Thanksgiving is all about the cooking, the family coming over and having a massive amount of food in the kitchen. The downside of all that food is that it can also attract some rather undesirable guests.
At Mice Mob Exterminators, we’re always hammering home the fact that mice don’t need much to survive. A few crumbs behind the stove, a bag of stuffing mix left ajar, or just food left out for a few days will be more than enough to give them a reason to stay. As temperatures drop across Chicagoland, your warm kitchen can become an attractive place for mice looking for food and shelter. Prevent mice from entering your home
Watch What Falls Behind the Stove and Refrigerator
When you’re putting together Thanksgiving dinner, things get a bit messy. Flour goes everywhere, bread crumbs fall all over the place, and food gets shoved right behind the appliances. Those are precisely the sorts of places mice like to go as they’re dark, they’re sheltered and they’re not going to be noticed during the normal course of cleaning. Take a few minutes to clean underneath and around your appliances before the holiday rush. You may be amazed at what you find down there.
Check Your Pantry Before the Holiday Shopping Begins
Thanksgiving generally means going shopping for loads of extra groceries. You can easily end up with a mountain of stuffing, rice, pasta, baking goods, and snacks in the cupboards and pantries. Mice can chew through cardboard boxes and thin plastic packaging to get at the food. We recommend keeping your dry goods in sealed, rodent-proof containers whenever possible. If you see chewed packaging or droppings in your pantry, don’t ignore it. That’s a clear sign that mice are already in your pantry and having a go at your food. Use proper food storage and pest prevention.
Don’t Let Thanksgiving Garbage Pile Up
Turkey bones, potato peels, leftover bread and all sorts of other food waste can quite quickly fill up your bins. Keep kitchen waste covered, remove it regularly, and make sure outdoor waste bins have secure lids. The same applies to Thanksgiving leftovers. Get the food in the fridge promptly rather than leaving the plates out overnight.
A Clean Kitchen Won’t Stop Mice From Getting Inside
Here’s something we tell homeowners all the time: you can have the cleanest kitchen in the neighborhood and still get mice. Cleaning up food sources helps, but it doesn’t stop the mice getting in through the gaps. Small gaps around foundations, utility pipes, siding, and garage doors can let mice in. Once inside, they can get into the kitchen through gaps around plumbing or behind cabinets. That’s why professional mouse proofing is just as important as keeping your kitchen clean.
Schedule Your FREE Mouse Inspection Before the Holidays
If you’ve noticed droppings, chewed food packaging or scratching noises in the kitchen then don’t wait until Thanksgiving to get your guests over. Mice Mob Exterminators provides FREE professional mouse inspections throughout the Chicagoland area. We’ll look for signs of mouse activity, locate potential entry points, and show you how our professional mouse-proofing services can help prevent future infestations.
Contact Mice Mob Exterminators to book your FREE mouse inspection. Don’t let the mice have your Thanksgiving dinner; have it yourself!