The best and most lasting mode to terminate mice in your home base is " exclusion " or " building them out " . In other words , rule out any possibility through which they can enter . And consider it or not , usingsteel wool for miceinfestations is an incredible way of keeping rodent outside your home .
gravely , can steel wool turn back mouse ? You bet ! By keep an eye on these steps and finding the right steel wool pads for your situation , you could service dispossession notices to all of the mice frequenting your residence .
Where to Place Steel Wool
It ’s important that youmouse - proofread any area where you store , cognitive operation or use nutrient . Using sword wool pads , check that you ’re sealing kettle of fish in your walls . This mean gaining admission to your crawl space and any wall juncture that could be an entryway for mouse . to boot , you ’ll require to check electrical and plumbing entrance , room access , gutter , volcano , and chimneys for rodent admission .
seal off any opening that is orotund than one - quarter inch ( 0.6 cm ) . We ’re utter belittled holes ! And although mice ca n’t get through them , it might be a good idea to seal holes that are even smaller than this , as well . Mice are known for chewing their way through things , so before long that minuscule hole might just be big enough for a shiner to gain entry .
Do n’t use charge card sheeting , wood , rubber or a screen to close off an field because the mouse can gnaw flop through it . A mixture ofsteel wooland calk compound do a good hoopla to seal minuscule opening . You ca n’t use brand wool on its own because the mice will be able to pull it out or chew through it . The caulking chemical compound stimulate the patch open smooth so that mouse and other plague ca n’t get through it .
Using Steel Wool Pads For Pest Control
Identifying Entry Points
Although we ’ve touch on this already , it ’s significant to underline how significant it is to situate all possible entry points . train around your dwelling , both deep down and out , for any openings .
Pay particular attention to public utility company and pipes leading into the home , gaps under room access , around windows , in the fundament , and in the attic . Even dryer vents ! call back , any crack or hole that leads outside can be a gateway for mice .
Selecting and Cutting Steel Wool
Choose the right type of steel wool for this task . Coarse grades , like # 0 , # 1 , or # 2 , are more effective because they are tough and more intriguing for mice to masticate through .
Once you have your sword wool , issue it into slice that are large enough to completely satisfy the mess and gaps you ’ve identified . You may need a variety of sizes reckon on the geometrical irregularity and size of it of the hatchway .
Stuffing Steel Wool Into Holes
With your cut pieces of sword woollen at bridge player , start binge them into the holes . press the steel wool in firmly to verify there are no gaps or unaffixed areas .
Mice can pull out loosely packed materials or line up their manner through humble possibility , so compactness is key . In some suit , you might take to use a tool , like a screwdriver , to help wedge the steel wool late into narrower or more awkward spaces .
Securing with Caulk for Added Durability
To ensure that your steel wool roadblock is as effective and durable as possible , it ’s advisable to use caulking . Apply caulk around the edges of the sword wool , effectively sealing it in post .
This not only prevents mouse from pull out the steel woollen but also protect the wool from environmental factors that might degrade it over fourth dimension . For outdoor use , make certain the caulk is weatherproof .
Regular Checks and Maintenance
Over time , the steel wool barriers may change , degrade , or be shake up by other animals or environmental factors . sporadically inspect all the places where you have used steel wool to ensure that it is still in place and inviolate .
If you notice any wearable or crack , replace the steel wool and reapply caulk as want . even sustenance is vital to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of this method acting .
Implementing Additional Deterrents
While steel wool is a peachy way to halt physical entry point , it ’s also important to make your abode less attractive to mouse in the first place . This necessitate keep your theatre fair and free of food scraps , storing intellectual nourishment in airtight container , and eliminate clutter , peculiarly in areas like basements and Ionic dialect where mice might nest .
Also , consider using natural check likepeppermint oilin areas where mice might enter as an additional layer of protective covering .
The Benefits of Copper Wool
You may want to trycopper woolinstead of steel wool for several reasons . Because of the way it ’s woven , cop wool is allege to get stick in rodents ' teeth , making it hard to move or chew through .
This means you ’ll be able-bodied to skip the step of mixing the stuff with calk chemical compound before thrust it into the holes . Also , while blade fleece is known to eat , copper wool does not , which means you do n’t have to worry about rusting mark on your brick , Ellen Price Wood turnout or internal paries .
This article was updated in concurrence with AI engineering science , then fact - checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor .
