Rats carry diseases like the plague, Leptospirosis, Rat-Bite Fever, Salmonellosis, Tularemia, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and many more. But did you know that rats are not just hazardous to you and your family? They are also a danger to your house, appliances, furniture, and books. Not only that, but they also reproduce fast. If you hear chirping or scratching sounds at the dead of the night, rats may be upon you. But before you dial that number and call for a rat exterminator, you could also try getting rid of rats in walls and ceiling yourself. Don’t worry! It is easy to do and way cheaper.
Quick Overview
- Signs that rats have moved into your house
- Pellet-like droppings
- Bite marks, scratches, and destroyed books
- Rat Foot and tail prints
- Noise and smell
- Steps on how to get rid of rats in walls and ceilings
- Be a Rat detective
- Block Rat path
- Remove Rat path
- Move your furniture and appliances
- Removing Food Sources
- Installing Rat traps
- Using Peppermint Spray on Rat
- Using Electronic Repellent on Rat
Signs that rats have moved into your house
If you are still not 100 percent sure that you have a rat infestation, look for the signs below. If you have three or more of these signs, then you have rats living with you, whether you like it or not.
Pellet-like droppings
Rats and mice like to leave pellet-like droppings every time they move around your house. They use these droppings to help them navigate and return to their lair faster.
Bite marks, scratches, and destroyed books
Rats will damage your home. You will notice bite marks on your furniture and appliances, scratches on the walls and woods, and destroyed books. For some reason, rats love to gnaw on old books just as much as they love biting into hardwood.
Foot and tail prints
Rats will leave footprints and tail prints behind. They are not very low-key when it comes to leaving their trail, and you will see it one way or another. Be observant in checking the walls and corners of your home from time to time.
Noise and smell
If you have rats inside your household, you may have noticed a strong ammonia smell from different parts of your house. And no, it’s not your dog that peed in the corner. Not only that, rats can be loud at times, especially at the dead of the night. You will hear scratching and squeaking sounds in your walls and ceiling.
If you have these signs, you have rats freely roaming around your house. And it is best to get rid of rats in walls and ceiling before they can cause more damage to your health, loved ones, and your home.
Steps on how to get rid of rats in walls and ceilings
Following the steps below will get rid of rats in walls and ceilings in no time. Not only that, but it will also make sure that your home stays fresh and clean.
Be a Rat detective
The first way to get rid of rats is to know where they reside. Once you know where they are coming from, you can easily plan your next point of attack.
Block Rat path
Once you know where they reside, you need to check for other exits they can use. Look for exit points that rats can use as an escape route. Seal them with cement or metal if possible, making sure that rats cannot damage them.
Remove Rat path
Rats use their droppings and smell to guide them on where to go, especially when threatened, so it would help if you remove them. Please note that these droppings have a foul odor and are full of bacteria. Dispose of the droppings, wash hands immediately, and spray sanitizers in the area. Refrain from eating or smoking while you are at it as the bacteria and virus from the droppings can make you sick.
Move your furniture and appliances.
Rats may have other exists that you are not aware of, such as the back of your bookshelf or your refrigerator. Move your furniture away from the wall. And while you are at it, clean them as well.
Removing Food Sources
Rats love to explore and eat all kinds of food and leftovers. One way to counter them is by removing all sorts of food they can find. Store your chips into plastic or metal storage bins with lids. Remove leftovers and clean your kitchen thoroughly. Place a lid or cap on your trash cans and make sure you seal them tight, especially at night.
Installing Rat traps
Poisonous baits are banned in some states in the US for some time now. Since then, one of the most effective methods in removing rats is to trap them. If you have done the steps above, you are already reducing rat activities. They will go hungry since they have limited food sources as well. Install traps in the area where they reside. Put some peanut butter inside the traps to make it more enticing to rats. Install as many as you can, and make sure to check them frequently. Remove the trap rats using gloves and put new traps afterward.
Using Peppermint Spray
Rats have a natural aversion to peppermint since they have an enhanced sense of smell. Use peppermint spray to prevent rats from further entering your home. Once rat activity declines, use peppermint spray in the area where rats are residing. Spray it to previous rat routes as well.
Using Electronic Repellent
Electronic repellent uses high-frequency sounds to irritate rats. However, rats are very good at adapting, so electronic repellent will not last for a long time. But if you combine it with other methods, it is highly effective. Use electronic repellent in every room where rat activity is present as the high-frequency sound bounces off hard surfaces like cement.
Once rats are gone, spray peppermint oil outside your house, making sure to cover the foundation and possible entry points. Cover drainage and seal holes that you may have found.
You can also adopt cats to chase rats away as an added precaution.
