7 Things in the Trash That Attract Rats Instantly
Rats don’t need much to make themselves comfortable. If there’s food, moisture, and a place to hide, they’ll settle in fast—and your trash is usually the first place they check. What you toss and how you toss it matters more than most people realize.
If rats are sniffing around your garbage cans or sneaking under the fence at night, it’s probably because something in your trash is giving them a reason to. These are the top items that call them in quick.
Greasy Takeout Containers
Even if they’re mostly empty, containers that had pizza, wings, or anything fried will hold onto grease and smells that attract rats.
Those oils soak into cardboard or cling to plastic, and rats can pick up that scent from a good distance away. Always rinse them out or bag them up tightly before they go in the outside bin. Leaving them loose is like putting out a dinner invitation.
Bones and Meat Scraps
Leftover chicken bones or steak trimmings are a huge draw for rats. They’ll dig, chew, and shred to get to them—especially overnight.
Bag meat scraps separately and tie it up tight. If trash pickup isn’t coming soon, freeze it until it is. This is one of the easiest ways to cut down the smell and stop rodents from showing up for a late-night meal.
Spoiled Produce
Rotting fruits and vegetables ferment fast in summer heat, and the strong smell brings in rodents—and flies too.
Tossing it loose in the can is a mistake. Bag it or compost it properly if you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you’ll end up turning your trash bin into a buffet without realizing it.
Pet Waste
Pet waste might not seem like food, but it still draws in rats, especially if there’s undigested bits of kibble or animal protein in it.
Always double-bag it and keep it sealed. Leaving it loose in a tied-up grocery bag or open in the trash bin is one of those things people do without thinking—but rats pick up on it fast.
Food-Soaked Paper Towels and Napkins
Used napkins, paper towels, and paper plates with food on them hold way more scent than you’d think.
Even if you wiped up crumbs or sauce, those throwaways can call rats straight to the bin. Toss them in a sealed kitchen trash bag instead of tossing them loose or crumpled inside the outdoor can.
Unwashed Cans and Jars
Recycling’s great, but when cans and jars go out sticky or still holding some food, rats don’t care that they’re labeled “recyclable.”
Take two seconds to rinse out your cans—especially soda cans, soup cans, and peanut butter jars. Even a little leftover gunk can draw in pests and make a mess fast.
Old Pet Food
Tossing expired kibble or damp pet food into the outdoor can without sealing it up will bring in every critter in the neighborhood.
Pet food smells strong, holds up in heat, and is high in calories—everything a rat looks for. If you need to throw some out, put it in a sealed bag or container first. Never dump it straight in.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
