Does Dawn dish soap repel rats?

Dawn dish soap does not reliably repel rats and is not considered an effective rat repellent by pest control professionals, though it has some minor uses in cleaning and deterrence. Some internet advice suggests spraying a mixture of Dawn dish soap and water around entry points or mixing it with peppermint oil because the strong scent and slippery residue might irritate rats, but scientific evidence for repelling is weak and any effect is very temporary. Rats have a strong sense of smell and dislike strong chemical odors, so a freshly soaped area might cause brief avoidance, but hungry rats quickly habituate and will cross the area if food and shelter are available. Dawn dish soap is useful for cleaning up rat droppings and urine areas after removal because it helps cut grease and remove scent trails that rats use to navigate, and cleaning with soap and bleach solution is important for sanitation to reduce disease risk from salmonella and hantavirus. It can also be used to wash traps to remove human scent. However, it will not block entry, remove food sources, or kill rats. Effective rat control relies on sealing holes larger than half an inch with steel wool and metal mesh, storing food in airtight metal or glass containers, removing clutter, and using rat-sized snap traps or electronic traps baited with peanut butter placed along walls.