No one wants to share their home with mice. These pests will contaminate your food supply and counters, cause an immense amount of damage, and can carry disease. Getting rid of mice once they make their way inside is possible, but it is not easy, at times. The best way to deal with mice is to make sure they cannot make their way into your home at all. Below, our Treasure Valley pest control expert reviews the best prevention tips that will keep mice outside where they belong.
Seal Entry Points
Mice are incredibly agile creatures and they can fit into a space the size of a hole. To prevent them from getting in, use caulk to seal all cracks and holes in the joints of pipes and in the foundation. This will block off access points so mice cannot make their way inside. Also check around windows and doors and repair holes and cracks around these areas so mice cannot use these areas as access points.
Store Food Properly
Mice, along with other rodents, do not enter homes simply to be a nuisance. They do so to find food and to seek shelter, particularly when the temperature starts to drop. For this reason, it is of critical importance that you store food properly. Mice will gnaw through food packages and rip them open with their claws fairly easily. As they do this, they will contaminate the food items inside. To prevent this from happening, food should only be stored in metal or glass containers that are difficult for mice to get into.
All counters, stovetops, backsplashes, and sinks should also be cleaned after food preparation and eating. Mice have a keen sense of smell and will be able to smell even the slightest amount of food, so make sure none is left out for them.
Store Garbage Properly
Your garbage may just seem like trash to you but to mice, it is another food source. Always throw food and scraps out, tying garbage bags tightly and placing them in a garbage can. All garbage cans should have locking lids, particularly if they are outside or in a shed or garage. If your garbage can does not have a lid that locks, place bricks or heavy rocks on top to ensure mice cannot get into them. Also try to use garbage cans that are off the ground and if possible, keep them many feet away from your home.
Utilize Aluminum Foil
If there are access points you cannot caulk, such as large gaps in a garage wall, you can use aluminum foil. Mice hate foil because it has sharp edges and is not easy for them to chew through. They also cannot grip onto it as well as other materials, despite the fact that they are usually very good climbers. Stuff aluminum foil into areas you find difficult to caulk and otherwise seal off and it will help prevent mice from getting through them.
Maintain Your Garden
Keeping the inside of your home maintained properly is a key component of preventing mice from getting inside the home, but it is important to maintain the outside of it, as well. Keep your lawn cut short so mice cannot use it to make a nest. Also dispose of your garden waste just as vigilantly as you dispose of the garbage inside your home. Mice will also see this trash as a food source that will keep them hanging around outside your home until they eventually make their way in.
Use Ultrasonic Devices
Ultrasonic devices emit a high-pitched sound that humans cannot hear, but mice can. Installing these devices inside and outside of your home can deter mice, but they should not be used alone. Ultrasonic devices have shown to have some short-term effect, but they will not work over a long period of time. Remember that when using these devices, you should also make sure you follow the other prevention tips, as ultrasonic sounds alone are not enough.
Call a Pest Control Company in the Treasure Valley
At Armis Pest Management, our Nampa rodent control experts can help eliminate a mice infestation once it has developed, but we will also provide preventative tips that can help keep these pests out. We are dedicated to providing you with a customized pest control plan tailored to you and your property so you can take your space back once and for all. Call us today at 208-650-7378 or fill out our online form to schedule a free inspection and quote.
