Pest control experts recommend making sure you put your waste in a metal bin and not a plastic one, as the rodents can easily nibble their way through plastic to get at any food or edible contents inside.
Rentokil also advises keeping food like rice and pasta in metal or glass containers with tight-fitting lids; there is also no substitute for keeping your house tidy as less clutter means less places for rats and mice to hide.
Other things you can do to keep your home rat-free include putting outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding from contents, as well as cleaning up pet food and bird seed debris, and storing pet food in robust containers with fitted lids ideally above the ground.
You should also keep your garden free from debris and keep clutter to a minimum, and you should not include organic food waste in your compost heap as this is a magnet for mice and rats, according to the experts.
Secure your entrances.
Young rats and mice can squeeze through small gaps under doorways. You can stop them gaining access to your home byt fitting strips to the bottom of doors as a deterrent. You should also check cat flaps and garage entrances too.
Plug any wall gaps
Holes or small openings around utility cables and pipes need to be filled with stainless steel wire wool and caulking or concrete. Rats can jump quite high so check up to a height of about 4 feet.
Proof your roof
Rats climb onto roofs using electrical cables or overhanging hedge and tree branches. This means they can get into a loft or attic, so make sure you maintain your roof.
Drains and sewer pipes
Rats have been known to swim up damaged sewer pipes and get round u-bends in toilets, so keep toilet seat lids closed. They will also use drain pipes and drainage outlets. Fit metal grates or screens to cover drains and make sure any damaged pipes are mended swifly.
