Mice are a common problem during the winter season, and unless you have a pet mouse in a cage, finding a rodent in your home can be extremely concerning. Mice often seek shelter in warm, enclosed spaces, like your house! There are many things you can do to keep mice out of your house and protect your home from these pesky critters. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best ways to prevent mice from entering your house during winter and year-round!
Ways to Keep Mice Out of Your Home
Once you have mice in your home it can be extremely difficult to completely get rid of the problem. And once they have built their hidden nesting area it only gets harder. That is why it is best to take steps to prevent an infestation before it can even happen. Here are some things you can do to prevent mice from infiltrating your home.
Keep Your Outside Doors Closed
Something that can seem like an open invitation to mice is a garage door left wide open. This is especially true during the fall and winter seasons when mice and other rodents are searching for a warm place. You can keep these rodents out of your home by getting into the habit of closing your garage door immediately after you enter or exit.
You should also make sure to keep any side doors to your garage closed along with any sliding patio doors and basement windows closed. You should never leave any doors or windows open at night because that is when rodents and mice are the most active.
Clean the Floors and Countertops
Another way to keep mice out of your home is by ensuring that there is nothing for them to eat. This means keeping your floors and countertops clean and free from crumbs or food particles. Make sure to sweep, mop, and vacuum on a regular basis and take the time to clean up any spills right away.
Seal Food In
Foods such as flour and sugar that are kept in bags or paper cartons can easily be broached by mice and other rodents and bugs such as weevils. So instead of keeping them in their original bags, you should keep these foods in tightly sealed plastic or metal containers. Mice will have no reason to enter your home if they don’t smell any food so sealing food in airtight containers will help keep mice out.
Control Plants Near the Foundation of Your Home
Mice are known to be attracted to plants and will often try to build their nests near the foundation of your home. This can create a serious problem because it gives the mice easy access into your home. You can keep mice out of your home by controlling the type of vegetation near your homes foundation. Try to keep plants and shrubs trimmed and away from your home. If you have to keep plants near the foundation, then make sure they are non-edible plants that so they will not attract mice.
Seal Your Garbage Bins
One of the biggest reasons mice enter your home is because they are looking for food. And one of the easiest places to find food is in a garbage bin that has not been properly sealed. Make sure to keep your garbage bins tightly sealed at all times and do not leave any bags or cans open. This will make it difficult for mice to get to the food and will keep them from entering your home.
Keep Pet Food Sealed
In the same way that you should keep your garbage bins sealed, you should also keep your pet food containers closed and sealed. Pet food is a major source of food for mice and other rodents and if it is left out in the open they will be sure to find it. Make sure to keep all pet food stored in airtight containers and keep the area where your pet food is stored clean and free from any food particles.
Block off and Seal off all Entry Points
The best way to keep mice out of your home is by blocking and sealing off all entry points. This means checking around the foundation of your home for any cracks or holes and repairing them immediately. You should also check your roofline, eaves, and attic for any openings that could allow rodents inside. If you find any openings make sure to seal them off with concrete, metal, or plastic sheeting.
Utilize Traps as Needed
If you find that you are having a problem with mice in your home, then you can utilize traps as needed. There are many different types of traps available on the market and you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Make sure to place traps in areas where you have seen evidence of mouse activity and keep them out of the reach of children and pets. When using traps, always be sure to dispose of them properly so that they will not pose a health hazard. Doing this to keep mice out of your home is not for everyone though so luckily there are many other ways to help keep these pests out of your home.
Call in the Professionals to Keep Mice Out of Your Home
Having quarterly pest control services will also help prevent mice from entering your home. Professional pest control services will not only get rid of any mice that are currently in your home, but they will also seal off all entry points so that no new mice can enter. This is a cost-effective way to keep rodents out of your home and you can usually find monthly packages that fit within your budget.
Move Bird Feeders Far From the House
If you have bird feeders in your yard, then you need to move them far away from the house. Feeders are a major source of food for mice and if they are close to the house it will make it easier for them to get inside. Move the feeders at least 25 feet away from the foundation of your home and keep them in an area where they will not be easily accessible to rodents.
Sigma Pest Control is Here to Help Keep Mice Out of Your House
If you are having trouble with mice or suspect that there is an infestation our team at Sigma Pest Control is here to help! We offer services to help rid your home of mice and services to help prevent them from entering your home in the first place! Contact our team today for more information about how our team can help you tackle your pest problems!