Prevent Pests and Rodents: A Handy Checklist for Rodent Pest Control

Do you notice wood dust near your baseboards? Do you notice random wet spots on your wood floors?

If so, you may have a rodent issue. Wood dust indicates a critter that chewed on your baseboards. Wet spots could be rat urine.

However, rodent pest control involves simple tasks, such as cleaning your home extensively, doing laundry daily, and sealing holes and gaps regularly. Pest and rodent control is especially important during the colder months, as vermin and insects will enter your home to escape the cold. In addition to DIY rodent control, rely on an expert to service your property regularly. To find out how pest control can help your business or home, reach out to Drake Lawn & Pest Control.

They can save you time and make your home uncomfortable to rodents. They can also provide tips on removing dead rodents and cleaning rodent refuse. Rodents and pests are health hazards. Even minor pests like ants can bite you and cause allergic reactions.

This article will reveal the necessary steps needed to prevent infestations, and offer ideas on where to find help from experts such as https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/exterminator/arizona/.

Reducing Indoor Odors

Rodents will come to your home if it emits various odors. For example, critters could detect odors from your indoor garbage can. You may also garner a rotten smell in the home if you discard carrot or onion peelings.

Additionally, insects such as flies and gnats can detect the presence of rotting vegetable matter. Before long, your garbage could have maggots.

To mitigate odors, clean up crumbs and leftover food as much as possible. After making a meal, don’t leave your food out in the open for long periods. Further, clean your eating areas extensively. Rodents can pick up on the slightest crumb odors.

If you spill anything, clean it immediately. Odors from sticky substances can also attract vermin. Further, don’t leave liquids out in the open. Leaving out a glass of wine, for example, can entice rodents.

Pests can also detect the smell of pet food. Therefore, don’t leave any pet food out overnight. You should also seal cat or dog food bags in a large bin to mitigate the odor.

To mitigate food odors, throw away decomposing garbage into an outside trash bin. If possible, take all refuse to your outside trash can daily. Rotting garbage may still attract mice but only from outside.

Also, seal your inside trash containers extra tight. You can also use airtight containers, coffee tins, or glass jars to trap food odors. Additionally, purchase rodent-proof containers that offer additional seal protection.

A rodent-proof bin can be made of metal. Plastic containers may not work because rodents can chew through them.

Cleanup Outside Areas 

Check the surrounding area of the garbage cans to see if there’s spillage in the vicinity. If you have a dumpster, close the lid each night, and clean up litter around the area. Mice and rats are notorious for frequenting dumpster areas.

If you have a bird feeding area, remove the food, and clean out the stations regularly. Additionally, store the food in a rodent-proof bin or container.

For birdbaths, clean them daily and discard the water. Also, consider adopting a landscaping routine, such as:

    • Trimming bushes
    • Cutting away tree branches
    • Cutting the grass regularly

Vermin love to hide in anything they can find. Cutting the grass and removing shrubbery will give them fewer hiding places.

You should also cut palm trees regularly, as pests and rodents love to nest in them. Additionally, trim bushes and trees near points of entry, including the roofs and windows. Rodents can use excess vegetation as a bridge into your home.

    • Example: If you have tree limbs that touch your roof, rodents can use them as a bridge. Rodents can climb trees and light poles. From there, they can sneak into your attic.

Additionally, scope the yard to see if you need to remove loose items. You may think you have a clean yard overall. However, you may have a spare tire that lies out in the open. Perhaps your kids leave toys in the yard.

In other cases, you could have dead animals near your property, especially if you live near wooded areas. You may also have a car you don’t use anymore.

Mice and rats can nest in cars that sit for long periods. In worst cases, they can chew on wiring and damage your car’s internal components.

Regardless, remove all miscellaneous items from your yard, and store them accordingly.

Kitchen Cleaning

Inside clutter removal is just as important as outside junk removal. Start with the kitchen, and clean it more thoroughly than other areas. Small pieces of food are enough to attract pests. You may have bits of old food on your floor and not know it.

Sweep the floors thoroughly, and mop the entire floor to remove floor stains. Floor stains can also draw in vermin.

    • Note: Keep your cabinets clean as well. Crumbs and other debris can accumulate in your cabinets without your knowledge.

Further, don’t leave any dishes in your sink. If you don’t have a dishwasher, wash and dry the dishes immediately. If you have a dishwasher, rinse the dishes before placing them in the washer. Food residue on your plates will be enough to lure rodents into your home.

Also, practice food safety standards. After eating, avoid leaving food out in the open. Food that’s not stored properly can grow stale and attract the attention of rodents.

Instead, put away your food in the refrigerator or freezer as quickly as possible. You may also leave out food to cool before putting it away. In such a case, store the food the minute it cools down.

Home Cleaning

Tidy up your living space to reduce clutter. Rodents love to hide in piles. You’ll also throw critters off-guard by cleaning your house daily. Pests will settle into your home if they suspect the clutter will remain.

You can make your home more inhospitable for them by depriving them of hiding spots. Clean throughout all parts of your house, including your garage. You should also remove dead bugs, as they can also attract rodents. A daily cleaning regimen may seem hard at first, but you’ll get used to it over time.

    • Note: You can also make other critters uncomfortable with ventilation. Humid temperatures will attract pests such as centipedes and scorpions.

Laundry rooms can also attract moisture. Since many pests love moisture, you may discover some uninvited guests as you do your laundry. Also, dirty laundry can emit odors that may intrigue invaders. As a result, a rodent could make a home in your dirty clothes pile.

If possible, wash and dry your clothes daily. For wet clothes, wash them immediately. Wet clothes that sit in humid temperatures can draw in centipedes.

Wet clothes will also cause mildew to grow. If you must wash your clothes weekly, use a hamper basket that has holes. The holes in your basket will foster airflow.

Sealing Areas

The next step is to seal all openings inside and outside of your home. A rat can fit through a hole that’s the size of a quarter. To be on the safe side, seal any opening that’s over a fourth inch. You can choose the following types of sealants:

    • Expanding foam
    • Elastomeric sealant
    • Wire mesh
    • Cement mortar

Check the doors and walls for small entry points. Ensure your doors have quality weatherstripping, as rodents could slip through the gaps. Check your windows as well.

The gaps within doors and windows shouldn’t be any larger than a quarter inch. Moreover, check all plumbing areas. Look for holes under your sinks and around the dishwasher. You should also lay traps under your sink.

Contact a Rodent Removal Specialist

Despite your best efforts, rodents can still invade your home. However, rodent pest control companies can keep rodents and other pests at bay throughout the year.

They can also recommend the best traps and methods that mitigate pests between appointments. Further, they can help you locate entry points if you don’t where rats or mice are coming from.

Above all, pest and rodent control services can keep you healthy. Pests such as rodents can spread disease, especially if they leave behind feces and urine. They could even contaminate your food without your knowledge. If you need professional services, check out altus pest control.

Rodent Pest Control Done the Right Way

Rodent pest control entails simple measures, cleaning your interior and exterior routinely. Remove food crumbs sooner rather than later. Reduce clutter inside and outside the home.

Ensure you have sufficient weatherproofing, and you should seal any holes on your property. More importantly, professional rodent control is your best defense against rodent breaches.

Interested in reading more? Read more on our blog to gain insight into other topics.


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3 thoughts on “Prevent Pests and Rodents: A Handy Checklist for Rodent Pest Control”

  1. Thanks for the reminder that sealing holes on my walls will also be a major part of rodent pest control. I plan to find a good pest control service soon because I plan on having a larger pantry in my kitchen someday. I have to make sure that rats wouldn’t be able to get their hands on my monthly food supplies.

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