Natural Ways to Keep Rodents Out of Your Home
Do You Want to Rodent Proof Your Home?
Mice, rats, and other rodents can do a lot of damage to your home before you know they’re there, so it’s best to stop them from getting inside in the first place. Here are just five ways you can rodent proof your home without resorting to traps and poison.
Seal Potential Entrances
Rodents don’t need much of an opening to get into your home. A full-grown rat can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter, while a mouse only needs an opening the size of a dime. Basically, any gap or crack in your home can serve as an entry point for rodents, so seal off any gaps you can find. Pay close attention to holes near AC units, porches, pipes that lead outside of your home, and crawl spaces. You can seal these openings with some caulk or weather stripping as long as you don’t seal your dryer vent. For that, we recommend installing pest guards that keep rodents out without sealing the vent itself. Contact a Bay Area rodent proofing service if you need any help sealing these gaps.
Use Natural Rodent Deterrents
Substances such as Tabasco sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic, cloves, peppermint, and apple cider vinegar placed near potential entrances can help keep rodents away. Apple cider vinegar and Tabasco sauce can be mixed with water and sprayed from a spray bottle, while cayenne pepper can be sprinkled around every few weeks. Mothballs and Camphor balls placed in problem areas in your basement might also be effective.
Trim Your Trees
Trim any trees on your property to keep branches at least six inches from your home. Any bushes and shrubs you plant should be at least three feet away from your foundation.
Keep Sources of Water and Shelter Away from Your Home
Things such as boxes, tires, old appliances and even piles of firewood can become shelters for rodents. If they happen to pool with water, they become even more attractive to vermin. Keep these away from your home, and keep up with your landscaping to remove any potential rodent hiding places. Also, don’t ignore leaks in your home or garage. On top of causing a lot of damage to your home, leaks can turn your basement or garage into attractive water sources for pests.
Store Your Food Safely
Rodents can chew through cardboard boxes to get to food, so store cereal and other dry goods in plastic waterproof containers if you think you have a rodent problem. Keep any other food sources packed away where pests will be less likely to reach them, and clean any crumbs or spills that you find anywhere in your home.
Even when you’re at your most diligent when it comes to your home, mice and rats might still be able to slip through. If you think you have any problems keeping these pests out, contact an Oakland rodent proofing service to look over your home today.
Do You Want to Hire the Best Company for Bay Area Rodent Proofing?
Element Home Solutions is the right company to call! We have the best customer service and truly care about keeping our customers happy. Give us a call for a free quote today! If you choose to take our quote, we will give you 10% off your services just for letting us earn your business. (888) 980-4822