There is nothing worse than the scratching sound of tiny feet in your walls or ceiling. Whether they are little mice or giant rats, rodents can cause severe harm to your household if they start calling your house home. Today, we are going to teach you the best ways to prevent rodent infestations.
How to Prevent Rodent Infestations:
#1: Garden Maintenance
When taking action to prevent rodent infestation, you should start from the outside and work your way in. Start by completing the following outdoors tasks:
- Replace damaged waste can with cans that have tightly sealed lids
- Keep all trash or waste inside their appropriate bins
- Pick up any fruits or vegetables from trees or gardens
- Landscape locations that have standing water
- Trim grass, scrubs, trees, and other vegetation around your home
- Place woodpiles at least 20 feet away from the house
#2: Exterior House Maintenance
Next on your list to prevent rodent infestation is exterior house maintenance. Did you know that a mouse can fit through a hole the size of a nickel? These little creatures are incredibly clever and will find the tiniest of spots to get into your home when in search of food, water, or shelter. Here is a list of what to check for your exterior house maintenance:
- Install a door sweep on exterior doors
- Replace weather-stripping around doors, windows, and the basement foundation
- Repair damaged window or door screens
- Install screen vents on chimneys
- Install seals under garage doors
- Seal openings around utilities and pipes
- Seal cracks or holes in the exterior of the house
- Keep basements, crawl spaces, and attics ventilated and dry
- Repair leaking pipes, clogged drains, or anything that may release excess water
#3: Interior House Maintenance
Even with the best of intentions, rodents may be able to find a way into your home. By practicing interior house maintenance, they won’t find any food, water, or hidey holes that would entice them to stay as an unwanted guest. Proper interior house maintenance to prevent rodent infestation includes:
- Clearing boxes and clutter out of basements, garages, or other storage areas.
- Storing items in air-tight boxes on shelves off the floor
- Sealing food in air-tight containers
- Never leaving food or food prep on the counter overnight
- Regularly taking out the trash, recycling, and compost
- Cleaning up spills and periodically sanitizing surfaces, including the floors
- Putting away pet food at night
Reliable Pest Solutions
Even the most proactive homeowners can still have issues with rodent infestations; once they are inside, they can be hard to get rid of. If you have tried and failed at getting rid of the rodents in your home, we highly encourage you to contact Reliable Pest for an exterminator. We will take care of your rodent infestation quickly so that your home is safe and healthy once again.