How to Prepare Your Home for Rat Control Treatment
The most effective way to rid your property of a rat problem is to enlist the aid of a professional pest control service. DIY pest control often fails and can sometimes endanger you and your pets if you use rodenticides incorrectly. But before a pest control expert arrives at your home, you need to prepare your property.
Good preparations will ensure that rat control treatment is safe and effective. Prepare your property in the following ways before the pest controller arrives to carry out a rat control treatment.
Remove clutter from problem areas
If a pest controller cannot access an area easily because of clutter such as boxes, items of furniture and other stored items, they won't be able to treat the area properly. Identify the problem areas, then clear the areas of anything that might obstruct the pest controller.
Pull items of furniture away from the walls
When rats travel, they travel close to the walls, often moving behind furniture. When rats use a route often, the walls along that route may have grease marks on them, which come from the rats' fur as they move. And there may be entry points at certain points along the walls. As a result, pest controllers check the walls for signs of rats before they treat problem areas.
Pull large items of furniture and appliances away from the walls to allow your pest controller to examine the walls in the problem areas.
Cover or put away all kitchen items including food
Rats usually enter the kitchen in search of food when they infest a property. So your kitchen will likely require rat control treatment. Before the pest controller arrives, cover all items in your kitchen, such as cutlery, food and utensils. This will prevent contamination.
Make a list of all areas in need of repair
Rat control treatment sometimes involves repairs. And areas of your home that are in need of repairs may allow rats to enter and leave your home. Because of that, inform your pest controller of all areas of your home that are in a state of disrepair, especially if those areas allow access from the outside.
Keep children and pets out of treatment areas
Try to make sure your pets and children are outside when the pest controller arrives to treat your home for rats. This will keep them safe should the pest controller need to apply rodenticides to an area of your home.