Why is it Necessary to Get Rid of Rodents for a Clean Home Stay?

We all love to keep our homes clean and safe from insects, and considering the current Covid-19 pandemic, our cleaning practices are constantly at their peak to keep all kinds of diseases and illnesses at bay. But whenever we come across rat droppings in the corner of our living room’s floor, a sudden panic wave surely runs down our spine. We immediately run to the store for rat poison and sticky traps to get rid of the rodents and sleep without worries.

Dealing with rodent infestation and implementing effective strategies are very important for maintaining a clean house. Although we might find the task pretty dirty and panicky, one could also take the help of professionals to get rid of rat infestation immediately with some proven rodent control strategies. As per an extensive report published by Research Dive, the global rodent control market is predicted to generate a revenue of $4,659.7 million and grow at a stable CAGR of 4.9% in the 2021-2028 forecast timeframe.

Why Are Rodents Annoying?

Rats’ front most teeth never stop growing and to make them sharper, they bite and gnaw on objects all the time. From electrical wires, couches, and furniture to food items, utensils, and important papers, rodents feed on literally everything. Moreover, they also urinate and leave behind feces to mark their territory, attracting other rodents and harboring several other diseases like Tularemia and Hantavirus. In addition, rats also cause visible structural damage, since they work their way through walls and holes, ending up disrupting insulation and destroying weather-proofing products.

Some Common Rodent Access Points

Rat poisons and traps won’t be enough to keep rodents out of the house; one would also need to seal all the possible access points to permanently get rid of them. Here are a few common rodent access points:

1. Holes near doors, cabinets, and closets that lead to outside
2. Holes around appliance pipes and sink
3. Crawl spaces under buildings and missing screens in vents
4. Holes around windows
5. Cracked foundations in the basement
6. Unscreened ventilation holes in the attic

Some Common Sources of Rodent Attractions

Besides entry points, a rodent infestation can also occur through some attractions like water and food. Here are a few sources of water and food:

1. Water and pet food left out overnight
2. Food items like chips, biscuits, cereals, crackers, and flour in unsealed containers or plastic bags
3. Leaky faucets and pipes
4. Vegetables and fruits left uncovered in open bowls outside the refrigerator
5. Open trash cans

Steps to Maintain a Rat-free Home

3 basic steps to avoid rat infestation are to prevent, identify, and treat.

Prevent all possible entry points by sealing food items, fruits, vegetables, covering water, repairing any leaky taps in the house, not leaving the trash cans open, etc. You should also de-clutter your house of fabric, shredded papers, and other materials that attract rodents.

Identify signs of rat infestation like rodent droppings inside kitchen cabinets, around uncovered food, under the sink, and nesting materials like shredded fabric and paper.

In case you’re positive about rodent infestation, immediately treat it with electronic traps, snaps, and rat poisons. You can also install barn owl nesting boxes to control rats easily.

The Bottom Line

Rodent infestation is very easy if we don’t pay attention to cleanliness and keep our house messy. To get rid of rats, one can use electric traps, sticky pads, snaps, and other exclusion and sanitation tactics, since they are affordable and safe. Implementing measures like sealing common access points and storing food items in sealed containers can help you avoid full-scale invasion.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.