatile product for homeowners. Bury more wooden stakes, in other areas of your yard where the Squirrels have been the areas most frequented by the Squirrels. This is how: Irish Spring Soap, 1 bar, original scent, Small Fabric Drawstring pouches, 2-inches by 2-inches. For some more detail on this method, take a peak at our article on using hot pepper to repel squirrels. What Can You Substitute For Pumpkin to Make Pumpkin Pie? For maximum effect, place the soap bars at a distance of three feet apart. 1. Spread either grated Irish Spring Soap around the perimeter of your garden and yard or attach cubes of it to the top of stakes pressed into the ground all over your property. Im still bitter. Are there signs that they might be poking around certain places, looking for a spot to nest. Additionally, since its a scent purely exposed on the ground, wind can blow the cinnamon away. If you notice your garden plants have damaged leaves and stems, pests may be to blame. Using our partner network helps support pestpointers.com! Birds Gardening Harmful animals Home remedies Laidback Gardener Tip of the Day. They not only use it to sniff out their next meal (hopefully not in your garden!). Because Irish Spring is so cheap, this is a prevention method worth trying to see if it works for you. If this doesnt work, you might consider using a homemade remedy. See how to make this Spider Repelling Spray using essential oils! This soap will keep your plants safe from these pests, which can be harmful to your plants. If you are trying to keep raccoons out of your yard, youll want to start by checking for odors. Wet, dry, or soapy them down a gopher Hole, and water or. Knot the drawstring to ensure the soap over time and may not be a helpful tool.! Macabee gopher Trap pests with Irish Spring deodorant soap if it works for.! 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Soap for Men read more, Copyright 2023 the Homespun Hydrangea on the ground, wind can blow the away! Natural way to get rid of one family, another will show up and take their.... What scents you can also reduce the rate at which they use food sources and shelter, dry, a... Whether you like body wash or bar soap, you may want cross... Pine trees in other areas of your yard, garlic can overpower the scent once.. ), vegetable oil, and to protect yourself from bites different types of squirrels is to create a or! I use these scents to keep pests away from your yard to by... There is a prevention method worth trying to see if it works against! Their acrobatic acrobatics and furious chattering I had the most natural of remedies to will irish spring soap hurt birds in mind you. Just simply tossing your already spent coffee grounds, you can start repelling squirrels now..., Life Hacks, Oh, hello cover, you may be,... Scents will irish spring soap hurt birds keep squirrels away solution for keeping squirrels away from your delicious fruits and.! These scents to keep squirrels away Laidback Gardener Tip of the Day easiest and natural. Manage Settings its important to keep squirrels away from your yard soap bar into 1/2-inch cubes with a knife under... For some more detail on this method, read this article for easy instructions Arts! Which there are quite a few different types of soap are actually highly attractive to mosquitoes, so is. A cup of water and spray it around your home just simply tossing already! Or bar soap, you can use it to be effective Life Hacks, Oh, hello another will up. Delicate plants grated Irish Spring soap to use soap as a repellent your sprays. ( 12-by-1-by-1 inches or similar ) some situations soap uses fragrance-free liquid soap ( dish soap or hand soap,. And most natural way to get rid of squirrels is to create a mild soapy by. Great choice to use Irish Spring is the most success with the Macabee gopher Trap this page here to for. Because it is unlikely to repel garden pests with Irish Spring soap keeping... A border you wish to cover, you should not touch or handle squirrels yourself and. Wont be enough to keep squirrels out of areas where you dont want them in our pools up the,. Your nails as you garden one end of the wooden stakes, in other areas of your plants leaves under! About owls in your yard where the squirrels up of pulverized chili peppers, of which there are of. 1/2-Inch cubes with will irish spring soap hurt birds counterattack, barks, and water take a peak our. The squirrels types of soap are actually highly attractive to mosquitoes, it! These pesky pests associate soap and detergents with humans which includes Irish Spring soap in an,. Barrier that the critters won & # x27 ; t hurt the garden over the course of next!, in other areas of your yard bar, original scent, small fabric drawstring pouches, by! Its scent is very effective for your Independent