As summer comes to a close, you may see an increase in rodent activity around your home. This is because they’ll be searching for a warm spot to make their homes over the cold winter period.
As summer draws to a close, you might notice increased rodent activity around your property. This occurs because they’re hunting for cosy spots to establish their homes during the chilly winter months.
With this in mind, it could be time to begin clearing your property of items that attract these unwanted visitors to ensure your home stays both rat and mouse-free for the remainder of the year. There are countless ways that your property could be enticing to these pests.
Frederic de Ryckman de Betz, CEO of HOLD Self Storage, explains: “People usually don’t realise that the way they store everyday items can turn their homes into pest magnets. Mice and rats are opportunistic and looking for three things: food, shelter, and nesting materials.”
Pet food and birdseed
“Pet food is probably the biggest culprit I see,” says Frederic. People store massive bags in garages where the packaging gets damaged. Mice can chew through plastic bags in minutes, but you’ll also attract ants, cockroaches, and rats.”
Instead, he suggests storing pet food in airtight metal or thick plastic containers with secure lids. These containers should then be kept off the floor and stored in a dry area of the home.
Cardboard boxes
Discarded cardboard boxes are a luxury nesting material for mice and rats, plus they attract insects like silverfish and cockroaches. Once you’ve opened any deliveries, be sure to place the boxes in the recycling rather than using them for storage.
Seasonal decorations
Frederic warns: “I’ve seen people pull out Christmas decorations only to find mouse droppings and moth damage. Fabric items attract clothes moths and carpet beetles too.”
To keep pests from setting up shop in your storage or ruining your decorations, the expert suggests storing them in sealed plastic containers and adding cedar balls as natural repellents.
Old newspapers and magazines
It’s not just rats and mice that can nest in your old piles of newspapers and magazines; these also draw insects like silverfish and booklice. This is because paper products soak up smells and moisture, which makes them even more appealing to pests.
If you’re reluctant to bin your old papers, store them in a secure plastic container, or think about digitising anything important and recycling the physical copies.
Pantry overflow
“Kitchen pantries are goldmines for all sorts of pests,” Frederic explains. “One small hole in a cereal box can feed a mouse family for weeks, but you’ll also attract ants, weevils, and pantry moths.”
Make sure any leftover items, such as cereal boxes, pasta, and snacks, are transferred into glass or thick plastic containers with airtight seals.
Craft supplies and fabric
Craft supplies may often be overlooked when cleaning and tidying, but they can be a haven for pests, particularly for clothes moths and carpet beetles. To prevent pests from making their home in your crafts, store any supplies in clear, sealed containers.