4 Ways To Keep Mice Out Of Your Home When You Vacation Elsewhere Over The Winter
If you live the snowbird lifestyle and head to a different state when cold weather arrives, you're probably always a little concerned about your home property while you're away. A vacant house can attract invaders, both human and animal. You don't want to come home to a stinky house full of mice. Since mice look for warmth and shelter in the winter too, it's best to implement mice control measures before you leave. Here are some ideas.
1. Empty And Clean Your Cupboards
Remove all food sources for the mice. Food in jars and cans are fine to leave, but food in boxes and sacks should be taken with you, disposed of, or stored in sealed metal cans. This includes things like birdseed, grass and garden seeds, and pet food.
Once your cabinets are empty, wash them down to remove food odors. By eliminating food and water sources from your house, your home won't be as enticing for mice to hang around in and multiply.
2. Have Someone Monitor Your House
A vacant house is appealing to mice since there is no human activity to scare them away. If you have a trusted friend or family member who lives nearby, consider having them check on your house regularly to watch for signs of rodent activity.
If you don't have anyone to watch your house, consider using a property management service to monitor your home and call a mice pest control company if services are needed.
3. Hire A Pest Control Company
Let a pest control company seal up your house before you leave so all the gaps are plugged that mice could wiggle through. If you block all entry points, you might keep mice out that way, although mice might gnaw through areas with rotted wood.
Go through the inside of your house too and look for gaps around pipes under sinks and holes in other places that you can plug with steel wool. In addition to sealing your house, you might arrange for pest control treatments during the winter so the company can monitor for signs of mice and set traps if necessary.
4. Try Repellents
Mice repellents get mixed reviews. It may not hurt to try them, but you probably don't want to rely on them to keep mice away. You might want to try an ultrasonic repellent that plugs in the wall or scents such as peppermint and cloves. The scents will probably wear off long before you return, but if you have a family member replenish them, you can return home to a nice smelling house rather than one that has a musty mouse odor.
For more information on keeping mice and other critters away while you're on vacation over the winter, talk to a pest control company in your area like Quality Termite & Pest Control Inc.
