Does Irish Spring Soap Keep Mice Away?

Written by Susan Olayode
Updated: March 22, 2023
© IrinaK/Shutterstock.com

Advertisement


This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species.

When it comes to Irish Spring as a deterrent for mice, the argument is strong on both sides. Some people swear it helped them eliminate mice from their homes. Others say the mice ate the soap! At this point, we feel it might be on a case-by-case basis.

The concept behind Irish Spring Soap keeping mice away is pretty simple. Mice are very sensitive to smell and hate certain scents, including heavily scented soap. Irish Spring soap is very heavily scented and so can be expected to chase the mice away.

Mice can be very destructive and also carry diseases that are dangerous to humans. So, we advise you to try everything to get them gone if you have an infestation. In our opinion, it doesn’t hurt to try and see if Irish Spring works for you.

The added plus is also having your home or car (mice can and do infest vehicles) smelling fresh. Irish Spring has a lovely fragrance that is pleasant to humans while abhorrent to mice. However, we also advise trying a few shavings first to see if the mice in your home will nibble them or disappear. Here are some great options you can have delivered easily and quickly.

How to Get Rid of Mice With Irish Spring Soap

Are you planning to try the Irish Spring Method to repel mice? Then you should know the best way to use it. While you can just leave the soap itself out, there are more efficient ways to distribute the product for maximum effect depending on whether you’re using bar or liquid soap.

Bar Soap

  1. First, get your Irish Spring Bar Soap in a fragrance that you like. We’ve linked some really great ones in this article.
  2. Then place two or three bars near a warm window. This will help to soften the soap.
  3. Next, grate the soap into a plastic bag.
  4. Finally, place the shavings in cracks, corners, basements, drawers, and holes where there is mice activity.

Liquid Soap

  1. Transfer half a bottle of Irish Spring liquid soap into a spray bottle.
  2. Fill the rest of the bottle with water.
  3. Shake the bottle thoroughly to mix.
  4. Spray into cracks, corners, and drawers.
  5. You can also use this mix to wipe down areas that mice frequent.

Now that you know how to use Irish Spring Soap to keep the mice away, here are some great options to chose from.

  1. Irish Spring Men's Body Wash, Black Mint (Pack of 6)
    • Combines the classic Irish Spring fragrance with mint
    • Mint is known to repel mice
    • A little goes a long way because this product is heavily fragranced
    • Perfect for diluting with water to use as a mouse repellent
    • Made from biodegradable ingredients
    Check Amazon
  2. Irish Spring Deodorant Bath Bar Soap with Scrubbing Beads: 12 Bars Total
    • Bargain-priced: 12 bars for under $20
    • Features a fresh, clean fragrance that humans love and mice deplore
    • Features scrubbing beads
    • This deodorant bar is intensely fragranced, which makes it perfect for chasing rodents away
    • The fragrance is long-lasting, so you won't have to change the shavings very often
    Check Amazon
  3. Irish Spring Body Wash - Sage & Cedar - Paraben Free - 2 Bottles
    • Features an appealing sage and cedar fragrance
    • Comes in a pack of two
    • The liquid is easier to use to repel mice than bar soap
    • Paraben-free, so it's better for the environment
    • The long-lasting fragrance will repel mice for an extended period
    Check Amazon
  4. Irish Spring Original Clean Body Wash for Men (Pack of 2)
    • The original fragrance smells just like the original bar soap
    • The fragrance is strong, so it will repel mice
    • Because it's a liquid, it's easy to mix with water to spray into cracks and crevices where mice hide and live
    • You can use the gel undiluted as well
    • Paraben-free and made with biodegradable ingredients, so it's better for the environment
    Check Amazon
  5. Irish Spring Antibacterial Bar Soap (8 Bars)
    • The sports-strength fragrance is extremely strong, so it's sure to repel mice
    • Bargain priced pack includes 8 bars
    • Paraben-free, so it's safer for the environment
    • The fragrance is long-lasting
    • Antibacterial
    Check Amazon

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Irish Spring Soap to Keep Mice Away

#1 Best Overall: Irish Spring Black Mint Body Wash

Irish Spring Black Mint Body Wash is our #1 Best Overall for repelling mice because it combines the Irish Spring Fragrance with mint, which is known to repel mice. What a great two-in-one combo!

