Festive visits from relatives and ‘friendly’ neighbours you only see once a year can easily leave you feeling like you’ve suddenly become the unwilling owner of the world’s busiest hotel.
Whether it’s keeping an endless stream of fresh tea and mulled wine flowing or battling your way through an ever-growing pile of dirty towels, you’re rushed off your feet from morning till night looking after everyone.
And, unluckily for you, there are a few extra guests who’ve also turned up uninvited to enjoy Christmas with your family – mice.
As winter arrives and the temperature outside drops, rodents are more attracted than ever to your cozy home.
But have no fear, because we’re sharing three top tips on how to guarantee your house remains free of rodents throughout the festive season and coming months.
#1: don’t give them a warm welcome
Top of every rodent’s to-do list this winter is finding food and shelter – make sure your home isn’t providing them with either by staying on top of maintenance and housekeeping tasks.
With so much extra festive food filling up your kitchen, sweeping up crumbs and mess after every meal is essential. And don’t forget about your garden – keep it clean by properly securing waste bins.
You also need to block up likely entrances, like gaps around pipes or under doors, to prevent any keen pests from sneaking inside.
#2: keep an eye out for tell-tale signs
Mice are tenacious little creatures, which means that sometimes even a flawless cleaning routine can’t stop your house from becoming the rodent destination of choice.
They’re most active under the cover of dark so you might not ever actually see them, but, so long as you know what you’re looking for, they’ll leave tell-tale signs behind them.
Always keep an eye out for droppings, bite marks, nibbled woodwork or cardboard food containers and any sound of movement in wall cavities. Spotting them before they get fully settled is key to stopping a full-blown infestation from spoiling Christmas day.
#3: call in the experts
If you do catch sight of any signs of rodent activity or if you have any worries at all about keeping your house safe from invading vermin, then it’s time to call in the experts.
They’ll advise you on the best way to get rid of mice and handle the job with quiet efficiency – meaning your family and guests will be none the wiser about the nightmare pest situation going on behind the scenes.
It may cost more than DIY solutions like traps or poison but it’ll be worth it to enjoy a guaranteed rodent-free Christmas.
Do you have any other top tips on how to deter dreaded rats or mice making your home their nesting place of choice this winter? Let us know by leaving a comment.
Jessica Kane is a writer for Silver Superstore, home of the internet’s silver Christmas ornaments.
