While we welcome family and friends into our homes over the winter and its festive period, the cold weather can also attract some unwanted visitors.
Mice tend to enter peoples homes as the temperatures outside plummet, looking for warmth - but thankfully, there are a number of deterrents to keep them at bay.
Not only can the sight of a mouse give you a nasty shock, but they can also destroy our homes by chewing through cables, eating food and digging holes in carpets as a form of transit from room to room. And once they're in and settled, it can become increasingly harder to get rid of them due to the rate at which they reproduce.
But it's very important that we do not use poisons, as you could hurt a pet or loved one with this. Thankfully, pest experts at CleanKi have shared some valuable intel on how to keep mice away.
The Mirror reports that in a post shared online, expert Paul shared some top tips on keeping unwanted visitors out. Firstly, you'll want to make sure your bins are sealed and the lids are closed constantly - while also ensuring that food is never left open. If mice have a difficult time accessing food, they're less likely to stay in your home.
Paul said: "Rodents love a free and easy meal. This will often be the thing that first encourages them into your property. If you keep your food sealed and hidden, they won’t be encouraged."
You should also try to keep on top of your garden, as mice can nest among plants, leaves and grass, which in-turn encourages them to go into your home. If you have the likes of ivy and other climbing flowers in your garden, you should also try to prevent them growing near your home, as mice will use these to access your house.
A rat needs 60ml of water each day, so keep water shut off as and where possible in the home and garden to discourage them. And finally, seal off any holes in your home as rats can get into your house through a two centimetre entry point. Meanwhile, mice only need something the width of a pencil, so crack out the sealant and get covering.
Paul added: "Ensure air bricks aren't broken, check there aren't gaps around your windows and doors, and fit interceptors to drains, to stop them being used as highways into your house."
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