People often think of mice as a winter problem. While mice do seek shelter in warm homes during the cold winter months, they don’t just go away when spring arrives. In fact, at any point during the year, mice can invite themselves into people’s homes for food, shelter, and water. To protect your home throughout the year, follow these steps from Pro-Staff, the mice exterminators in Des Moines IA.

Seal Entry Points

A mouse can enter your home through a hole as small as a nickel. To keep mice outside where they belong, focus on sealing these potential entry points. Inside your home, you might find gaps underneath your sink, inside your cabinets, or in your basement or crawl space. Outside, you might find potential entry points around your windows, doors, or foundation. If you find any holes, they can be fixed with steel wool and caulk.

Don’t Feed the Mice

Mice enjoy many of the same foods that people do, so to keep them away, ensure that they can’t access your food. Mice can easily get inside kitchen cupboards and nibble through cardboard or paper packaging. To avoid feeding mice, store your food in glass or thick plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Mice will also eat your pet’s food, so avoid leaving pet food bowls out overnight.

Reduce Water Sources

Outdoors, mice have to search for water, but in homes, water is easy to find. Leaky pipes and faucets as well as your pet’s water bowl all provide easy access to drinking water. To discourage mice from moving into your home, reduce water sources. Repair any plumbing problems around your home and avoid leaving your pet’s water bowl out overnight.

Eliminate Nesting Sites

Mice love clutter. It gives them a comfortable place to hide and build their nests. To avoid attracting mice, reduce your clutter as much as possible. Get rid of piles of paper, old boxes, and anything else you’ve been hanging on to.

Outdoors, mice make nests in woodpiles, hay, or old tires. To keep mice away, discard any yard debris, like tires, and raise your hay and woodpiles at least a foot off the ground. If possible, move your woodpile at least 100 feet away from your house. That way, if mice do move in, they won’t be right beside your home.

By taking these simple precautions, you can make your home less appealing to mice. If you need more help keeping mice away, call Pro-Staff, the mice exterminator in Des Moines IA.