Another thing you’ll love this body wash for is that a little goes a long way. The fragrance is heavy and strong, which is a great feature for a mice repellent. This also comes in a liquid that you can dilute with water and spray in areas where you suspect mice or place a few drops directly.

Irish Spring Black Mint also comes in a great deal giving you six 18-ounce bottles. It is also made of biodegradable cleaning ingredients, which makes it better for the environment. Our advice, mix with some water and go ahead to spray, spray, spray.

We were unable to find any reviews from buyers who used this product to repel mice.

Some reviewers said that the lid doesn’t stay closed.

Pros and Cons of Irish Spring Black Mint Body Wash

ProsCons
This body wash combines the fragrance of Irish Spring soap with mint, another scent that is known to repel mice.Some reviewers said that the lid doesn’t stay closed.
The fragrance is strong.
It’s a liquid, so you can dilute it with water and spray it where you have witnessed mouse activity.
This deal is for six 18-ounce bottles.
The product is made of biodegradable cleaning ingredients.
Best Overall
Irish Spring Men's Body Wash, Black Mint (Pack of 6)
  • Combines the classic Irish Spring fragrance with mint
  • Mint is known to repel mice
  • A little goes a long way because this product is heavily fragranced
  • Perfect for diluting with water to use as a mouse repellent
  • Made from biodegradable ingredients
Check Amazon

2. Best Deal: Irish Spring Deep Action Scrub Bar with Scrubbing Beads

We love the Irish Spring Bar with Scrubbing Beads for its great price. You get 12 bars for less than $25! This soap also comes with a great fragrance that will make your home smell clean and fresh.

The Irish Spring Deep Action also has scrubbing beads, which we feel are a great addition for those who intend to use it for mice. You’ll have something in addition to just soap flakes to chase the mice from your home.

Since this soap is a deodorant bar, you can bet that the fragrance is strong, which is the number one mouse-chasing feature. This soap’s scent lasts for a long time, so you won’t have to sweep and change the shavings too often.

Like the previous listing, we were unable to find reviews from buyers who had used this product to repel mice.

Some reviewers reported that this product didn’t have “scrubbing beads.”

Pros and Cons of Irish Spring Deep Action Scrub Bar with Scrubbing Beads

ProsCons
This listing is for 12 bars for less than $20.Some reviewers reported that this product didn’t have “scrubbing beads.”
This is a deodorant bar, so you can bet the fragrance is strong enough to chase mice out and long-lasting enough to keep them away.
Best Deal
Irish Spring Deodorant Bath Bar Soap with Scrubbing Beads: 12 Bars Total
  • Bargain-priced: 12 bars for under $20
  • Features a fresh, clean fragrance that humans love and mice deplore
  • Features scrubbing beads
  • This deodorant bar is intensely fragranced, which makes it perfect for chasing rodents away
  • The fragrance is long-lasting, so you won't have to change the shavings very often
Check Amazon

3. Best Fragrance: Irish Spring Sage and Cedar Body Wash

Irish Spring Sage and Cedar Body Wash will give your home or car an amazing new fragrance while keeping mice at bay. It comes in a pack of two and will have people asking what you use.

Since this Body Wash comes as a liquid, it’s easy to mix with water and spray in cracks and holes. This means you won’t have to sweep or pick up shaving after a while. It is also less noticeable this way. You could also leave it as it is and put a few drops in areas where you suspect mice.

You’ll also love that the Irish Spring Sage and Cedar Body Wash is paraben-free, making it better for the environment. The fragrance is long-lasting, which is another reason why mice will take on a whiff and say goodbye. The bottle size is also great for long-term use.

No mouse-related reviews were available for this product.

