How to Keep Mice Out of Your Home This Winter
The weather outside is getting colder and as it does, it drives people into the warmth of their home. It’s not only people that look to head inside at this time of year, however. Mice are also looking to escape the cold and find a warm place to wait out the winter months. Your home is the perfect place for them to do it. No one wants to open their doors to mice though. Luckily, there are ways you can protect your home and make sure mice stay outdoors where they belong.
Block Off Points of Entry
Of course, the best thing you can do to keep mice out of your home is to not let them enter in the first place. Mice can fit through any space that’s the width of a pen, so it really doesn’t take much. Inspect the outside of your home and seal off any cracks in the foundation or in the walls with wire mesh. If you find gaps around the areas where pipes enter your home, fill them with caulk and place mesh around them.
Keep All Areas Free of Food
Mice don’t only like warm spaces, they prefer warm spaces that have a plentiful food supply. Cutting off this food supply is a good way to deter mice from entering your home. Don’t leave food lying around and always keep counters, appliances, and fridges clear of crumbs and loose food at all times. Always keep food in containers that close tightly and clean up food that falls on the floor promptly. Also remember to keep pet food sealed, as well. This is something that many people overlook, but it’s just as attractive to mice as food meant for people.
Store Firewood Off the Ground
Firewood and the winter season seem to go hand in hand. There is after all, nothing better than curling up by the fire in the colder months. However, mice love wood chips and lumber because it provides them with great hiding spots and a structure to support their bedding. Firewood should never be stored right up against the walls of your home, and it should always be elevated at least 18 inches from the ground.
Use a Brush Strip on All Doors
The gap between a door and the floor can be significant sometimes, particularly in older homes. There are brush strips, sometimes also called sweep strips, that have adhesive backs and can simply be placed on the bottom of the door. This blocks those gaps so mice can’t get inside. You’ll also get the additional bonus of lower utility bills, as these strips will also help keep more heat inside your home.
Clear the Clutter
Clutter also provides a place for mice to hide, so clearing it is a great way to get mice out of your home. Clutter often collects in areas of the home that aren’t frequently used, such as in the attic and basement. When this is the case and mice make these places their home, they can quickly multiply and soon, there is an infestation throughout the entire house. Don’t leave laundry on the floors, store boxes off the ground, and tidy up stacks of newspapers and other junk. Mice also love cardboard boxes that are stacked right next to each other, so use plastic containers when possible.
Maintain Landscaping
Remember that mice and other pests come from outside. Mice love climbing and will run quickly up trees, onto your roof, and into your siding or any other warm spot they can find. To prevent them from doing so, make sure that any branches or overhang from trees is trimmed so mice cannot jump from the branch onto your home. Before it gets too cold, it’s also important to trim the grass and remove excess vegetation. These are great places for mice to hide and removing them will make the area less attractive to rodents.
Did Mice Get Into Your Home? Call Our Missouri Pest Control Service!
If you’ve seen mice in your home, there’s a good chance you are already dealing with an infestation and must take action quickly. At Amco Ranger, we are the St. Charles pest control service that knows how to get mice out of your home and can help you keep them out for a long time to come. Call us today at (636) 441-2847 to schedule an inspection and we’ll come out to your home and tell you how we can help.
