How to Seal Up to Prevent Rodent Infestations

Related Pages
Trap Up to Remove a Rodent Infestation
Clean Up After Rodents

Look for gaps or holes inside or outside your home

Keep rodents out of your house – check inside and outside for gaps or holes and seal any holes you find. Check for small and large holes – mice can fit through a hole the width of a pencil (1/4 inch or 6 millimeters in diameter).

A pipe that is properly sealed up

Using lath metal to seal gaps around pipes.

Inside your home: where to look

  • Inside, under, and behind kitchen cabinets
  • Floor areas in closets, especially corners
  • Around the fireplace
  • Around windows and doors
  • Behind appliances
  • Around the pipes under sinks and washing machines
  • Around the pipes leading to water heaters and furnaces
  • Around floor air and dryer vents
  • Around all electrical, water, gas, and sewer lines
  • Inside the attic
  • In the basement or crawl space
  • Around floor drains, such as in your basement or laundry room
  • Between the floor and wall juncture

Outside your home: where to look

  • In the roof among the rafters, gables, eaves, and soffits
  • Around windows and doors (especially those without weather stripping)
  • Between the foundation of the home and ground
  • Around attic and crawl space vents
  • Around holes for electrical, plumbing, cable, and gas lines
A person sealing holes for rodents

Using caulk to seal gaps between the home foundation and ground.

Seal up gaps and holes inside and outside your home

Seal any holes you find to stop rodents from entering. Fill small holes with steel wool. Put caulk around the steel wool to keep it in place or use spray foam. Use lath screen or lath metal, cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting to fix larger holes. Cut material to fit around pipes. Fix gaps in trailer skirting and use flashing around the base of the house. Outbuildings and garages should also be sealed to prevent the entrance of rodents.

We recommend contacting your local or state health department if there is concern of a rodent infestation or guidance is needed on what to do for a specific home or situation. A pest control specialist may be consulted if rodents have gotten into areas that cannot be reached to clean.

Seal up food and water sources inside your home

Rodents are attracted to food and water sources, as well as places that are convenient for them to build nests.

  • Keep food sealed in thick plastic, metal, or glass containers with tight lids.
  • Clean up spilled food right away. Wash dishes and cooking utensils soon after use.
  • Put pet food away after use. Do not leave food or water bowls out overnight.
  • Keep inside garbage in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids. Frequently clean the containers with soap and water. Dispose of trash and garbage on a frequent and regular basis.

Seal up nesting sites and food sources outside your home

  • Clean up garbage around your house. Use a thick plastic or metal garbage can with no holes and a tight lid.
  • Keep outside cooking areas and grills clean.
  • Keep composting bins at least 100 feet from your house.
  • Keep bird feeders away from the house and use squirrel guards to limit access to the feeder by squirrels and other rodents.
  • Keep grains and animal feed in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids.
  • Dispose of abandoned vehicles or move them more than 100 feet from your home.
  • Move woodpiles 100 feet or more from your home and raise the wood at least one foot off the ground.
  • Clean up brush and weeds around your home. Keep grass and shrubbery within 100 feet of your home well-trimmed.