The last thing any homeowner wants is to discover rats near their patio furniture. You've washed and sprayed and maybe even caught a few, only to have them reappear days or weeks later. If you're fed up with rats returning to chew on your outdoor furniture, know that you're not alone — and there are solutions that had been found to be effective.
This guide will go into why rats are hanging around your patio in the first place, the risks they bring with them, and some realistic, humane methods to keep them away for good..
Why Are Rats Attracted to Your Patio Furniture?
Rats are resourceful creatures. As spotless as your patio may look to you, to a rat, it's both a buffet and a shelter combined. Here's why:
Food Sources
- BBQs, snacks and pet food bowls left outside can be major draws.
- Rats can be attracted by even spilled bird seed from feeders.
- Nearby fruit trees or plants shed produce that is easy pickings.
Shelter and Warmth
- Patio furniture cushions, covers and storage ottomans create soft hiding spots.
- Rats love untrodden cavities, dark ones, and some protection against predators.
Water
- Leaky hoses, pet water bowls, or water pooled from rain in furniture covers provide rats with the hydration they require.
The Problem Rats Pose to Your Patio
It's not only that rats surprise you when they dart out — they have some major downsides:
Health Risks: Rats may transmit diseases like leptospirosis and salmonella, which can be transmitted through droppings or urine.
Chewing Damage: The mice gnawing all the time to prevent teeth crossing. They may gnaw on furniture frames, outdoor cushions, grill hoses, electrical cords.
Nests & Infestations: Without intervention, a pair of rats will often become a whole nest much faster than you might have expected or hoped, particularly if your patio is quiet and undisturbed.
How to Deter Rats from Your Garden and Patio Furniture
When it comes to the outdoors, it's less about trapping them and more about making your outdoor space repugnant to them. Here's how to do it:
Remove Food & Water Sources
- The primary attraction for rats is food.
- Clean up after meals. Sweep crumbs from patio tables and chairs.
- Avoid feeding pets outside. Or, pick up the bowls after they've eaten.
- Pick up fallen fruit. If you have fruit trees, collect fallen fruit daily.
- Store bird seed securely. Feed in sealed containers, and clean under feeders frequently.
- Fix leaks. Even tiny drops from hoses or outdoor taps can also draw rats.
Declutter & Eliminate Hiding Spots
- Rats enjoy hiding and nest in clutter piles.
- Stacked firewood should be removed or kept at some distance from your patio.
- Rake a clearing in piles of leaves or garden debris.
- Keep storage bins sealed tight.
- Don't leave blankets or outdoor rugs in a bunch.
If you own furniture with patio storage, check it periodically. Rats have no problem getting inside storage benches, or under cushion covers.
Slide & Verify Your Furniture Often
- Rats like quiet, undisturbed spaces. Every few days.
- Move chairs and a table just a bit.
- Shake or check cushions and covers.
- This interruption makes rats loath to move on in.
Trim Nearby Vegetation
- Weed covered plants, bushes or ivy are idea rat highways and harbours.
- Keep bushes trimmed a foot away from your patio.
- Remove low-hanging branches that would provide bridging from fences or trees.
- Rake up leaves and compost piles that may make a nest.
Use Natural Rat Deterrents
- Rats can also be deterred by certain smells that are not harmful to them.
- Peppermint oil: Dip cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them around furniture or in storage boxes.
- Clove oil or citronella: Both of these can help.
- Vinegar spray: Combine equal parts vinegar and water, gently mist the area (not the cushions or anything else you don't want stained).
- These are not long-term remedies, but they take the fun out of your patio.
Seal Entry Points
- If your patio is next to your home or close to a shed, rats might move between those and the patio via small gaps.
- Look around decks, under steps and along foundations for holes.
- Plug small holes with steel wool and caulk: Rats will gnaw through foam, but they can't chew through metal.
- Also, make sure the doors (and screens) on your house fit tight.
Consider Humane Traps
- If you already have a rat or two in residence, try live traps and take the captured critters far, far away.
- Bait traps with peanut butter or nut pieces.
- Monitor them daily so no rats get stuck for long.
- Traps should only be handled with gloves.
For long-standing infestations, professional help may be required. Pest control may be able to arrange for safe, strategic trapping that won't injure local pets or wildlife.
How to Disinfect and Remove Rats From Your Furniture
- Patio Furniture Infested With Rats? If rats have been on your patio furniture, clean carefully to protect your family's health.
- Wear gloves. Do not touch droppings or urine.
- Vacuum or sweep. Vacuum with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter or carefully sweep away debris.
- Wash surfaces. Wipe down hard surfaces using a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.
- Launder removable covers. But bleach the dishes in hot water to kill bacteria.
- Always dispose of food or food packaging that has been sitting out that might also have been in contact with rats.
Why Do Rats Keep Coming Back?
- If, despite all this, you are still encountering rats, likely:
- There is still a steady food source nearby (such as a neighbour's bird feeder, compost bin or uncovered trash).
- There are simple hiding places, like in weeds, under sheds or amid piles of debris.
- Or you just happen to be in an area where rodents are ubiquitous — close to a field, a stream, in a city.
It's important to stay consistent. Rats are opportunistic. If your patio has been spick-and-span for a few weeks and then you slack off, boy, they come right back.
Final Tip: Get Quality Patio Furniture
Believe it or not, the kind of furniture you own can matter. Well-constructed patio furniture typically has tighter weaves, solid bases and fewer obscured crevices where rats can nest or hide. Less expensive furniture may sport hollow frames or fabric flaps that are just right for rodents to mold into a den.
Conclusion: The Patio Rats Don't Want to Visit
In other words, if rats keep coming back for your patio furniture, it's not a one-and-done solution. It's a matter of making your outdoor space unappetizing:
- Keep it cleaned of crumbs.
- Eliminate debris and overgrown vegetation.
- Natural repellents will be required, block any possible entries near you.
- Stay patient and consistent. Your patio, over time, had become a place rats just pass on by.
Looking for an additional way to personalize your outdoor area even further? Head to Rattan Garden Furniture Ltd, which specialises in beautifully designed, long-lasting furniture that's bang on trend and far easier to keep clean and rodent free.
