Clearing Your Home of Mice
Spring is just around the corner and that means Spring Cleaning is on everyone’s to-do list. But what happens when you encounter something you didn’t expect – like mice! This time on the BIOClean Team blog we’re going to give you some actionable intel you can follow right now to get your home clear of mice.
With the cold winter months wrapping up, you start cleaning out the corners of your crawlspaces and there they are – a family of furry guests hanging out in the corner making themselves quite at home. Yikes! Rodents in the home might not always be a big deal, but they certainly pose a health risk, especially in certain circumstances such as around children, the elderly and immunocompromised, and pets. They can chew through electronics, leave hazardous waste, and contaminate food and other things.
Thankfully – you can usually deal with it on your own! There are four clear paths to victory when it comes to tackling a rodent infestation: Block Entry Points, Place Traps, Keep a Tidy Home, and Employ Predators
Block Entry Points
First thing first, you need to figure out how the mice have been poking their way into your home and put a stop to that! Mice can squeeze their way through holes as small as a dime. The best options are using caulk or concrete. Here are a few tactics to take:
- Check your foundation, walls, and basement, plugging or repairing cracks as needed.
- Look for cracks and gaps around doors and window frames. Seal those with caulk.
- Any pipes that lead to appliances may have holes in the wall they move through. Seal those.
- Look for cable, electrical, or internet lines that lead through your walls. Seal them as needed.
Place Traps
There are a few different kinds of traps available, all available at your local hardware store. Rat poison is available and it certainly is effective in killing the pests, it is also dangerous to have around while children and pets are present. Follow the instructions on the trap packaging for them to be as effective as possible. There are humane/live traps available as well! Don’t fear you have to kill the mice, these will have some extra work but if you have a soft heart and don’t want to cause unnecessary suffering there’s a way to do it!
Keep a Tidy Home
Believe it or not, keeping a clean and tidy home will go a long way to preventing mice from taking up residence in your yours. Animals want to live where they have easy access to shelter and food. If you don’t provide one of those, they’ll move on to somewhere more hospitable to what they’re looking for. You don’t have to hire professional maid services to keep it clean, just follow these key steps:
- Clean and clear any common areas – stoves, fridges, cabinets, and trash cans.
- Clean and disinfect counter tops after preparing food.
- Keep all pet food sealed in airtight containers.
- Put away leftovers.
- Get rid of any food waste right away.
- Use garbage cans with secure lids both inside and outside.
Employ Predators
Ok that might sound a bit more drastic than it needs to be but here’s what we mean: get a cat! The most powerful way to clear out mice and keep them out is using their natural predators. Even just the lingering smel of a cat or ferret can send a potential squatter on their way with bags packed – they don’t want to deal with their predators. And bonus! You get a furry friend!
Follow these four steps and you’ll be clearing out and discouraging future mice infestations in no time. Struggling to make it work – well hey you can always call professional pest control services! They know how to handle it. And if the situation is that bad, chances are you are going to need professional, full-scale disinfection – The BIOClean Team has you covered!
Give us a call today and we’ll have your home ‘Spring Cleaned’ in no time!