Amazing Tips to Get Rid of Rats in the House

Rats are the most common pests that invade our homes. They are not only disgusting but also pose serious health problems and contaminate our food. They also damage our belongings by chewing and gnawing on them. You must take immediate steps to remove rats from your house.

How Rats Cause Damage to the Home?

Rats can damage a home by chewing away its belongings. They will eat your furniture, electrical wires and cables, files, papers, and even clothes. Rats also chew through grocery bags and contaminate the food items. By eating the contaminated food, you can catch several diseases and illnesses. They also gnaw on doors and drywalls and damage them. Let us find out various tips and tricks that can help to get rid of rats in the house.

Place Rat Traps

If you do not want to use a toxic method to remove rats, place traps. There are various traps available in the market such as electronic traps, adhesive traps, and others that can catch rats alive. If you are using homemade traps, place them in different corners of your house, particularly in the kitchen and dining areas or where you see a lot of rat activity. Once you catch the live rats, release them far away from your house.

Seal the Gaps

Rats can enter your home through small openings. They can fit through the smallest hole and invade our homes. Inspect your home thoroughly and seal any gaps, cracks, or holes in your walls, doors, and windows. Check the areas around utility lines and seal if any gaps are there. Use door sweeps to prevent rats from entering from there. Install tight-fitting panes on windows.

Remove Food Sources

Store food in closed containers. Do not keep them in loosely sealed bags. Mop and sweep the floor regularly to remove food particles scattered on the floor. Wipe the countertops after using them so that rats do not get readily available food. Also, keeping fruits and vegetables in the open can attract rats. Store them in the refrigerator. Do not keep dirty dishes in the sink for long hours. The accumulated food particles are appealing to rats.

Trim Trees and Shrubs

Make sure that no trees or shrubs are touching your home. Grow plants and trees a little far from the house. Trim the shrubs and branches as rats can use them as bridges to get inside your home. Maintain your garden so that rats do not get enough hiding space. Mow the yard regularly.

Use Baits and Poisons

Place bait stations that have zinc phosphide with apples, bananas, peanut butter, bread, or any other eatables to lure rats. You can keep them in areas where rats frequently move or at dark corners of the house. Keep the baits out of the reach of your children and pets as they may accidentally consume them.

Use Baking Soda with Sugar

Combine a cup of flour with one cup of sugar or powdered chocolate. Add one cup of baking soda and mix them well. Sugar in chocolate will lure them to eat it and baking soda will kill them.

Apply Peppermint Oil to their Hideouts

Another thing you can do to repel rats is peppermint.  Make a solution by mixing a few drops of peppermint oil with water and wipe off the surfaces with it. Rats will leave the area where this solution is applied. However, if they access food in your house, they will not leave the area no matter the smell. Alternatively, you can stuff a peppermint oil-soaked tissue in rats' hideouts to repel them.

Keep a Cat in Your House

Pet a cat in your house to repel rats. They will not only chase the existing rats but also prevent them from entering your home. All types of cats are helpful in repelling rats but grown-up cats are experts and they may even catch and have them for their lunch or dinner. However, they may sometimes bring their prey inside the house and you may feel disgusted with that.

Call Pest Control Professionals

Seek professional assistance in case of severe rat infestation. They will assess the situation and also suggest proofing techniques so that rats do not invade your home in the future. By calling an expert rat control company, you will ensure that your rat issue is looked after professionally and you do not have to deal with it again.

Final Thoughts on How to Get Rid of Rats

Though it is challenging to eliminate rats, by following the above techniques, you can keep them at bay. If you are unable to get rid of rats despite using all the above methods or the infestation is severe, call a pro. Hire a professional pest control in Chennai to get rid of rats easily and effectively.