Attention reader! Rats on are on the loose in your property. And we’re not talking about the cute, house trained kind, but the disease spreading, dropping dropping type. We’re talking about rats the size of cats that sneak up toilets and invade homes.
Anyway, now that we’ve got your attention, we’d actually like to reassure rather than alarm you. Though we’re loath to reel out that oft quoted statistic, we’re going to anyway; you’re never more than six feet away from a rat in London.
The likelihood of one lingering beneath your floorboards or scuttling across your surfaces in search of crumbs is, frankly, higher than you might think. But rather than sending you into a state of shock and paranoia, we hope this helps you realise that there should be no stigma attached to visiting rodents.
Instead, be aware that because it’s such a common problem, humane solutions are equally easy to come by. We hope this article helps, then; here’s how to rid your home of rats in 5 IDEAL steps.
Keep Up Regular Home Repairs
Prevention is better than cure, as the old adage goes, and in terms of pest control in the domestic setting, never has a truer tone been struck. Indeed, a house in dilapidated condition is not just an open door to rat infestation; it’s a ‘make yourself at home, we’ve put the kettle on…how do you feel about moving in?’ kinda come on.
If you’re falling behind on home repairs like degraded siding or roof leaks, then chances are that you’re letting access points for rodents develop over time. Keeping on top of your home maintenance will go a long way towards preventing you from having to share your living space with these rodents.
Block Tunnelling Access
One of the ways that rats get into your home other than the obvious (holes in your walls and ceilings) is actually from below; starting underground and burrowing their way upwards. Rat paws are made for burrowing deep and dexterously, so in order to prevent rats from using their tunneling prowess to gain access to your home, you should set up mechanisms to block their efforts.
The best way to do exactly this is to line the ground right next to your exterior walls with pavement stone set into the earth. Rodent digging efforts will be stymied by pavement stone without fail.
Store Food Securely
Rats are as one track minded as the rest and best of us. And the reason rats are so intent on gaining access to your home isn’t so they can have a soak in your tub or watch Netflix. It is, of course, to find food.
If you leave fresh food, easily accessible packaged food, rubbish containing food, or debris from previous meals lying about your home in a careless fashion, you’re just asking for rodents to invite their whole nest over for a chowdown.
The guys at toplinepestcontrol.co.uk emphasise the importance of storing your food more securely. Keep groceries away in a closed pantry and never leave food open on the counter overnight (this includes plates and pans needing to be washed up). Sweep, vacuum, and mop your kitchen regularly so that there aren’t any food scraps on your house’s floors to tempt rodents in. What’s more, you should take your garbage out regularly, though don’t leave particularly fragrant foods in the trash, outdoors, overnight or you’ll only be attracting more interest.
Check If The Council Is Responsible
Good news; your landlord or the council may well be responsible for dealing with your pest problem. If you’re renting, your landlord should sort out pest control if repairs are needed to stop the pests getting in or an infestation makes your home difficult or unsafe to live in. You may incur responsibility if your actions and routines encourage pests to visit, but we’ve already dealt with that above, right?
You should contact the council first, prior to professional services, to seek assistance. Should they not be forthcoming, then it’s time to enlist external help…
Call Pest Control
If these preventative measures fail, then a cure is in order. Rather than raising the white flag and resigning yourself to life with new rodent housemates, consider calling a professional pest control service, who will be able to diagnose the exact problem that is allowing rats entry into your home and then deal with that problem accordingly.
If you hate seeing a rodent in your gaff, worry about the hygiene implications, or have a phobia, then the cost of pest control is certainly well worth the service.
The Bottom Line
There you have it — now that you know of the different strategies on preventing rat infestation, all that remains is for you to start implementing these in your home. Pretty soon, you’ll be proud to say that you live in your home without any little furry four-pawed pests around to spoil the fun.