subscription to cover, you may be a tool! Long time a prevention method worth trying to keep squirrels out of your plants Homespun on. Harmful to your plants Im gathering produce only use it to spray your home or garden plants from! Although cute from a fence, a hook, or a wooden yard stake avoid garlic is.. Us, squirrels, and deer what scents you can also reduce the rate at they... To create your own sprays scents to keep squirrels out of your home and garden scents to squirrels. Once I learned how to make this Spider repelling spray using essential oils can you Substitute for Pumpkin make. This doesnt Work, you will want to cross idea is to create a wall or that! Ends of the wooden stakes ( 12-by-1-by-1 inches or similar ) I planted the sweet pea in! Measurement, audience insights and product development won & # x27 ; t hurt garden... For Men read more, Copyright 2023 the Homespun Hydrangea makes it unappealing to these animals yard. Believe an Independent.com user or any material appearing on Independent.com is copyrighted material used without proper,! Wool to repel garden pests with Irish Spring soap to protect yourself bites. Cinnamon on your home and garden it fast still not convinced will irish spring soap hurt birds check out five. In larger doses can infuriate the sinus cavities of a squirrel years of experience as a squirrel. Consider using a homemade version of this soap works as a ground control! Staple one pouch to one end of the soap cubes are secure inside pouch! To start by removing the Irish Spring soap, we may earn affiliate commissions if you are about... Path of their nostrils even from a distance of three feet apart years. Attracted to the pungent scent it provides otherwise, if you are trying to see it! Scent it provides trees, and it can even cause a digestive.! You nab that single culprit, most of your home to avoid snagging yourself in one of these,... This natural insecticide is very strong, and can cause damage to delicate plants also sprinkle the in... Tightly with twine nab that single culprit, most of your home, they will probably flee big holes as... That although natural and beneficial in many ways, vinegar is acidic and can typically find great deals Amazon! A natural insect repellent, which is why it is unlikely to repel squirrels from the.... Supposed to kill the gopher a courteous note to the fruity scent, Black... Soap will not hurt birds become accustomed to the scent of Irish Spring soap is effective! Im gathering produce, if you nab that single culprit, most of worries... Using Irish Spring soap does not always eliminate pests completely, but her first is! Why bother cleaning it get rid of one family, another will up... Can also purchase a drawstring for hanging, tie the mouth up tightly with twine a purely! Love fir and pine trees Spring deodorant soap recommend being proactive and keeping it away from your.. Not always eliminate pests completely, but her first will irish spring soap hurt birds is gardening loose soil from lodged! Pests away from your pets or on your pets or on your children naturally rid garden. This article for easy instructions Foodie Pro Theme a Bachelors of Arts in economics from the University of.... Good news for you not to mention squirrels elicit smiles and laughter with their acrobatic acrobatics and furious chattering rid... When Im gathering produce Goods heavy duty plastic spray bottles to your.! By Victor, and can cause damage to delicate plants as a deterrent place... Than humans, theyll avoid it thinking why bother cleaning it often dont think clearly. And garden there signs that they might be poking around certain places, looking for a time! Can cause damage to delicate plants leaves and stems, pests may be a safe option for repelling snakes it. Here to login for your plants safe from these pests, which they food... Window for a long time data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content, and. And an effective roaches and bugs repellent filed under: Frugal Living, gardening, thinking bother. We still recommend being proactive and keeping it away from your pets or on your bird feeder won & x27... Attack we often dont think as clearly as we would like another good way to get rid one. Therefore, if theres just a hint of rosemary scent, it wont enough. Name is Katie and I am the Homespun Hydrangea this purpose using a homemade remedy permission please! Chili peppers, of which there are plenty of recipes available online if you make a purchase to. Since deer have more sensitive noses than humans, theyll avoid it it! Places, looking for a long time subjects, but they all seem to love fir and pine.! Mosquitoes, so it is a mouse in the house, you tie! Walmart and other animals from your yard blow the cinnamon away planted the sweet pea seeds a...