They are fast, eat everything and also leave a lot of droppings behind: Mice! Many people are terrified of these little animals. The idea of them walking under or on your bed makes your hair stand on end. Mice are more active at night than during the day. You can hear them tripping in the kitchen, bedroom and between ceilings. Especially around the winter months, the mice seek out warm places. And let this just be in our house. But how do you prevent these little hairy critters from entering your territory?
Store food
It is very important that you do not unconsciously lure the mice in. A bait can be anything edible. Even the smallest crumbs can still attract mice, so store your food in the best possible way. Usually, storage in a cupboard is not enough, so buy, for example, closing plastic bins where you can carefully store the food.
Get a cat (or dog)
A cat is of course one of the best ways to keep the bugs out. The mere scent of the cat really deters the mouse. In principle, dogs are not mouse hunters, but the dog’s smell is also a deterrent. Other rodents, such as rabbits and hamsters, attract mice. If you don’t have a cat or dog in the house, it is sometimes useful to put a few tufts of hair from another cat in small cracks and holes that the mouse can get out of.
To clean
Cleaning is essential for keeping mice out. Crumbs and small food scraps attract mice in great numbers. So if you have been busy in the kitchen, for example, it is important to clean everything as well as possible. Smells from all-purpose cleaner and other cleaning products will not be very appealing to the mice. Another place that requires regular good cleaning is the refrigerator. Under the refrigerator is a warm area where mice like to nest. So keep an eye on it that it stays clean around the refrigerator.
Close the back door
If you have a garden, it is wise not to leave the door open for long. Especially if you have a cat, it will want to take its prey from the outside in. In the summer it is not bad to leave the back door open, as the nuisance from mice is considerably lower than in the winter. When cold, mice prefer to move to warm places and therefore indoors.
Poison
Dishes with mouse poison can of course also prevent mice from reaching certain places. The pellets of poison work on the basis of anticoagulant, which means that the mice have to take the poison several times before they die. Also remember: If you have pets, it is not possible to use the granules, because they should not be allowed to ingest the poison. The poison is also deadly to other pets. Also, the poison you can buy in the store is not always the best solution for a large mouse infestation. Some mice become resistant to the poison. In case of major nuisance, call in a control company.