Pros and Cons of Irish Spring Sage and Cedar Body Wash

ProsCons
This body wash smells like sage and cedar.None
This listing is for a pack of two.
Because it’s a liquid, it’s easy to mix with water and spray into holes and cracks and you won’t have two sweep or pick up shavings after mice are gone.
This formula is paraben-free, so it’s better for the environment.
The fragrance is long-lasting and the bottles are large.
Best Fragrance
Irish Spring Body Wash - Sage & Cedar - Paraben Free - 2 Bottles
  • Features an appealing sage and cedar fragrance
  • Comes in a pack of two
  • The liquid is easier to use to repel mice than bar soap
  • Paraben-free, so it's better for the environment
  • The long-lasting fragrance will repel mice for an extended period
Check Amazon

4. Best Liquid Irish Spring: Irish Spring Original Clean Body Wash

If you only trust the original scent of Irish Spring to do the job, then Irish Spring Original Clean Body Wash might be the product for you. The Irish Spring Original Body Wash smells just like the bar. The fragrance is strong, too, so mice will choke on it and stay away.

This body wash, however, comes in liquid form so getting it into cracks and crevices is easy. All you have to do is find a spray bottle and mix it with water. You could also use the gel itself just as it is. For the mix, spray liberally for the best effect. The gel, on the other hand, requires just a few drops.

The Irish Spring Original Clean Body Wash is paraben-free and is made with biodegradable ingredients. This makes it great for the environment. It is also antibacterial, so you can use this to wipe down surfaces as part of its repellent role.

No rodent-related reviews were available for this body wash.

Some reviewers said that the bottle was slippery in the shower, but this shouldn’t impact its use as a rodent repellent.

Pros and Cons of Irish Spring Original Clean Body Wash

ProsCons
This body wash smells just like the original Irish Spring bar.Some reviewers said that the bottle was slippery in the shower, but this shouldn’t impact its use as a rodent repellent.
The fragrance is strong, so it should repel mice.
Because it’s liquid, you can mix it with water and spray it into nooks and crannies where mice live and hide.
It’s paraben-free and made with biodegradable ingredients.
It’s also antibacterial so you can wipe down surfaces with it to help repel mice.
Best Liquid Irish Spring
Irish Spring Original Clean Body Wash for Men (Pack of 2)
  • The original fragrance smells just like the original bar soap
  • The fragrance is strong, so it will repel mice
  • Because it's a liquid, it's easy to mix with water to spray into cracks and crevices where mice hide and live
  • You can use the gel undiluted as well
  • Paraben-free and made with biodegradable ingredients, so it's better for the environment
Check Amazon

5. Best Irish Spring Bar: Irish Spring Sports Strength Antibacterial Bar Soap

When you hear that Irish Spring Sports Strength Antibacterial Bar Soap is sports strength, one of the things to expect is a deeply penetrating fragrance. That, among many other things, is what makes the this bar a top mice repelling product. It has a scent that will overpower and chase away the mice.

This particular deal gives you eight packs, but after the initial nibble test, all you need is four bars. Grate the bars and then spread the shavings everywhere you suspect mice. The lovely fragrance will have your home smelling nice too.

The Irish Spring Sports Strength Antibacterial Soap is paraben-free, which makes it safer for the environment. The fragrance is also long-lasting, and it is a proven antibacterial. To use this for a wipe-down, however, you’ll have to form lather with the shavings and water.

There were no reviews about using this product as a mouse repellent.

Some reviewers said that this bar soap smelled “strange,” or “funky.”

Pros and Cons of Irish Spring Sports Strength Antibacterial Bar Soap

ProsCons
This “sports strength” antibacterial bar soap has a deeply penetrating fragrance that will overpower and chase mice away.You’ll need to lather the bar to wipe down surfaces.
This offer is for eight packs of bar soap, but you should only need four to do the job.Some reviewers said that this bar soap smelled “strange,” or “funky.”
It’s paraben-free, so it’s safer for the environment.
The fragrance is long-lasting and it’s a proven antibacterial.
Best Irish Spring Bar
Irish Spring Antibacterial Bar Soap (8 Bars)
  • The sports-strength fragrance is extremely strong, so it's sure to repel mice
  • Bargain priced pack includes 8 bars
  • Paraben-free, so it's safer for the environment
  • The fragrance is long-lasting
  • Antibacterial
Check Amazon

How to Choose the Best Irish Spring Soap to Keep Mice Away

There are some important factors to consider when going for an Irish Spring Soap to keep mice away. They are:

  • Type
  • Fragrance
  • Price

Below, we explain them in detail:

Type

While some people prefer the bar soap, others feel the body wash is easier to use when it comes to repelling mice. With the body wash, you can easily create a mix that is easy to spray into cracks and other narrow or deep spaces. Shavings, on the hand, might keep their fragrance a bit longer.

