Cleaning tip of the weekThe house could use a major overhaul once in a while. Cleaning expert Marja Middeldorp therefore helps to solve everyday problems. Today: mice in the house.
Do you see mouse droppings, smell a pungent odor and discover gnawing marks? ,,Yes, then you can assume that you have a mouse at home. They are real family animals that can breed like no other”, warns Marja. A mouse has a gestation period of 20 days and can produce 25 to 36 babies a year. Personally I hate it. Crocodiles and spiders don’t scare me, but a mouse really scares me. I therefore have to deal with people who suffer from mice.”
According to Marja, the burden is not only between the ears. “The urine and droppings of mice cause misery. It can make you sick. So they are small, but not harmless. Especially if they’ve nibbled on your food, you’d better throw it away.”
Where do the mice come from?
In the summer, mice live outside, but the house mouse moves in when it gets colder, where it looks for food. “You are less bothered by other species such as a shrew, field mouse or field mouse. However, the house mouse is an omnivore. The best way to keep him from knocking on your door is to keep food out of his reach. Don’t leave the dirty dishes on the counter, make sure everything is clean and tidy. Vacuum and mop your house regularly.”
But that’s not enough, Marja warns. ,,Did you buy rice or muesli? Then put it in a glass jar, so that mice can no longer reach it. They can nibble open a box or plastic bag. I can’t guarantee they’ll be gone forever, but it can certainly help.”
What can you do about mice?
“Look for the place where mice enter. It’s usually just a small hole. They squeeze through the smallest hole. But you could set a trap at those places. Such a thing that snaps shut isn’t fun, but it’s effective. You want to get rid of it, right? Here and there I still read fables about the use of aluminum foil, which mice would rather not walk over. But most mice don’t care about that.”
Chasing mice outside
– Place (animal-friendly) clamps. The use of poison in the open air is prohibited.
– Trim the grass and plants, so that the mice can no longer hide so easily.
– Do not throw stale bread or fat balls in the garden. This way you can prevent a mouse infestation. It’s a pity for the birds, but food also attracts mice and other vermin.
– Keep your garden free of leaf litter and food scraps. This way you prevent other unwanted rodents at the same time.
You can find more tips at the network of pest controllers Lost critters.
All in all, prevention is better than cure, says Marja. ,,Oh yes, some people eat in their bed. Well, I get the creeps just thinking about mice crawling into your bed because they’re coming for the crumbs. So it’s simple: don’t eat in bed, because then that mouse will have a tail.”
Getting a cat then, good solution? “Then it might turn into a game. I immediately think of Tom and Jerry. Well, that Jerry wins quite often. In addition, cats and other pets need food and that is exactly what those mice come for. Cats have also become a lot lazier over the years, I feel. They stay on the couch all day and hardly go hunting anymore.”
If you can’t figure it out yourself, Marja says it’s best to have an expert come over. “Keep in mind that they are busy in your house for a few hours and that you are not allowed to be there yourself. Especially now that people are being asked to stay at home because of the pandemic, that may still be a hassle. And be well informed about what they are going to do and whether you can safely let a baby walk on the floor afterwards.”
Cleaning mouse poo and urine
,,You can encounter some droppings and it is therefore better not to leave them behind. Take a bucket with lukewarm water, add a dash of all-purpose cleaner and a dash of ammonia. That cleans well and prevents a pungent odor in the house.”
View more cleaning tips from Marja Middeldorp below:
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