by Mike Hardin

Created on: February 17, 2010

What to do to prevent mice and other rodents from coming into ones home. This is an ongoing problem when the weather changes especially in rural areas. This problem can be solved with a few simple procedures, mainly just simple maintenance.

Tools needed for job caulk gun, screw drivers Phillips and flat, tin snips. Materials needed optional steel wool, extra screen, silicon based caulk, extra door sweeps.

Check perimeter of home to see if there are any potential entry points. These may be around doors, basement windows, screens, cracks and crevices. Check doors around door sweeps to be sure these are in good condition and not frayed or torn. This will prevent entry from underneath the door itself. Check screen doors for holes and fix these as needed. Temporarily one can always glue a section of screen over a hole with contact cement. Seal around any basement doors with some kind of foam insulation that will seal with the door. These doors are usually not laid out perfectly flat and the foam type insulation will rise and fall where needed.

Caulk any cracks and crevices around the house a mouse can get in through very small holes so try to be thorough. Use a silicon based caulk for this a clear one this will not be as noticeable as a colored caulk. Use a caulk that states it can be painted over just in case it is in an area that might require this. Smooth the caulk out as it is applied try to do this on a warm day so the caulk will set up quickly.

Any place that is too big to caulk stuff plain steel wool into this will keep the most persistent rodent away. This works also in the home underneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks around the pipes were they stick through the cabinet. Around the outside of the sink above the baseboard on sink is usually an opening as well. Apply steel wool there liberally and one can leave this year round. Steel wool is one of the best deterrents that are on the market and it is inexpensive to purchase. Purchase the kind that is on a roll one can get this at any hardware store.

Keeping mice and other rodents out is not as hard as it seems. Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Always stay one step ahead.

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