In addition to spreading disease like the hantavirus and listeria, mice can also do quite a bit of damage to your home and property. Those are just a few of the reasons why you need to come up with a comprehensive plan for keeping those unwanted pests out of your home or place of business. Here is a quick look at four simple tips that you can use to prevent a major rodent infestation.

Start With the Entry Points

The average mouse can fit through extremely small openings, and that is why you should thoroughly inspect your kitchen for any potential entry points. Small openings can usually be found around doors and windows, but you can also check near the pipes and electrical outlets. Once you have found an opening, you will need to seal it up with all-purpose caulk or another similar product. For larger openings around pipes, water-resistant caulk is going to be a much better option. That type of caulk won’t crack or develop mold when it is exposed to water, and it only takes a few minutes to cure.

Seal Your Food

Completely sealing up all of your food might seem like a hassle, but that simple tactic will greatly reduce your risk of a mouse infestation. Mice need quite a bit of food to survive, and they are probably going to avoid your home if they can’t find some type of sustenance. Unfortunately, mice easily eat through plastic bags and cardboard containers, and that means you need to invest in some heavy-duty plastic bins. You should also avoid keeping any food on your counters or in open containers such as bread baskets.

Clean Up Your Kitchen

A few small crumbs on the ground or counter will be the perfect meal for a mouse, and that food is going to give them enough energy to build a nest and reproduce. At least once or twice a day, you need to clean every inch of your kitchen. Thoroughly cleaning your kitchen will be time-consuming, but it is one of the best ways to keep pests out of your home or place of business. You must also avoid keeping any dishes in your sink. If you are struggling with a mouse infestation at your business, then you need to make it a company policy that all employees clean up after every meal.

Get Rid of Standing Water and Leaks

Mice can remain hydrated by eating certain foods, but those rodents usually prefer a steady source of water. A slow leak under your sink will provide an entire family of rodents with plenty of water, and that moisture could result in black mold as well. Water leak alarms are inexpensive devices that can be placed under all of the sinks and faucets in your home. When one of those devices detects moisture, it will trigger an audible alert. Luckily, most leaks can easily be repaired with nothing more than some basic plumbing supplies and a few tools.