Helpful Solutions for Mouse Deterrent
For anyone with little critters running around, finding an effective mouse deterrent is imperative. Not only do mice scare people but they can also spread disease and do a tremendous amount of destruction. Mice can get into food, tearing into cereal boxes, tearing labels off cans, destroying wires, and more. Then with the droppings, they are messy, unsightly, and again, a sick mouse can spread disease.
Now, some people choose traditional or inorganic types of mouse deterrent. These options work well but many involve chemicals. Therefore, people who are concerned about chemicals for health reasons or the environment, and someone with small children or pets, it might be better to choose an organic or natural mouse deterrent. The following is two traditional options.
- Poisonous Baits – Formally called “rodenticides”, these baits contain powerful poison that work as a mouse deterrent but also a rat deterrent. This type of trap can be purchased at hardware stores, home improvement stores, gardening centers, drug stores, some grocery stores, and online. The key is to purchase only a reputable brand of mouse deterrent and make sure it is placed where it will work but also be out of reach of humans and animals.
- Cats – Everyone has heard that cats are one of the most effective of all deterrents, which is true. Cats are natural predators of rodents and a single cat can keep mice away and kill those that get inside.
The following are the more preferred choices when trying to find a mouse deterrent. These options do not kill the rodents but simply trap them for safe release or prevent them from coming inside at all.
-
Peppermint Oil – This type of oil can be purchased at the grocery store and when a thin line of oil is placed at entry points, mice will stay away.
- Sound Devices – One of the more innovative types of mouse deterrent is the electronic device that emits a high-pitched ultrasonic sound that cannot be heard by humans. However, as a mouse deterrent, the noise is painful to small rodents, again keeping them from entering the home.
- Safe Traps – A popular type of mouse deterrent is the safe trap. These traps come in a variety of styles but they all work from the same concept of trapping a mouse inside a contraption but without killing it.
Although people can use all types of mouse deterrent products and homemade recipes, the two best methods of keeping mice away is with sanitation and proper building. For starters, if a new home were under construction, any possible opening would need to be sealed. A good rule of thumb is that if an opening is larger than one-quarter of an inch, mice will get inside. Therefore, the builder should not only consider the comfort and style of the home, but also proper materials and construction to work as a natural mouse deterrent.
Finally, sanitation is essential for keeping mice outside. Although mice love cereals, they will eat anything if hungry enough. Because of this, cereal boxes should be in a pantry or cabinet without any possible openings, food spills should be cleaned up, and foods that might be left out on the countertop such as butter, nuts, bread, etc should be stored in a secure place.