Rodents are not just a nuisance, they can severely affect your and your family’s health, and cause serious damage to your house. This is why prevention is critical in protecting homes from a rodent infestation.
While it can sometimes be impossible to avoid pests such as mice and rats from your home, there’s a lot you can do to make it less inviting and avoid infestations. The safest and easiest way to control a rodent infestation in your home is to prevent it from happening.
Don’t let this wildlife become a real problem! Keep reading as we cover some general rules for preventing and controlling the presence of rodents.
There are two main steps to rodent prevention in home – removing the attraction and stopping them from entering.
In general, a tidy and regularly cleaned house doesn’t have much appeal to pests. It is therefore crucial to maintain all areas inside and outside clean to discourage mice and rats. The most common causes of rodent infestations are due to spilled food, water sources such as leaks, sanitation issues, and access to pet food.
The best solution to deal with pests is to completely eliminate them from your premises. Even if you currently don’t have a problem, measures must be taken to ensure that rodents are not able to enter your house.
Let’s take a look at exactly how to keep rodents out of your home.
Eliminating Sources Of Food, Water, And Shelter
Rodents just like all pests are attracted to available sources of food and water, as well as places that are comfortable for them to hide and build nests. Rodents are constantly on the hunt for food, water, and shelter, so denying them those necessities will deter them from entering and setting up a camp in your house.
To avoid attracting rodents, you should:
– Clean your house regularly, including in hard to reach places such as under and behind furniture and equipment.
– Store food at least 6 inches off the floor and away from walls.
– Keep food preparation surfaces, floor, and garbage areas clean.
– Dispose of trash frequently, regularly, and carefully as not to create any spills. Keep trash in a plastic or metal container with a tight lid and remember to clean the garbage bin with soap and water on a regular basis.
– Clean up any spilled food immediately and keep surfaces clear of crumbs.
– Don’t live dirty dishes and cooking utensils out in the sink, wash them soon after use.
– Cover leftovers or keep them in plastic, metal, or glass containers with tight lids.
– Seal opened food packs and store all open dry foods in airtight containers, for example glass storage jars.
– Eliminate sources of water by fixing dripping taps and covering toilets.
– Do not leave pet food or water bowls out overnight and put it away right after use. Keep animal feed and seeds in a tightly sealed plastic or metal container.
– Outdoors, seal up potential nesting sites and food sources.
– Clean up garbage, brush, and weeds in your yard to prevent rodents from finding shelter. Keep grass and shrubs around your house well-trimmed.
– Keep compost bins at a distance of 100 ft from the house. Use a solid, undamaged plastic or metal garbage can with a securely fitted lid.
Rodent Exclusion By Blocking Entry Points
Eliminating access points for rodents will help keep them out of your house. This could include:
– Keep the doors closed as often as possible. Make sure all external doors fit their frames tightly, without leaving any gaps. If there are any badly fitting doors, attach brush strips to them.
– Check for holes or any small openings inside or outside your house.
– Fill cracks and patch any holes you find in walls, floors, ceilings, and around floor drains in the basement or laundry room. Remember that a mouse can squeeze through a tiny space the width of a pencil, which is 1/4 inch in diameter.
– Seal cracks and fix gaps on the exterior of your house, including entry points around pipes or cables, with suitable rodent resistant material such as concrete.
Proper Home Ventilation
Ventilation and dry air indoors are essential, so be sure to open windows whenever possible.
Refrain from blocking up the air vents. But if you’re concerned about mice coming in through this route, cover the vents with fine wire mesh. This will keep the pests out but still allow air to circulate.
Also, keep the attic, basement, and crawl spaces well-ventilated and dry.
Rodents are always seeking food and shelter, and your home offers the perfect environment. That’s why you need American Pest Control!
Our team in Athens, GA, is committed to providing excellent services that protect your home against rodent infestations, prevent these pests from getting into your home, and keep your home safe and healthy all year round.
Don’t wait until you have a rat or mouse problem! Call our qualified rodent control experts now for additional advice and treatment if necessary.
