How to Keep Rodents out of Your Home During Winter
At any time during the year rodents can come into your home, but the worst season for this to happen is in the winter. Anytime the temperatures get cold and the food sources are scarce, rodents think nothing about coming into your home and cuddling up with you. They have no idea that they are considered unwelcome and they can be very difficult to get rid of once they get inside. That is why it is important to be proactive and take preventive measures to keep them out to begin with, the tips below will help you do just that.Â
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Store Your Food Carefully
Everyone has done this. After a heavy supper you are tired and sleepy so off to bed you go without putting away the leftovers. No doubt you have also forgotten that plate of food left on the counter and have started the dishwasher, which is heaven on earth for a mouse or rat. Pet water and food bowls should also be picked up before going to bed. Leftovers can be smelled from miles away by rodents, so you need to put all food in air-tight containers in the cabinets so rodents will be less attracted to them.
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Take Out Your Trash
Especially in the cold of winter, no one wants to take the trash out, but this is another heaven on earth for rodents and taking it out is another way of keeping rodents outside your home. The outside trash container should also be kept away from your home and it should also be airtight because the less goodies there are to tempt rodents, the better.
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Close off Entry Points
Also overlooked many times are entry points that are big enough for rodents to get into. Although no one can live inside an airtight bubble, there are many things you can do to plug up all entry points and keep rodents out. Check all places such as utility pipes, walls, dryer vents and floors as well as the attic and crawl space, which also make great places for rodents to get in. Remember that rodents can fit through the tiniest of spaces; even one as small as a coin can provide a rodent with access to your house. Buy some steel wool and stuff it into these openings. Besides being cheap, it is a very effective way to keep rodents outside the home.
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Get Rid of Intruders
If rodents still get into your home, you will have several ways to get them out. At the hardware store you can get poisons, which are the traditional method, however this can be problematic. One serious problem with poisons is with any pets that are inside your home as they can be harmful. Also, when a rodent eats this poison, they are likely to crawl into the walls or between the floors, making it difficult to get them out plus they will have an unpleasant odor when they die. Sticky traps and glue traps are an excellent way to get hold of the rodents, but then you have to interact with it until you can get it outside and back into the wild.
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The best way to deal with rodents inside your home is to call a professional and have them come out on a regular basis. These professionals can tell you about any potential infestations or issues. Call today to schedule your appointment to have your home inspected to ensure that you will not have any rodent problems during the winter. Call for help to prevent rodents from getting inside your home so you will be able to enjoy the cold winter months inside by the fireplace with your loved ones or a good book.
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Store Your Food Carefully
Everyone has done this. After a heavy supper you are tired and sleepy so off to bed you go without putting away the leftovers. No doubt you have also forgotten that plate of food left on the counter and have started the dishwasher, which is heaven on earth for a mouse or rat. Pet water and food bowls should also be picked up before going to bed. Leftovers can be smelled from miles away by rodents, so you need to put all food in air-tight containers in the cabinets so rodents will be less attracted to them.
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Take Out Your Trash
Especially in the cold of winter, no one wants to take the trash out, but this is another heaven on earth for rodents and taking it out is another way of keeping rodents outside your home. The outside trash container should also be kept away from your home and it should also be airtight because the less goodies there are to tempt rodents, the better.
Â
Close off Entry Points
Also overlooked many times are entry points that are big enough for rodents to get into. Although no one can live inside an airtight bubble, there are many things you can do to plug up all entry points and keep rodents out. Check all places such as utility pipes, walls, dryer vents and floors as well as the attic and crawl space, which also make great places for rodents to get in. Remember that rodents can fit through the tiniest of spaces; even one as small as a coin can provide a rodent with access to your house. Buy some steel wool and stuff it into these openings. Besides being cheap, it is a very effective way to keep rodents outside the home.
Â
Get Rid of Intruders
If rodents still get into your home, you will have several ways to get them out. At the hardware store you can get poisons, which are the traditional method, however this can be problematic. One serious problem with poisons is with any pets that are inside your home as they can be harmful. Also, when a rodent eats this poison, they are likely to crawl into the walls or between the floors, making it difficult to get them out plus they will have an unpleasant odor when they die. Sticky traps and glue traps are an excellent way to get hold of the rodents, but then you have to interact with it until you can get it outside and back into the wild.
Â
The best way to deal with rodents inside your home is to call a professional and have them come out on a regular basis. These professionals can tell you about any potential infestations or issues. Call today to schedule your appointment to have your home inspected to ensure that you will not have any rodent problems during the winter. Call for help to prevent rodents from getting inside your home so you will be able to enjoy the cold winter months inside by the fireplace with your loved ones or a good book.
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