How to Get Rid of Mice and Rats

Whether they gross you out, you’re afraid of them, or seeing them makes you feel upset or embarrassed, mice and rats are unwelcome guests. 

These pests can raid your food pantry, chew up cords and furniture, and spread disease. 

They also can multiply quickly and overrun your home. 

If you ignore this problem, you can soon have an infestation on your hands. 

Fortunately, you don’t have to give up hope that you can live rodent-free. 

There are effective ways to eliminate them and keep them from joining you in your home in the future. 

Implement one or a combination of the below tactics for the best results.

Close Off Their Way Inside

Mice and rats can make their way into your house without much difficulty. 

If you have cracks, holes, or other openings into your house, rodents may be making themselves at home, eating your food, and making messes. 

Periodically inspect your property and look for openings. 

Seal cracks around windows and doors with caulk. 

Place mesh coverings over vents and places where wires and pipes enter and exit the house. 

Examine the foundation and roof for any entryway. 

If you need to repair any spaces, do so immediately to keep rodents from coming inside.

Keep a Tidy House

A cluttered home is a welcome place for mice and rats. 

These invaders love finding piles of junk, debris, and other materials, as these give them a place to hide and build nests. 

Make sure your home is clean and orderly, especially in areas such as the basement, attic, and crawl spaces. 

When you take away places for rodents to conceal themselves, you’ll encourage them to leave and go elsewhere. 

Pay close attention to your garage, too. Organize your contents neatly. 

Mice often look to this area for shelter and nesting spots.

Don’t Leave Food Out

Along with clearing your home of junk, ensure that you’re not sending dinner invitations to these pests. 

Keeping food out on the table and counter will beckon to mice and rats, as will crumbs on surfaces and the floor.

Throughout the day, sweep and mop your floors, vacuum your carpets, wipe down tables and countertops, and make sure cupboards and drawers are free of pieces of food. 

It’s especially critical that your kitchen is clean before you head to bed for the night.

Fix Water Problems

A leaky faucet or pipe can cause water damage in your home. 

These are also great spots for mice and rats to get a quick drink. 

If you notice any plumbing leaks, fix them right away. 

Also, make sure kitchen and bathroom sinks are dry before you go to sleep. 

Removing pet water at night is a good way to take away a rodent’s water supply. 

Check for puddles of water outside your home that may attract rodents to your property.

Professional Exterminators

For widespread rodent problems and infestations, you may need to call a pest control company in Miami. 

If you notice signs of many rodents in your home, an exterminator can help. 

These professionals have the experience and expertise to detect how mice and rats are getting in your home. 

They can find where these pests are nesting and will eradicate the entire family. 

Not only can exterminators get rid of rodents currently into your house, but their methods can keep additional rodents from infiltrating your place.

Poison Bait Stations

Poisoning mice and rats can quickly kill these pests. 

One common way to do this is by putting a poison pellet or block in an enclosed box or container that has a tiny opening. 

The poison is attractive to the rodent which will enter the station, eat the poison, and die shortly thereafter. 

Some poisons make the rodent thirsty, so it will go outdoors in search of water, dying outside of your home. 

With other poisons, mice and rats will take what they think is food back to their nests, killing multiple rodents at once.

Traps

An inexpensive but effective way to get rid of mice and rats is to use traps. 

On the trap, place cheese, peanut butter, or another food that rodents love. 

The traps have a spring-loaded bar that will snap down on the rodent once it steps on the device to eat. 

The bar will trap the rodent, usually killing it as well. 

Place these items in places where mice hide such as under furniture, behind appliances, and under sinks. 

Keep them away from pets and children. 

This tried-and-true method has worked for decades.

No one wants to see mice and rats running free in their home. 

You do not need to panic, however. 

There are solutions you can try to remove these rodents from your home once and for all. 

You can then live in your house with peace of mind and comfort.

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