2 Ways To Keep Mice Away

There may be nothing worse than finding mice rummaging through your kitchen cupboards. The feces and urine they're leaving behind on your canned foods may contain diseases that can be passed on to you and your family – including tuberculosis, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis. If you find mice in your home, you need to act fast to get rid of them. In addition to calling for professional extermination services, here are a few natural ways to get rid of mice.

Seal Off Their Entry Points

Even if you keep your doors and windows closed, mice can still find their way into your home. Mice don't need much entry room at all. In fact, field mice can squeeze through small cracks in your walls. Take a look around your home, especially along the baseboards and up inside your cabinets. If you find small holes that look like they've been chewed, you've found the entry points.

Those holes will need to be sealed off. Since mice will return to their favorite entry points, it's important that you seal the holes with materials that mice can't chew through. One effective way is to wad up enough aluminum foil to fit into the hole. Place a piece of drywall tape over the foil and apply a thick layer of spackle over it. Another simple way to seal off entry points is to fill the holes with spray foam insulation. The foam will expand and harden as it dries, making it impossible for the mice to chew through it.

Reach For the Deterrents

Mice are attracted to water and food. If they smell either of those in your home, they'll invade quickly. The trick is to discourage infestation by making your home smell as unpleasant as possible. That means you'll need to fill your home with scents that deter mice. Some items that will keep mice away include moth balls, mint, and eucalyptus oil.

Fill socks with mothballs and place them in closets where you've seen mouse activity. Grow mint plants around your home, especially around outdoor water spigots. Finally, place a few drops of eucalyptus oil on cotton balls and place the cotton balls in cupboards and drawers.

As long as your home remains an attractive location for infestation, the mice will continue to return. The tips provided above will help keep mice away by making your home inaccessible to them. For assistance, talk to a professional like Environmental Services Pest Control.