How Can I Prevent Rodents from Entering My House?

The last thing we want in our homes are rodents, hearing a mouse scamper about during the night, or seeing a rat run through the basement would make anyone shudder. But what if you live in the country and rodents live freely, just outside your house. Or maybe you’re in a built up area, a city with plenty of rubbish to attract rats. So, how can you prevent them from making their home in yours? Is there a way to keep them out? Here we share some top tips on how to keep rodents from entering your house, what attracts them in the first place, what are the best materials to use to keep them out, as well as what to do if after all this, mice and rats still find a way inside. 

What could attract rodents to your home in the first place? Rats and mice are intelligent creatures, they know what they need to survive and dare we say, thrive. The main thing they are always searching for is food and water. With that in mind, here are some top tips to keep them away from your home: 

• Water sources- fix any leaks, and try not to have uncovered standing water, both outside and inside. 

• Clean up- if you spill any liquid food or crumbs, make sure to clean it up asap. 

• Food storage- keep food sealed, airtight containers can be used for opened packets of food such as flour, sugar or snacks.

• Trash cans- make sure all trash is placed in tight-fitting bins without any gaps that mice or rats could squeeze through. 

Sealing Entry Points 

Even if you have eliminated all water and food sources, mice can still come into your home in search of shelter. Another important step in prevention is removing any access which means sealing any entry points. The first thing to do is inspect the building's interior and exterior for any small gaps, remember mice can fit through extremely small spaces. For smaller holes that don’t need ventilation, steel wool can be used to fill them. For larger gaps in areas such as brick walls, foundation trim or in eaves, concrete can be used. 

A warning about the use of expanding foam. Although it is an easy material to use to fill in holes, it can easily dry out and crumble. It can even end up providing rats with bedding to add to their nests! With time rodents can re-open the holes filled with expanding foam and you will have to start again. 

Other areas to be aware of:

• Chimneys: cover these with mesh

• Doors: make sure all exterior doors have tight fitting sweeps so there is no gap along the bottom

• Trees and shrubs: any that are close to the house can be used as bridges for rodents to access higher parts of the building 

What’s next? 

So you’re now happy that any access points have been blocked, you’ve been careful not to leave any food out, but what happens if a rodent still makes it into your home? Or maybe you had mice in the house before you started working to keep them out. How can you get rid of any small rodents that have made your home theirs? If it’s a small issue rather than a full infestation, at home pest control devices are an effective method.  Spread out mouse traps, placing them along the mouse’ pathways, such as along skirting and near to the entry points you had previously found. If you have pets or children and are concerned about them getting hurt, bait boxes are a perfect option as the bait is kept safely inside the box, which can only be opened with a key. There are a wide range of sizes available, from small mouse bait boxes to large bait stations. Be sure to select the appropriate size based on the type of rodent you're aiming to catch.

In conclusion, it is possible to keep rodents out of your home, but quick action is needed. Start by getting rid of food and water sources and seal up any cracks or gaps. The key is making your home less appealing to them. But remember, even if they still manage to sneak in, don’t stress too much! It doesn’t mean you have a ‘dirty’ home, and with a few traps or bait boxes you can eliminate them. If you put these tips into action, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your home rodent-free and be able to stay one step ahead of unwanted pests!