Things that draw mice and insects inside

In some ways, rodents (and even bugs) are like people. They like to eat (and enjoy many of the same foods that people eat), keep warm, and find cozy places to raise their families. Some homes (especially older ones), may need a little extra attention when it comes to critters. With age and changes in humidity, houses simply swell and expand, and therefore, crack a bit. With these creaks and cracks come little breaches. These entryways are precisely how little rodents or bugs such as ants and moths make their way into the homes of humans. Mice are quite flexible and can fit through a space the size of a dime and sometimes smaller. Ants are surprisingly sneaky, and like mice, will come into the house any way they can in search of food and water, including through open doors and windows. Moths, on the other hand, are sometimes brought into the home by way of infested food or clothing items, but of course, they are also attracted to light, and will often make their way in through open doors or windows during evening hours.

While it might be more common to find mice or bugs in older homes, new houses can get pests as well. Breaches are less likely in newer homes, but they do occur, unfortunately, and if we forget to do the simple things, like keep doors and windows closed, we make it easier for pests.

One way in which mice differ from humans is in how often they give birth. A female typically has anywhere from five to ten litters per year. On average, each litter has anywhere from five to twelve babies, so it’s not uncommon for a mother mouse to have 35 babies in one year.

To avoid the pest problem, get into a cleaning and organizing routine

If you see a mouse in your house, know that you are not alone. Yes, mice, rats and other pests tend to thrive in less clean (and certainly unclean) environments, but they do find their ways into clean homes, too. Also, in this busy world, getting behind on cleaning and organizing can happen. Get on top of it and get ahead of pests that can pose a problem.

Pest patrol protocol –– keep clean and organize daily

When you make it a rule for yourself to do a little bit of cleaning and organizing every day, life will get easier and your chances of developing a pest problem will be much smaller. Here are a few simple daily rules to help you with your overall task of keeping clean.

1. Don’t allow things to get cluttered, since cluttered areas make good hiding places for pests. Any extra newspapers, magazines, junk mail or grocery bags lying around should get tossed out or recycled.

2. Keep corners and countertops virtually clear, and closets and cabinets tidy.

• Dirty dishes can be put in the dishwasher, and perishable food items should typically be put away in the fridge (some may want to keep certain fresh fruit in a bowl versus in the fridge, which is understandable).
  
  
• Corners are good places for things that require minimal care or maintenance, such as a coat rack or a small table or chair. They are not good places to put things that get easily forgotten (a stack of old newspapers, let’s say).
  
  
• Cabinets and closets can quickly become easy places to stash things, but this can turn into a not-so-great habit as well as another place for pests to hide or hunker down. The quick solution? Don’t! Instead, go through your cabinets and closets at least once a week to see what you can part with. Don’t let stashes turn into trash!

3. Keep your floors picked up and clean. To quickly pick up dust, dirt, hair and allergens, dry mop floors daily with the Bona Premium Microfiber Mop for Multi-Surface Floors. The same mop can be used for wet mopping. Simply switch from the Bona Microfiber Sweeping Pad to the Bona Microfiber Cleaning Pad, then spray with Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner with Cedar Wood, or for tile, stone or laminate floors, use Bona Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner with Lemon Mint.

Deep cleaning to help keep mice out of the house

Deep cleaning should typically be done every three months. However, if you think you have mice, an extra deep clean won’t hurt! When dirt and grime build up, so do odors, and if you have a known rodent issue, it is very likely that your house will have an odor issue as well. Like other creatures, mice have territories, and they do mark them – frequently. Time for a deep cleaning!

Steps for deep cleaning your counters, sinks and cupboards

• Clear away and dispose of unneeded piles of papers and other detritus where mice can hide
  
  
• Clear the countertops and wipe away any crumbs
  
  
• Get rid of expired foods and put all bulk items such as grains or pastas in sealed containers
  
  
• Take everything out of the cupboards, one cupboard or one shelf at a time
  • Vacuum the cupboards inside and out, then spray them down with a good disinfectant cleaner and wipe them clean
    
    
• Check inside your cabinets or cupboards for spaces where mice may be getting inside
  • If you find a possible mousehole, block it off with a piece of foam or seal it with caulk
    
    
• Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned your cupboards, deep clean the countertops
  
  
• Scrub clean your sinks and put away all dishes –– don’t leave food or standing water behind

Now, to deep clean the floors

The PowerPlus Cleaners and Pads work seamlessly with the Bona family of mops. The cleaners are easy to use; just spray and mop. Having said that, when performing a deep clean, there are a few simple steps to follow.

1. With your Bona Premium Microfiber Mop , pick up the loose dirt and dust. Mopping is much better than vacuuming; especially if mice are present. The vacuum can blow dirt and microscopic particles into the air, which you want to avoid. Start out with the Bona Microfiber Sweeping Pad. It expertly traps dust, dirt and pet hair with its electrostatic design.

2. On your mop, switch from the Dusting Pad to the Bona PowerPlus Microfiber Deep Clean Pad. The Deep Clean Pad provides the benefit of the PowerLoop design, which breaks up and loosens tough, built-up dirt and grime, and then the dual-zone microfiber traps dirt and other particles away. According to the instructions, spray your floor with Bona PowerPlus Deep Cleaner (either for hardwood floors or hard-surface floors ) and if you have traditional hardwood flooring, mop in the direction of your floorboards.

3. Be sure to get rid of all deep stains, grease, or scuff marks. In some instances, a bit of good-old “elbow grease” may be necessary, however, to get the job done thoroughly.

4. Put away and seal up any remaining pet food in dishes – do not leave food out overnight.

For your daily or weekly cleaning routine, use Bona Scented Cleaners

Essential oils that are often used to deter critters include:

• Cedar Wood
• Lemon
• Mint
• Eucalyptus

A report from SLC.gov has indicated that eucalyptus and peppermint oils are used to deter creatures such as mice, rats and insects, including ants and moths, without posing a threat to humans or the environment. Another article from PubMed.gov speaks to the properties of cedar wood oil and its effects on ants. Additionally, this fact sheet from EPA.gov discusses how cedar wood has been used as an effective deterrent against moths. Yet another article from the Chicago Tribune speaks to the efficacy of peppermint oil and its ability to deter mice. Eucalyptus oil which is used in Bona’s Hardwood Floor Cleaner with Cedar Wood, has also been shown to deter mice and moths, according to this article from EmuRidge.com .

Guess what? Bona makes fabulously scented floor cleaners that are infused with essential oils of the above-listed scents! They are:

Keeping the above preventative cleaning measures in mind, we want to be clear in stating that while cleaning house can help in keeping mice and other pests away from the home, it may not solve a serious pest problem. If you think you have a rodent infestation, we recommend contacting a licensed, professional pest control company (there are those whose methods are friendly to the environment).