Mice are one of the most common unwanted home invaders. Not only can they can easily sneak into your house through small holes or gaps in your walls, floors or ceilings -they can quickly multiply and cause all sorts of problems once they’re inside.
For instance, these pesky rodents can chew through wires, contaminate food and spread diseases. So, how can you stop mice from getting in your house? Here are 3 main ways to keep these critters out and save yourself the trouble of dealing with them.
1. Seal All Entry Points So Mice Can’t Get In
First, close off all potential access points where these critters could crawl into your house. Use caulk or foam to seal gaps around windows, doors and pipes. In addition, you can use steel wool to fill in holes and spaces, since mice cannot chew through it.
Furthermore, if you have openings or cracks in your foundation, fill them with cement or mortar. Even if holes are small, fill them. You’d be surprised at how mice can get in through really small spaces.
Lastly, check your roof and attic for any holes or openings and make sure you seal them. Alternatively, you can install screens over vents and openings to prevent mice from crawling in.
2. Keep Your Home Clean So You Don’t Attract Rodents
The smell of food attract rodents, so you can make your home less attractive by simply cleaning up crumbs, spills and scraps of food. Also, store food in airtight containers and make sure all garbage is sealed tightly in a bin with a lid.
Additionally, clutter provides easy hiding spots for mice. Therefore, keep your home tidy and don’t allow clutter to accumulate. Not only does this give rodents less places to hide, but you can easily spot any signs of infestation.
3. Use Mouse Repellents
Use natural repellents to keep mice away from your home. Peppermint oil, for example, works as a natural mouse deterrent. Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them around your home in areas where mice are likely to enter. Other scents that mice find unpleasant include eucalyptus, cloves and cayenne pepper.
Another way you can repel mice without harming them is to install ultrasonic devices. These small units emit high-frequency sound waves that are not audible to humans but are unbearable for mice. You can find these devices at most hardware stores or online.
| Tips for DIY Mouse Prevention: |
|---|
| Use steel wool to plug gaps |
| Seal doors and windows |
| Keep home clean and tidy |
| Use natural repellents |
| Set up ultrasonic devices |
| Keep food in airtight containers |
| Store garbage in sealed bins |
Avoid Common Mistakes that Can Cause More Problems:
1. First of all, try to avoid using poison to kill mice. Poison can be dangerous to pets and children if they come into contact with it. Additionally, poisoned mice may die in hard-to-reach places, leading to unpleasant odors.
2. Second, I suggest not using glue traps. These inhumane traps cause mice to suffer for several days before dying. In addition, you need to be careful that pets and children don’t get a hold of them.
Mice can cause many problems once they get inside your house, so ideally you want to stop them from getting in. The effort you spend keeping rodents away can prevent hazardous, costly and time-consuming problems in the future, so it’s worth the trouble.
