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Pest control doesn’t have to be a headache. There are lots of things you can do to prevent infestations entirely, saving you from the stress and financial burden of extermination. All it takes is a little elbow grease and determination. Since mice are common in the winter, here’s what you can do now to avoid them entirely.

1. Block Entry Points

Mice come crawling into the house via the holes they find in the wall. Examine the exterior of your home closely and fix every opening you find. Use silicone caulking to fix cracks in the siding and the window frames. Look for gaps along the sides of your soffits and seal those too. Then, seal cracks in your foundation with epoxy and cover wall vents with a quarter inch, galvanized steel mesh.

2.  Keep the Doors Closed

Leaving the door open to let in some air might also let in some mice. Keep your doors closed and add weatherstripping to their bottoms so that mice can’t crawl under them. Any gap that is a quarter inch or wider should be sealed. Have screen doors installed if you like to leave the doors open.

3. Put Food in Sealed Containers

Mice can smell your food from outside. While you can’t get rid of your food, you can seal everything up to reduce odours and keep mice out. Put all your pantry foods in sealed jars and containers. Things like flour, sugar, pasta, rice, cereal, and beans should all be out of reach. There are all kinds of pantry organizers out there that can help you stay organized while totally pest-proof.

4. Keep the house clean

Mice are attracted to cluttered homes that smell like food. So, do a little fall cleaning and tidy up. Vacuum thoroughly and get all the dust that has accumulated underneath the oven, the fridge, the couch, and the beds. Mop the floors to get rid of grease. Then, do your best to maintain the house all winter long. Do the dishes and take the garbage out every night.

5. Make garbage inaccessible

Clean your garbage bins, then tie them down with bungee cords so that no mouse can get inside. Store your garbage bins in a shed or garage until collection day. Mice are omnivores, so they will happily eat what’s in your garbage. Indoors, use lidded garbage cans and take the garbage out ever night to reduce odours.

6. Clear the sides of the house

Mice have poor eyesight, so they like to follow the same paths every night. As prey, they prefer to move under cover, so make sure that you keep the sides of your house clear. Move firewood and patio furniture away from the outer walls of the home, and trim shrubs so they are tidy, with space underneath them. Also make sure to keep compost and garbage away from your home.

7. Move the bird feeder away

Bird feeders attract squirrels, mice, rats, and other wildlife. Once in the yard, they may try to find a way indoors. If you can, switch to a hanging suet feeder that you keep far away from the house or get rid of it entirely.

8. Adopt a cat

If you were considering it already, here’s another reason to get a cat. Cats are famous for their mousing abilities. They catch mice very efficiently, and they can scare them right off your property. Most cats will show their owners when they have caught a mouse, which can warn you of an infestation when it starts. Cats are wonderful companions. Check out your nearest shelter if you’re interested.

9. Use rodent repellents

Try adding ultrasonic rodent repellents near the entrances to your house to help keep mice away. We can’t hear them, but these devices make irritating, high-pitched sounds that mice can’t stand. Alternatively, you can spray a peppermint solution around your doors and windows. Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with a cup of water and a drop of dish soap, then apply the spray ever few weeks. Mice don’t like mint.

10. Hire a Mouse Control Professional

Many pest control companies offer exclusion services in addition to removal. They can inspect your property and seal entry points for you. Professionals are quite thorough, and they know what to look for. You should also call the professionals as soon as you witness some mouse activity. Mice can get out of control in no time at all. Call the professionals near you for mouse removal and exclusion.