A Clean Sweep Means A Healthy Home survive: food, water and shelter. Remember, mice like to eat the same foods that people do, so they will do whatever it takes to get into your home andinto your cupboards. Kraeutler recommends the following tips for making your home a much less welcoming place for mice andrats: Clean up with bleach— Bleach not only keeps your home bright, but it is also a great antiseptic. Bleach will kill the bacteria that may have been left behind by rodents. Mix one part bleach to 10 parts water and wipe down countertops, as well as the insideofall kitchen drawersand cabinets. * Give your home a good sweep—Clean all the nooks and crannies in your attic, your basement and all those hard-to-reach places. You never know who may have visited. Seal up spaces and seal out unwanted guests—Seal cracks in foundations with flexible urethane caulk and seal other potential entrances with sheet metal, steel wool or cement. Repair holes in outside walls and check under porch areas for gaps where rodents can find their way inside. A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime, and a rat may fit through a hole the size of a quarter. ov wa & WX a =a SS LA\\ E o> YI (Are Lop ib} a tke 2 aa SS al deSi ai | M4 y =I , ouON (\ descendants. “Safe and healthy means rodentfree because rodents aren’t just pests, they can actually put you and your family at risk,” says Tom Kraeutler, home improvement expert for d-CON Rodenticides. Rodents need three elements to i : fF month span, a single pair of mice can generate more than 15,000 I|\\. an estimated 21 million American homes each year; during a 12- 7 auld (NAPSA)—Keeping your home clean is an important part of keeping it rodent-free. Rodents invade 1@ A clean homeis less appetizing for rodents. Aclean house is a rodentfree zone—Wash dishes and cooking utensils immediately after use. Keep counters and floors free of soiled food. Clean the insides of cabinets and pantries frequently to avoid feeding furry creatures. * No food, no water, no problem—Keep all food, water and garbage in metal or thick plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Never leave food or water out overnight. Be proactive and use rodenticides—Poisons designed to eliminate rodent infestations are safe and highly effective if used in accordance with label directions. If exposure to children or pets is a concern, d-CON recently introduced an inexpensive, lockable container called a “Protected Bait Station.” With this device, the poison is secured inside a container that has holes small enough for only a mouse to enter. “Shake out the rugs, peek under the beds and say goodbye to unwanted guests,” says Kraeutler. “By giving your house a good clean sweep and using rodenticides all year long, you can breathea little easier and enjoy the healthy haven you call home.”
