I remember the sheer terror of thinking there was a rodent in my bedroom. There was an occasional rustling of a bin bag and a couple of rat-sized droppings hidden behind my dressing table. I didn’t need any more signs – I was sleeping at my sister’s that night.
It was a false alarm, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. Rodents are abundant at this time of year and they’re looking for any opportunity to get into our homes. Can anything be done to stop them? Turns out there are three household jobs you need to do now to make your home rodent-proof. Here’s where to start.
Why are mice and rats suddenly everywhere?
Mice and rats aren’t breeding any more than usual – they’re just more active. As the temperature drops outside and food resources from plants become more scarce, rodents seek warmth and food elsewhere – and our homes offer them the best of everything: food, water and shelter. It’s as simple as that.
But what can you do to stop mice and rats from making their way into your home?
How to stop rodents from getting into your home
Seal the gaps
First, you want to block any obvious entrances. A mouse can fit through a gap as small as 5mm, while an adult rat can squeeze through a 20mm hole.
Each gap needs to be blocked with caulk and ideally reinforced with steel wool to stop any rodents from gnawing their way through. However, you must avoid using steel wool where the gap connects with live electrical lines. Call in a professional to help in these cases.
Look out for gaps around external utility lines and water pipes, as well as cracks near to doors and windows and the roofline. There’s specialist rodent-proof plastic mesh you can use to seal the gap behind the gutter.
If you want an easy trick to find the gaps, wait until it’s dark outside, then switch every light on and assess from the outside.
Remove all food sources
Now that you’ve sealed off your home, you need to remove all the food sources. This is what predominantly attracts rodents. Start in the kitchen: all dry food needs to be sealed away in labelled storage containers, especially pasta, wheat and grain (including cereal). Bread also needs more than a bag for protection – airtight bread storage boxes are widely available.
Don’t forget about pet food, too – this is a major food source for rodents. This can be sealed away in a container and moved off the ground to make it less accessible. Pay attention to food you’ve left sitting in an open bowl, too, such as fruit.
Moving away from the kitchen, you’ll want to keep on top of wrappers and packets that are abandoned around the home, as well as overflowing bins that aren’t emptied as much as they should be. And let’s not forget about hidden water sources, which can include what’s left in a plant tray or dripping from a leaky tap.
Deep clean your home (and declutter)
Following on from the last point, you’re going to need to deep clean your home. While all food sources may have been removed, there are still crumbs on the floor to consider. You need to do the obvious: vacuum up loose food, mop floors to remove sticky attractants and wipe down all surfaces (with a disinfectant if you suspect rodent activity).
It’s also imperative that you clean all residue that has spilled or dripped down around the bin. Going forward, you need to make sure your bin is emptied regularly and sealed to stop rodents from finding an easy meal. Similarly, you need to make sure dirty plates aren’t left stacked in the sink. With all the crumbs and sauce left behind, this is a food source in itself!
Cleaning is not enough, though – you should also actively declutter. In doing so, you’ll leave fewer places for rodents to hide, which makes the environment less appealing to them. Focus on bulky items that provide easy shelter, such as cardboard boxes and bags.
