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Learning about ways to get rid of rats and mice is critical, but it’s more important to know how to prevent them from entering the house in the first place

Here are a few easy steps you can take to stop rodents from entering your home:

• Close any cracks or openings, no matter how small, with a proper sealant
• Keep your home, especially attic and basement, free from clutter
• Make sure to wipe the surfaces of your kitchen and store food in a container box
• Store firewood places above the ground and cover them when not in use
• Dispose of garbage on a regular basis

Now that you know how to prevent rodents from making their way through inside the house, check out these five simple ways to get rid of them.

Hot Pepper Flakes

Using hot pepper flakes is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to keep rats and mice away from your house. It’s perhaps a very popular way an old method that’s used by homeowners for ages to keep their house rodent-free.

The process is pretty straightforward and simple; all you need to do is spread the hot pepper flakes in the entrance points and corner of your home and you’re good to go.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil has a very intense menthol aroma, which discourages rats from entering your home. Hence, you can take some cotton balls, drip it in peppermint oil and place them at different points of entrance, corners, and spaces where you think mice can take shelter.

Not only will it help to keep them away from your house, but your house will also smell great, which is an added advantage. In fact, peppermint oil has numerous therapeutic benefits.

Onions

Like peppermint oil, onions also have a very pungent smell, which helps in keeping rodents away from your home. However, there are a couple of additional challenges when using onions to get rid of the mouse.

Firstly, it can become toxic to pets at home so you must ensure your pets don’t accidentally chomp them down. Secondly, it rots pretty very quickly so you’ll need to replace them every alternate day.

Glue Traps and Snap Traps

Glue traps and snap traps are one of the most reliable ways to capture rodents as well as insects. As a matter of fact, they can provide fast results. Snap traps are more expensive than glue traps, but they can be used multiple times.

However, using a snap trap means that you’ll have to assume the duty of removing and disposing of the captured mouse and then reset the trap and place it again.

Mouse Bait Stations

Mouse bait stations serve as a perfect choice to catch rats and mice, especially if you have toddlers, small children, or pet in your home. They have a temper proof window, which keeps the little ones safe.

Moreover, most of the mouse bait stations come with a transparent window, which can help you monitor the bait and know when to re-fill without actually opening the cover.

Tired of rats and mice from infiltrating your home? Hire professional residential pest control services by Xterminator. We’re an experienced pest control company based in Columbus, Ohio that can help you get rid of rats and mice by using a combination of integrated pest management and mouse traps. To book a no-obligation appointment, call us at (740) 454-8000 or visit our website.