Although you love animals and would like to make sure all little animals remain safe and happy, you also don’t want rodents in your garage. Consider just how much damage some mice could do to the items you have there. They might chew through electrical wires and get into boxes. They could nest inside your holiday ornaments. They might even chew through the garage door opener, which you certainly don’t want.
Mice are rodents that reproduce quickly. This is especially true if they feel they have a good spot to call home, such as your garage. Mice can give birth between 19 and 21 days. When they give birth, they could have a litter of between three and 14 little mice… which means even more problems for your garage since they mature in about six weeks or so. Consider just how many mice might be in your garage—and your home—in a matter of months.
Sure, you could hire an exterminator. However, they can be costly, and there are things you can do before you do. Below, you will find some good and workable solutions that will make it possible to keep pests out of your garage. It shouldn’t be home for mice and other small critters.
Two things that you will want to remember when it comes to keeping your garage safe include organization and insulation. More on those later.
What If You Already Have a Mouse Problem?
Are you already dealing with mice?
If you have mice, you need to get rid of them before you pest-proof the space. You might not want to use traps or poison, especially if you have pets and kids that wander into the garage. Maybe you would never consider using those options because you don’t want to hurt the animals even though they are pests.
Regardless, you need to get them out.
You can start by encouraging them to get out of the garage. In the summer, they will usually move out. This is especially true if you remove sources of food in the garage. You also need to make sure your garage has a lot of human activity. It can encourage the mice to leave on their own.
If you believe that you only have one or two mice, you might want to opt for a humane mouse trap. The mouse will be safe, and you can put it outside. However, you don’t want to simply dump it out into your backyard. It will come right back inside the house.
Mice can get into many spaces.
If you aren’t quite as concerned about what happens with the mice, and you have a cat. You might want to let your cat have some time in the garage. Let the food chain take its course. Just be aware that your cat might decide to bring the dead mouse into the house and present you with his trophy.
Another good way to get mice to leave the garage is by making it smell unpleasant to them. They do not like certain scents including white vinegar, peppermint, and others.
Consider soaking some cotton balls in peppermint oil and leave them around the space. Put them in locations where mice might be hiding. It should help to get rid of the mice for a while. However, peppermint is not permanent. You need to make sure you pest-proof the room before they come back.
Create a Hostile Mouse Environment
You don’t want to have an inviting space for mice or other small pests. If you make your garage a place they would like to be, then you are going to get mice. Make it inhospitable to them. There are some simple things you can do.
● Organize and Eliminate Clutter
Look for all the places where mice and other animals might hide in the garage and remove it. Get the space organized. It will be less friendly to the pests, and it will look better.
● Seal or Remove Food Sources
If you keep pet food, including birdseed, in the garage, make sure you put it in sealed containers. Keeping it in the bags it comes in will not do. Keep any potential source of food in a sealed plastic or glass container.
● No Trash
Trash will attract pests to the garage, so don’t keep it inside.
● No Firewood
If you have another option for storing your firewood, you should use it. Firewood provides places for all manner of pests to hide and live.
● Sweep and Clean
Sweeping will help to keep the space clean, and it will let you look for any signs of pest activity, such as small holes in the wall and droppings.
Being Proactive: Acting Before a Pest Problem Occurs
If you don’t have any mice or other pests in the garage, and you have removed those food sources, you need to properly protect the garage.
Cut Branches
This ensures you don’t have to worry about squirrels hopping onto the roof. These critters can jump about nine feet, so you want to make sure that the branches are as far away from the garage roof as possible.
It is important to insulate your walls to prevent rodents to make their nests in.
Proper Insulation
You should also make sure your walls are properly insulated. You could opt for foam or mineral wool. It can stop pests from trying to make it a home.
One of the top options is to use polyurethane spray foam. If you fill up your garage walls entirely with foam, there will not be anywhere for the mice to nest. It works better than other types of foam. They are not likely to want to chew into the foam since it has a bitter taste that the mice do not like. You may also find some spray foam that has rodent repellant in it.
Check for Cracks in the Walls and Floors
You should take the time to inspect your walls and floor in the garage to look for any issues with holes or cracks where pests may be able to get into the space.
If you happen to find any holes, you should make sure to fill them. You could use spray foam, as mentioned, or you could opt for another material. Aluminum and steel could work in some cases, as mice can’t gnaw through them.
Do your best to patch up any holes—even small ones—that could allow pests to enter the garage. You want to reduce the chance of these creatures finding their way into your home.
Something else to check for is your garage door. If you find that the door is not fully level or if there are holes in it, you should consider replacing it.
What Are Good Garage Door Options?
Changing out the garage door is not a decision to take lightly. You need to consider the type of door you want, make sure it matches with the rest of your home, and that it is within your budget. Of course, you also need to have a door that will help keep out all those pests.
Remember, mice and squirrels that want to get inside might simply chew through a wooden door. You don’t want to have your door ruined by an army of mice. Instead, you should opt for metal or aluminum when buying your garage door.
You should also look for a door that has quality insulation. This will ensure industrious mice don’t try to nest inside of the door.
We have doors made from galvanized steel. Even the most determined mouse will not get through. You can also opt for our R-16 and R-12 garage door options including Standard+, Townships Collection, and Acadia 138. These are made with polyurethane foam injected at high pressure, ensuring the mice can’t get into the door to make nests.
Here is our R-16 door with polyurethane foam.
Our doors come with weatherstripping, and you can find just the door you need. They will keep out the inclement weather and eliminate airflow. They will hang evenly, and they will not allow pests to get inside.
Make the Change to Your Garage Door
Are you worried that the garage door could be how pests are getting into your garage? It’s time that you opted to get a new door. At Allison's Manufacturing Ltd, you can connect with the specialists. Call 506-622-3146 or visit our website.
Our doors are of the best quality and can meet your needs. You will love their style and the options you have available. You might even want to create a unique model.
We can provide you with a quotation by email.
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