Have you ever opened the kitchen drawer or pantry at night only for you to meet an unwelcomed visitor dashing out? There’s nothing as scary as having mice take refuge in your house. Although these creatures look harmless and innocent, they can be disastrous and dangerous. The little critters not only gnaw on nearly everything in your home, including electrical wires and clothing but also carry a slew of disease-causing bacteria. So, unless it’s a pet, you shouldn’t have any wild rodents in your residence.
These rodents come to your house for food, shelter, and warmth. For this reason, it becomes tough to eliminate mice once they infest your home. Therefore, the best thing to do as a homeowner is to make sure that they don’t get inside your property in the first place. In this write-up, we’ll look at some intuitive ways that house owners can mouse-proof their homes.
Steps to Keep Mice Out of Your House
Understanding the habits and behaviors of mice can assist in preventing them from entering the home. Mice look for specific areas to move in and out of a home and the biology of the rodent can assist in their ability to find entry points. When trying to prevent rats and mice from getting into your house and living rent-free, you should consider factors inside and outside your home. Since food is the main component that keeps these rodents in your place, your internal measures should be depriving them of this helpful resource. And since mice can only get inside your home if they have the means to do so, your external measures should help curtail their movements out of your property.
Internal Measures to Mouse-Proof Your House
- Tidy Up the Floors, Sinks, and Countertops
As mentioned earlier, the primary reason why mice find your house habitable is easy access to food. If you leave used utensils in the sink or spilled food scraps and spilled crumbs on the counter or floor, this may be an informal invitation for the mice. Ensure that you clean any food spills from the counter and the floor, and don’t leave dirty utensils in the sinks overnight.
- Store Dry Foods in Tightly Sealed Containers
Keeping your dry foods such as corn, flour, sugar, beans, and other cereals in bags and paper cartoons means that mice can get their daily meal in your house. Instead, make sure that you keep your food in tightly sealed plastic or metal containers. Once you cut short the rodents’ food supply, they will have no option but to vacate the premises and look for food elsewhere.
- Take Out Your Garbage Every Night
Leaving your garbage in the house overnight allows the mice to have a food party at night and hide during the day. Therefore, make sure to take your trash and garbage out every day since it might be a rich food source for these rodents. Moreover, ensure that the garbage bins and cans are placed far away from the house or garage unless you have sealed them with airproof lids.
- Clear Out the Garage and Eliminate Any Piles of Paper or Clothing in Your House
Another essential item that your house might be offering to these invasive critters is a conducive nesting area. Piles of paper, clothing, and boxes make good nesting areas for mice. So, if there are areas of your house that are clogged with clothes, pieces of cotton, or piles of papers, it’s time to declutter and keep your home tidy.
- Get A Cat
Although this is not a professional way of dealing with mice, having a cat at your home can help repel any mice that want to make your property their home. Experts may argue that cats won’t eat mice if they are adequately fed, but their presence alone is enough deterring for these invasive rodents.
External Methods to Keep Mice Away from Your Home
- Seal all Cracks and Crevices that Provide Entry Points
Did you know that a medium-sized mouse can fit in a dime-sized crack or hole? Now you know! Seal all the exterior gaps and cracks with steel wool, installing adequate door sweeps on exterior doors, and close all openings. It will help stop the movement of mice in and out of your house.
- Prune Overhanging Branches, Trim the Shrubs, and Take Care of Foundation Plants
Overhanging branches, unpruned shrubs, and unattended flower gardens can provide bridging and hiding points for mice as they scour for entry holes on the foundation or walls. Ensure that trees near your house are neatly pruned, and make sure that shrubs are perfectly trimmed. If you have foundation plants surrounding the house, ensure the garden is well-taken care of and plants kept at the appropriate sizes.
- Keep Bird Feeders Far from the House
There’s no doubt that mice love seeds and grains that are used to prepare bird-food mixtures. So, even if feeding these winged creatures is an admirable and noble hobby, you don’t want them to be the reason why you start competing with mice for space and food in your house. So, keeping the feeders as far as possible from your property is imperative.
- Set Traps on the House’s Perimeter
Although traps are known for catching mice inside the house, putting them around can help catch mice trying to get into your home. Additionally, they can also act as a deterrent.
Seek the Services of a Professional Rodent Exterminator
If you feel like your DIY rodent-proofing solutions aren’t bearing any fruit, don’t panic, as there are experts who can help you keep these invasive critters from your property. Professional rodent experts boast years of experience and possess the skillset, knowledge, and tools to help protect your home from rodents.
Having spent years getting rid of mice and other rodents from residential properties, professional exterminators will provide you with comprehensive rodent-proofing solutions and even help exterminate rodents that have been giving you sleepless nights.