Fragrance

Irish Spring comes in many fragrances that you choose depending on how you want your home to smell. As long as the scent is strong, it should be effective. We’ve included some really pleasant varieties on our list, including the brand’s original fragrance.

Price

Compared to other repellents, Irish Spring is a low-cost alternative. We’ve, however, included some good deals that you can go for. Mice can cause damage that is very expensive to repair. We understand that getting rid of them shouldn’t cause additional damage to your bank account.

Types of Irish Spring Soap to Repel Mice: Pros and Cons

Irish Spring Soap comes in two forms. There is the bar soap, and the liquid body wash. Both of these types have their pros and cons, which we list below.

Bar Soap

ProsCons
Cheaper than LiquidHarder to prepare since you need to grate the soap into shavings
Fragrance stays longer because of the presence of soap shavingsMight be hard to stick into holes and crevices
Comes in multi-packs that are budget-friendly 

Liquid Wash

ProsCons
Easy to get into holes and cracksFragrance does not last as long as soap shavings
Can be used to wipe down areas frequented by miceA little bit more expensive
Many wonderful fragrances available 

Why Do Mice Enter Our Homes?

Mice, all animals, are always searching for three things: food, water, and shelter. It is easy to find these in most human homes. So many homeowners eventually find themselves having to deal with mice.

How to Tell if You Have A Mouse Infestation

Having one mouse in your home is a big problem because it will soon become a large group. Mice breed quickly when they find the right conditions for a nest. Some signs to watch out for include droppings, squeaks, and noises in the walls. The tell-tale entrance holes and damage to wires, fabric, and other household items could also indicate that you have an infestation at hand.

Other Scents That Repel Mice

Just as mice cannot stand the fragrance of Irish Spring Soap, there are other scents that serve as mice repellents. Below we list some of them that you could easily find around your home.

Onion: Mice hate the smell of onions as it is too overpowering, so it drives them away. Homeowners who want to repel mice cut the onion up into slices and then put them in spaces where mice frequent. You could also do the same with garlic if you don’t mind the smell. You should also be ready to change the slices when they become rotten.

Black/Cayenne Pepper: Homeowners who want to repel mice can also use cayenne or black pepper. The smell chokes and chases the mice from your home. Sprinkle in holes, cracks, and passageways for the most effect.

Dryer Sheets: If you use dryer sheets for your washing machine, here’s something you might not know; they can repel mice too. This works with the same concept as using Irish Spring Soap. The fragrance is great for your laundry and home but mice can’t tolerate it.

Essential Oils: Mice cannot stand the smell of essential oils like peppermint, mint, eucalyptus oil, citronella oil, and lemon oil. Sprays made of peppermint oil to repel mice are available. Spraying a few drops in areas where you notice activity may chase the mice away.

Does Irish Spring Soap Keep Mice Away? FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

How does Irish Spring soap get rid of mice?

Irish Spring Soap has a strong fragrance that helps to repel mice. Their sharp sense of smell finds this fragrance to be too strong. Many testers say that putting soap shavings strategically keeps their home mice free. However, some others say the mice ate the shavings, and it made no difference.

What types of vermin does Irish Spring soap keep away?

People say you can use Irish Spring Soap to keep mice, rats, and other rodents away from their homes and car. We’ve also heard that Irish Spring will repel deer!

What smells will keep mice away?

There are many scents that mice hate and cannot tolerate. Some of them include Irish Spring Soap, essential oils, onions, and black pepper.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.