How to Keep Mice Out of Your Garage
It doesn’t matter if your garage is well-organized or a scene straight out of Hoarders, garages are particularly vulnerable to mice infestations. Garage doors are left open most of the time when we are home, giving pests plenty of time to move in. When mice are living in your garage, it gives them a better chance of getting into your home. It might seem impossible to keep mice out of your garage, but it is possible. All you have to do is make your garage unappealing to wayward these pests.
Why Do Mice Hide in Garages?
When mice wander into your garage they are looking for a few things:
- Food
- Shelter
- Nesting Materials
These three requirements are found in large supply in garages. The garage is typically where we store our garbage along with bird seed and other animal food. Make sure that all food and seeds are stored in plastic or metal containers with lids.
What Are Signs of a Mice Infestation?
Mice are fast and usually slip out of sight before we have a chance to see them. A good way to tell if you have mice is to look for the signs that include:
- Small black droppings
- Chewed up paper and cardboard
- Strange noises
- Dark rub marks along the base of your garage
- Nesting material
Mouse-Proof Your Garage
A garage is much like a garden shed with plenty of spaces to hide, make nests, and breed right under our noses. The best way to keep mice out of your garage is to take simple preventative measures:
- Seal off entry points
- Remove cardboard
- Remove clutter
- Embrace natural repellents
- Seek professional rodent control
Seal Off Entry Points
Possibly one of the most vital things you can do to limit a mice infestation is to seal off any gaps and crevices around your property. Mice have the ability to enter through spaces as small as a pencil width, so this tactic will have to be carefully done.
- Make sure windows are closed and seal properly
- Check that all doors shut snugly with no gaps
- Ensure that the garage door closes properly and is sealed at the bottom
Remove Cardboard
Cardboard or any paper related products can be an attractive option for nesting, so getting rid of this source can help out a lot in reducing a mouse infestation. Instead of using cardboard, store your belongings in plastic containers with a lid. This will deny rodents any nesting materials making your garage less appealing.
Remove Clutter
Clutter can be a rodent's best friend primarily on how they are able to use this to their advantage to hide. Do some spring cleaning and get rid of clutter that has been laying around. Pick things off the floor and store them on shelves.
Embrace Natural Repellents
If you’ve practiced numerous measures to keep mice out, yet they still find a way in, give natural repellents a shot. Certain herbs and spices can irritate the senses of rodents such as:
- Peppermint Oil
- Cayenne Pepper
- Black Pepper
- Cloves
- Kitty Litter
- Electronic Repellents
Peppermint Oil
For peppermint oil, soak some cotton balls in oil and leave the cotton balls in places where you've had problems with mice.
Cyan Pepper, Black Pepper, Cloves
For the spices, make pouches out of cheesecloth and leave them in places that rodents might hide.
Kitty Litter
We all know that cats are the natural enemy of mice, so it stands to reason that mice would know the smell of cat urine and learn to avoid it. Place containers of used kitty litter in areas that you suspect mice might be living.
Electronic Repellents
There are many products out there that can be plugged into an electrical outlet and produce a frequency that mice do not like. The only problem is that mice can get used to the noise over time and render it ineffective.
Seek Professional Rodent Control
If you’ve tried every method, yet mice are still finding a way in, it may be time to bring in the experts. As a family-owned and operated business, the professionals at A&C have been providing Long Island with rodent control services for almost 50 years. Give us a call today at 516-265-7028 or leave us a message on our site.