UK households urged to use 12p item to keep rats out of gardens
An expert has shared some top tips on how to keep rats out of your garden - using just a few household items. One of the items is a kitchen essential that you probably have in your cupboard right now
Gardening buffs are no strangers to battling pests like slugs and snails, but rats present a particularly vexing challenge to those who wish to enjoy their plants in peace.
Robert Collins from MyJobQuote.co.uk has shared his top tips for keeping these unwanted visitors away from your garden. Better yet, it involves a common household item you're likely to have on hand—essential oils stand out as a go-to measure for fending off the pesky rodents.
When it comes to essential oils, Mr Collins recommends: "This is one of the safest and most effective natural ways to get rid of rats. Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Citronella are great examples of essential oils that are brilliant at deterring rats."
He explains that the potent aroma of such essences acts as a deterrent. He adds that you can create a homemade rat-repellent spray by combining an essential oil with water in a spritz bottle.
For anyone eager to try this method, he suggests mixing one part essential oil to nine parts water and spraying the concoction along garden boundaries and spots where rats might frequent, as reported by North Wales Live.
Onions
Mr Collins reveals that you can use onions to deter rats. Their pungent smell can prevent them from wanting to enter the garden.
He recommends slicing few onions and scattering them around your garden's perimeter or any obvious entry points.Onions can be easily sourced from your local supermarket, with prices as low as 21p at Tesco or 95p at Waitrose.
Steel wool
Steel wool can be used to block rats' access to your garden. The expert advised: "If there are any visible access points where you know the rats are entering and exiting from, stuff some steel wool into these gaps.
He continued: "Steel wool is a great barrier as it's difficult for rats to nibble at steel wool. They will eventually give up when they find they can't get through it."
How to seal up entry points for rats?
Mr Collins suggests using steel wool to best seal rat entry points. He advised, "Fill the gaps with steel wool and then put caulk around the steel wool to ensure it stays in place. Alternatively, you can use spray foam to keep it in place." If there are cracks or openings in your walls, you can apply caulking, which will create an airtight seal that protects your home from pests.
He also warns of potential entry points via chimneys. In this case, you should install chimney grates. Although, this is best left to professionals. You should also seal any vents with mouse mesh to prevent access. If there are gaps in your roof, you can also fill these with sealants, roof tar, or tiles.
He added, "Whenever you seal a gap to prevent rats from accessing your property, it's important to always use metal. Rats can chew through most materials."
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Scottish Sun
21 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I tried supermarket chicken kievs – my winner was cheap and had a delicious ingredient that added an amazing crunch
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The breadcrumb coating on Asda's wild garlic kievs crisped up evenly in the oven, providing a satisfying brown crunch without going soggy. And it's 221kcal per 100g, if that's a concern. Visually, these kievs look posh – thick, golden, and well-filled. At almost a fiver for two, they're no bargain, but the generous size, honed recipe and well-balanced flavour justify the higher price for a special weekend dinner. 4/5 Sainsbury's Fresh British Chicken Breaded Kyiv with Garlic & Herb Butter x2 (260g) £3 259 calories per 100g 4 Sainsbury's kievs are great value for money Credit: Peter Jordan What stood out about Sainsbury's two-pack of chicken kievs was that they were almost mess-free. Unlike the others, this garlic and herb butter filling stayed inside the chicken during the oven cooking process, so there was no elbow grease required to wash up the baking tray. Still very buttery, though, and coming in at 259kcal per 100g. The chicken breast was tender and moist, while the breadcrumb coating was satisfyingly crunchy, although not quite as crisp as Aldi's kiev. The herb blend in the butter tastes fresh and perfectly garlicky. This was decent value for the portion size - it fed two adults and a child in our household, and delivers on both taste and looks for a popular midweek meal. 4/5 How to save money on your food shop Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year: Odd boxes - plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price. Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30. Sainsbury's also sells £2 "Taste Me, Don't Waste Me" fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash. Food waste apps - food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public. Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio. Too Good to Go's app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount. Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses. Yellow sticker bargains - yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap. But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here. Super cheap bargains - sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they've found on the cheap, including food finds. "Downshift" - you will almost always save money going for a supermarket's own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands. The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as "downshifting" and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop. Aldi's Sourdough Breaded Wild Garlic & Jersey Butter Chicken Kievs, two pack, (375g) £3.99 221 calories per 100g I was sceptical about whether sourdough was really needed on a chicken kiev or just a bit of foodie buzzword bingo. It sounded like a marketing gimmick - until I bit into the brilliantly crunchy, deep golden crust. Oh, it was delicious. The chicken inside was succulent too, and the garlic butter oozed out perfectly. It seems the sourdough crumb wasn't just for show, as it added a toasty flavour and an extra crunch that set Aldi's chicken kiev apart from those with usual breadcrumb coating. And they come in at 221kcal per 100g. 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Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
I tried own-brand Twister ice lollies – the supermarket winner impressed my kids and cost £1.29 a pack
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Taste: 4/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 7/10 Aldi Gianni's Fruit Spiral Lollies 6 Aldi's lollies are a great cheaper option if you've got less cash spare Credit: Oliver Dixon £1.29 for 5, Aldi (25.8p each) Nutrition per lolly: 54 calories, 0.1g fat, 11g sugar, 0.02g salt Size: 70ml Aldi's spiral lollies tasted a lot fruitier than other options, with delicious notes of orange, pineapple, apple and lemon. The colours were appealing and they were a good size AND an even better price, costing just over 25p each. They did contain some glucose syrup to sweeten them up a bit but I have to say I did like the flavour. Lovely, bargain lollies and a great option for feeding the masses. Taste: 3/5 Value: 5/5 Overall score: 8/10 How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
People are only just realising what's inside a Jammie Dodger biscuit
Jammie Dodgers have been a tea time favourite since 1960 but people are only just learning what makes its delicious filling. The popular British biscuit is made of two round shortbreads sandwiched together by a rich jammy red filling and famously stamped with a small red heart. Jammie Dodgers - which often retail for as little as £1 or less at supermarkets like Asda and Tesco - come in a variety of flavours including raspberry and strawberry. But fans have been left shocked to discover that the beloved sweet snacks contain neither fruit, but rather a totally different one altogether. According to a Facebook post, the popular jammy dodgers achieve their wondrous filling using apple jam. The biscuits also feature a raspberry filling, which gives it the famous taste fans have come to love. Meanwhile the strawberry variation - which comes in a pink packet - also uses apple jam in its ingredients - and likewise contains strawberry flavouring. The specific ingredients of a standard 140g pack of Jammie Dodgers are listed as including 'flour', 'raspberry flavour apple jam', 'apples', 'flavourings' and 'sugar' amongst other things. Responding to the post, one person said the revelations made them 'question' everything they knew. 'Something like this makes one question everything they know and makes their world crash around them' they wrote. 'Actually, a bit like when I painstakingly reassembled my iMac earlier today, and then later found a T10 screw on the kitchen floor. I might treat myself to some Jammie Dodgers later'. It also appears the post left one person emotional, as they wrote: 'This is a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE thread.' 'Well I am flabbergasted. I always thought it was strawberry jam... good Lord' wrote another. Meanwhile, one woman explained: 'This is definitely nothing new. Many a pot of "jam" of the cheaper varieties used to be made in the same way, apple pulp because it is cheap and easy to gel, and some "flavouring" added. 'I don't know what they are like now because I make my own jam these days (and grow or forage my own fruit for them) and have done for some 30 years'. Jammie Dodgers is a popular British biscuit typically enjoyed by being dipped in tea, or as a standalone snack. After briefly adding dairy to their recipe, Jammie Dodgers reverted back to a vegan-friendly recipe in 2020, sparking joy among plant-based diet followers across the globe. Fans have been left shocked to discover that the renown sweet snacks contain neither fruit, but rather a totally different one altogether Meanwhile over the years, the biscuit has seen a variety of limited edition flavours, including toffee, lemon, and even berry blast. In 2009, they were even reportedly sent to the International Space Station as part of a care package for British astronaut Tim Peake. However despite being one of the only British biscuit to make it to space, the debate is still strong on what is the correct way to devour the delicious snack. Taking to Instagram threads Danny, from Leeds, asked his followers the pressing question. He wrote: 'How do you eat your Jammie Dodgers? I think I eat mine the weirdest way. Eat the top edge, eat the bottom edge and then boom centre goes in one.' Many rushed to the comments with their own way to eat the biscuit. One person wrote: 'Nibble all the outside and the biscuit leaving the jam then eat that…yes I'm weird.' Another said: 'I'm the same. Save the best till last.' While someone else agreed adding: 'Leaving the jam bit until last.'
