The Birmingham bin strike has left residents worrying about the amount of rodents that have been scurrying around streets – with many taking measures to deter the rats
The method promised to rid rats from your home(Image: Francisco Martins via Getty Images)
Rubbish collectors have been on strike in Birmingham due to a dispute about pay, leading to piles of waste building up as workers struggle to reach an agreement with the council.
With bins overflowing and trash dumped on the street, residents have reported seeing rodents scurrying around. Some have even reported that rats have come into their homes.
So to prevent this issue, many are turning to experts for advice. While some choose to set traps, use chemicals or call in pest control, others would rather use cheaper methods.
And one hack that’s been going viral involves using three items you probably already have at home. Content creator Toprecipe_andtips has shared a homemade solution that he claims has saved him money and eradicated pests from his home.
The method uses simple household items: soap, toothpaste, sugar, and stale bread. In his video, he says: “After I learned this trick, I never spent money on this issue again.”
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To whip up this DIY pest deterrent, grate a bit of soap and mix it with a dollop of toothpaste and two spoonfuls of sugar. The sugar tempts the pests, while the soap and toothpaste have chemical elements that the pests can’t stomach.
Finally, crumble some stale bread and combine it with the mixture. The bread is especially effective due to its pungent smell and yeast, which further entices the pests.
The final concoction is then decanted into small bottle caps or other tiny containers, making it simple to scatter around the house.
For optimal results, he recommends positioning the mixture in key spots, such as near drains, house entrances, or inside cupboards – particularly in areas where pests have been sighted.
Since posting the video, numerous users have lauded the hack, dubbing it a cost-effective and efficient alternative to shop-bought poisons. Others have opened up on their own encounters with the pests.
While the at-home method is an option, Birmingham City Council has made its pest control services “temporarily free” amid the ongoing bin strike. According to the last available price of this service, this is a cut of £26.40 per visit.