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How To Deter Rats

Discovering rats in your home or business can be very distressing. Luckily there are ways you can deter rats and avoid an infestation. Proofing your home to deny them entry and removing easy access to food and water can really make a difference. Rats need easy and consistent access to a water source, even though they only drink between 15–60ml per day. They will eat almost anything available, but some of them prefer to eat small amounts of a variety of different foods.

Read also: Rat diseases

Rat Deterrent Tips

Rats are challenging pests to eradicate

See our tips below on practical ways you can help deter a rat problem:

  • Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids.
  • Tidy inside the house and around the garden — less clutter means less places to hide.
  • Place outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding from contents.
  • Clean up pet food and bird seed debris, and store pet food in robust containers with fitted lids - preferably above ground level.
  • Keep gardens free from debris. If you have compost heap don’t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.

If you have already spotted signs of rats, such as droppings, you may already be too late.

Call Rentokil on at (65) 6347 8138 for your home or business premise to arrange a free survey to check for signs of rats.

Proofing Your Home

Rats will make the most of any opportunity to enter your home in search for shelter and food. Black rats (common term used in Singapore is roof rat) are good climbers and will happily inhabit roof space; while brown rats (sewer rats) tend to burrow more and are very adept at swimming in sewers and drain systems. Both species will gnaw at gaps to enlarge them enough for easy entry. We understand the habits and behavior of different rat species and know the correct method in pest proofing your home or business premises.

You may also like: Signs of rats hiding in your property

Need Professional Rat Deterrents?

Tamper-resistant rat bait stations professionally managed by Rentokil are trusted rat deterrent and is safe to use even in locations where children or pets are present.

Our pest control experts can provide the most suitable treatments to a rat problem identified in your home or business. Professional services are often the most reliable way to promote long-term solution to a pest problem.

Call Rentokil today at +6563478138 for your home or business premise or contact us to discuss if you need a site inspection and an effective rat control programme.

Rat prevention FAQ

How to prevent rats from entering your home?

Like most pests, rats are attracted to your home as it provide a good source of food, water, and shelter. As such, the best way to prevent them from coming in is to block their access to these things. Homeowners can do so by:

  • Keeping food in airtight containers
  • Fixing leaking pipes
  • Sealing any cracks and crevices that rats can use as entry points into homes
  • Regularly cleaning and sanitising the place
  • Check for early signs of rat infestation such as droppings and smear marks
  • Dispose garbage and waste regularly and keep cover lids on at all times

For expert solutions, a professional pest control company should be consulted as they can provide rat control solutions that can get rid of rats and prevent future infestations.

What could be attracting rats to your home?

The main reasons rats are attracted to your homes are easy access to food and water especially if you do not clean up food crumbs. In addition, premises with leaking pipes promote water and moisture that is main source of pest survival. Besides, environment with poor sanitation and hygiene standard with open garbage bins or food spills attract rats to feed on. Finally, availability of areas of shelter such as cupboards, storerooms, clutters and junks allow rats to hide and breed. That is why it is always important to maintain a level of hygiene in your homes or workplace and engage a professional rat control service to prevent rat infestation from taking place.

Is the myth that onion eliminate rats true?

The pungent odour of onions is off-putting to rats so placing fresh onion slices near their common entry points can deter them from entering your homes or any premise. However, this is only a short-term solution and rats may still find other ways to enter your home or relocating to another resting hideout. A more effective and safe approach is to ensure you have a sound pest control solution to control rats activities and their population. There are options of digital rodent control to detect rat presence more effectively while heightening rat infestation control.

How to get rid of rats permanently?

As rats are highly adaptive creatures, permanent solutions are not entirely possible. However, there are remedies that can reduce chances of rat infestation in your homes. They include regularly cleaning of your home to eliminate presence of food debris, scrapes and decomposed matter that they feed, pest-proof your home to prevent rat entries and check for rat infestation regularly. In addition, protecting your home with proper and adequate rat control solutions can help detect, lure and trap rats more effectively. Contact a pest control company for pest control solutions that is recommended best for your premise.

How do you know if there is a rat infestion?

Other than actually seeing the rats, other signs of rat infestation include:

  • Gnaw marks on electric cables, fixtures and furniture
  • Rat droppings that is brown in colour and shaped like rice
  • Rat nests and burrow that they dig for hiding
  • Footprints and smear marks
  • Scratching sound from ceilings or hidden corner
  • Musty smell that belongs to urine and faeces

Once you spot these signs, call a pest control company as they are best equipped to deal with a rat infestation effectively and professionally.

Does peppermint oil help to get rid of rats?

As rats are sensitive to smells, the strong scent of peppermint oil can help to deter them. However, this remedy has limited effectiveness as the smell will eventually wear away and rats might return. As such, the best method to effectively getting rid of rats is to consult an expert pest control company so that they can assess the situation and provide relevant rat control solutions accordingly.

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