The New Homeowner’s Guide to Getting Rid of Rats

Are you afraid that rats are setting up shop inside of your St. Louis home? Are you new homeowners that are seeing the telltale signs of a rat (or two)?

If so, then you need to learn all about how to get rid of rats the right way. The job isn’t as easy as laying down a trap, it’s going to take a St. Louis professional service to get the job done right.

That said, there are things you can do to help your cause; see below for more information on how to get rid of rats or any other kind of rodents in your house.

1. Know the Signs

When it comes to getting rid of rats in your home, half the battle is coming to grips with the fact that they’re there. Many homeowners refuse to believe it.

If you’re unsure whether or not they’re inside your St. Louis home, then there are a few telltale signs that can help.

One of the most obvious signs is if you notice rat droppings anywhere around your home. These will look like tiny little black pellets and can have as many as 30 to 40 of them in one spot.

That said, they won’t just leave these in plain sight for you to find, so you’ll have to keep a sharp eye out.

The second sign is when you hear scratching sounds coming from your walls. Rats are most active at night, so this is the most likely time you’ll hear the sound of them moving around.

You might also notice tiny footprints on your hard surfaces, which can help you trace them to their primary hiding spot.

There might also be noticeable rat holes in your walls, but don’t expect the rat to just be sitting on the other side of it. They’ve likely established their nest out of arm’s reach, so you’ll have to find a way of dragging them out.

2. Hire Professional Help

If you’re going to shoo those rats out of your house and keep them out, you likely won’t be doing it on your own.

Trying to DIY pest control of any kind can get expensive, but rats are especially tricky. They’re smart and extremely wary of potential danger.

Like we said before, it’s hard to lure them out of their nest and store-bought traps don’t work since they aren’t sensitive enough to how gentle rats can be while nibbling away at the bait. What can you do?

We highly suggest seeking out professional help from a St. Louis pest control company.

We have a rodent management program that can help you scare away any rats in your house and keep them out.

How? By implementing tamper-resistant rodent stations around the outside of your home. We’ll monitor the rats’ activity and spread out additional traps as need be.

This rodent management service works on mice, rats, and voles, and can help you prevent major damage to your property.

It will also lessen the likelihood of illness, as rodents are known to carry harmful diseases (rats especially).

3. Give Your Home a Thorough Cleaning

This isn’t always the case, but rats can sometimes be a sign that an area of your house isn’t as clean as it should be.

That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Those areas are generally in the basement, crawl spaces, or simply in areas of the house that often go unused.

To combat those pesky rats, you’ll want to do a thorough cleaning of your house. Disinfect all of the floors and counters, vacuum the floors, and mop them.

Wash all of your rugs, clothes, and towels. Bleach the bathrooms. Wipe down all of the glass surfaces with glass cleaner.

Bleach is one of the best ways to keep rodents at bay. The chemical scent of bleach is a deterrent for rats, but be careful not to go overboard with it. Those chemicals can also have harmful effects on humans if you use too much.

4. Clean Up After Every Meal

This is more important than ever. If you have a rat problem in your house, then designate one area of your house for your family to eat; whether that be snacks, dinner, lunch, or a protein shake.

Once everyone is finished with their meal, be sure to clean up the mess thoroughly. Wash the dishes, wipe up the crumbs, and scrub the surface as well.

Rats thrive on crumbs and leftover food, so cutting off their supply might lead them to leave your house for more readily available food.

5. Keep It Eco-Friendly

You don’t have to invest in a bevvy of chemical rat poisons to ward off the rodents from your property.

In fact, many experts swear by using natural household ingredients to ward off furry pests.

Rats are notorious for despising spicy smells, so investing in things like cayenne and black pepper is a great way to turn them off to your property.

Rats are heavily dependant on their noses, and the strong, spicy smell of cayenne is enough to send them running for the hills. Do it consistently, and they just might leave the property for good.

Get Rid of Rats in Your St. Louis Home

Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on how to get rid of rats for new homeowners in St. Louis, be sure to use this information to your advantage.

Take the time to read this article for more information on the 6 signs of a rodent infestation in your home. To get started, you can reach out to us at 314-373-2847.