Winter Rodent Prevention: 3 Essential Tips to Protect Your Home
- Ryan at Home Shield
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 18
Winter's here, and while you're cranking up the heater and getting cozy, guess who else is looking for a warm spot?
Yep, rats and mice are basically the ultimate party crashers—except they bring diseases, chew through your favourite stuff, and definitely don't help with the washing up.
Think Like a Security Guard: Check Your Entry Points
Here's the thing about rodents—they're basically furry contortionists. A mouse can squeeze through a gap the size of a ballpoint pen, while rats need about as much space as your pinky finger.
Pretty impressive stuff, really. Less impressive when they're doing it in your kitchen at 2 AM while you're trying to sleep.
Do a walk-around your home like you're checking the perimeter. Make sure to pay special attention to where pipes and cables enter your house - these are like highways for rodents.
Steel wool stuffed into gaps works a treat because, unlike that expanding foam you grabbed from Bunnings, rats can't chew through metal.
Food Storage: Don't Run a 24-Hour Takeaway
Rodents are basically tiny food critics with shocking table manners. They'll have a crack at everything from pet kibble to that cereal you forgot about in the back of the pantry.
The solution? Make your kitchen more secure than a bank vault (or at least more secure than a cardboard box).
Invest in some proper airtight containers—your future self will thank you when you're not finding mystery holes in your Weet-Bix.
And here's a pro tip: clean under your appliances regularly. Those crumbs under the toaster aren't just unsightly—they're basically a Michelin-starred restaurant for rodents.
Water Sources: Don't Run a Day Spa Either
Rodents need water just as much as food, and Sydney's winter humidity doesn't help matters.
Fix those dripping taps you've been meaning to get around to—even a small drip can keep a family of mice happy for weeks.
Check under sinks for leaks, and don't leave pet water bowls out overnight. Your dog might be thirsty at 3 AM, but so are your uninvited guests.
Make sure to clear your gutters too - blocked gutters create perfect little water reservoirs that rats absolutely love. It's like setting up a rooftop swimming pool for them.
Professional Help: Sometimes You Need the Cavalry
Look, we get it - nobody wants to admit they need help with a mouse problem. But sometimes calling in the professionals is like having a pest control expert on speed dial.
We know where to look, what to look for, and how to solve the problem before it becomes a full-scale invasion. No worries, we've seen it all before.
Ready to reclaim your home? Give Home Shield Pest Solutions a call - we promise to solve your rodent - because pests are our problem, so they don't have to be yours
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