Mice are resilient and opportunistic mammals that can cause significant damage to your home if they get inside it.
That’s why it’s essential to take preventive measures and foolproof your property, so they don’t get access to it in the first place.
Here are 9 of the best tips that can help keep them out of the house.
Fill in any potential entry points
As all mice are very flexible and can squeeze in even through the smallest of cracks, filling any potential entry points is the first step towards mouse-proofing your home.
Inspect your property to determine which areas you need to work on. Pay particular attention to your walls (especially at ground level), any holes on the roof, and the space between doors and the floor.
The best types of materials to seal the entry points are things that can’t be gnawed down. Ideally, stuff like cement and wire mesh are your best options.
Repair plumbing
Generally, mice tend to make their way into your home through your plumbing system. All they need is an opening the size of a nickel for them, and they’re in.
That’s why you’re at risk if there are any gaps around the pipes under your sink, dishwasher or washing machine. A mouse can also make its way in through unsealed drainage pipes too.
You must repair any damage to your piping and possibly consider installing a mouse/rat flap, which allows the water to flow in only one direction. Your best bet to seal pipes is either with caulk or steel wool.
Trim your garden regularly
Gardens can provide shelter and food to many animals, including mice.
The first thing you want to do is to inspect the area for possible nests. Look under rubbish, wood piles, and underneath sheds or garages. Seal any gaps you locate and remove piles of wood and garden clippings.
Keep grass short and cut overgrown areas to discourage any rodents from making nests there. If you feed birds, don’t scatter any seeds on the ground, but instead, use bird table or feeder baskets, which should be cleared before dusk, as mice are nocturnal feeders.
Keep the clutter at bay
A cluttered environment means plenty of opportunities for mice to make your home theirs. That’s why you’ve got to keep it down to a minimum.
Things like cardboard, blankets, and paper are particularly attractive to rodents, so they must be avoided whenever possible.
If you need to store things, do so in heavy-duty plastic bins, which will keep mice out and protect your items from damage.
Don’t leave any food sources out
Rodents have flexible bodies and a keen sense of smell, so naturally, they’ll be attracted to your property if it provides open access to food sources.
That’s why your best bet is to keep everything in sealed containers, with the most effective being glass and metal containers or plastic ones with tight-fitting lids. Avoid paper boxes, and plastic bags, for they not only provide easy access to mice but can sometimes serve as a potential nest.
Your trash will also attract mice, so you must store it in well-sealed and airtight garbage cans. Otherwise, it will surely attract rodents to the vicinity of your property, and that’s one step away from them trying to find their way inside it.
Use natural repellents
You can also use the aid of natural repellents to help protect your home against mice.
Peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, and cloves emit strong smells that vermins hate.
You can also make your own DIY spray that includes hot chillies and spritz generously any problem areas. That mixture will cause irritation to their eyes and nose. They will experience a burning sensation and leave the place immediately.
However, remember that natural repellents shouldn’t be your home’s only line of defence and must be combined with other methods, so mice stay out for good.
Use aluminium foil
This is particularly effective during an infestation.
Aluminium foil can be used to block door frames and any kind of cracks, gaps, and holes in the walls. Mice strongly dislike it has sharp points and grooves incorporated, and of course, it’s made from metal, which isn’t their favourite thing to chew through either.
You can also use it to protect objects by wrapping it around them, and a mouse will avoid them.
Invest in ultrasonic devices
These devices emit high-frequency sound waves that are supposedly unbearable for small creatures like mice. Install them in areas where there’s been a mouse sighting, or you see signs of one (like dropping and teeth marks).
However, the effect can have temporary success, as mice are resilient, and although the sound may bother them initially, they may get used to it quickly. That’s why it’s advisable not to focus on these devices as the sole means of defence but combine them with other methods.
Setup traps
If there’s already a mouse infestation, you can use several kinds of traps to remove them from the premises. By staying mindful and vigilant towards your surrounding environment, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of an infestation.
Where you place the traps is vital for them to be effective. The best locations for that are in dark corners, edges near walls, and behind objects.
By also placing some kind of an attractant, you can increase the success rates of your traps.
Remember, good sanitation is one of the best prevention techniques you can use to prevent an infestation. However, sometimes, if the infestation is too advanced or you can’t seem to be able to handle it on your own, it’s always best to contact mice control specialists.
Conclusion
The world’s population of rodents is on the rise, so that means more frequent encounters with them are inevitable.
As they cause lots of damage and pose a significant health risk, mouse-proofing your home is one of the most important things you can do to safeguard your health and protect your property.
By implementing most of these 9 foolproof tips, you will undoubtedly succeed and keep mice away, possibly, for good.