How to Keep Mice & Critters Out of Your Home This Season

sapna Katoch
Oct 4
2 min read

Don’t let mice and critters invade your home this fall. Learn how to seal entry points, set traps, and rodent-proof your house — plus discover how City Helpers workers can help.

Intro Section (Paragraph Style):As the weather cools, mice and other critters are searching for warm, cozy places to nest. Unfortunately, that often means your home. But with a few proactive steps, you can rodent-proof your home and keep unwanted guests out.

For Halifax homeowners, City Helpers can assign workers to help seal entry points, clean up, or repair damage. Learn more here: Get Help at Home.

Seal Entry Points First (Most Important Step)

Mice can squeeze through openings as small as ¼ inch — the size of a dime. The best defense is sealing up those entry points.

What to seal:

Foundation cracks and gaps around plumbing
Loose weatherstripping or under-door gaps
Siding edges and roofline gaps
Vents, chimneys, and attic openings

Materials to use: Steel wool or copper mesh (hard to chew through) Silicone caulk for small cracks Hardware cloth over vents Expanding foam combined with mesh for larger gaps.

If you’re not comfortable tackling this yourself, City Helpers workers can handle sealing and repairs for you: Get Help at Home.

Remove Food & Shelter Sources

Rodents come for food and stay for shelter. Reduce their incentives:

Store food in airtight containers
Don’t leave pet food out overnight
Sweep crumbs, clean under appliances
Seal trash bins tightly
Declutter cardboard boxes and newspapers (perfect nesting spots)

Use Traps Effectively

Traps are still one of the best ways to remove mice that sneak inside.

Place traps along walls or behind appliances (rodents travel edges)
Use peanut butter, chocolate, or cotton balls as bait
Wear gloves when setting traps
Use multiple traps for faster results

Try Natural Repellents (As Backup)

Certain scents may help repel mice — though they work best alongside sealing and trapping.

Peppermint essential oil
Vinegar spray
Cinnamon or cloves
Cayenne pepper (careful with pets!)

Keep Your Yard Maintained

Rodent prevention starts outdoors:

Trim back shrubs and tree branches touching the house
Move firewood, compost, and debris away from the foundation
Seal outdoor sheds and storage areas
Clean up fallen fruit or bird seed
Get help from City Helpers

Inspect Regularly.

Even with prevention, critters can try to sneak in. Watch for:

Droppings, gnaw marks, or grease trails
Scratching sounds in walls or ceilings
Chewed wires or insulation

When to Call in Experts

Sometimes DIY isn’t enough. If you’re dealing with:

Multiple infestations
Hard-to-seal entry points
Persistent damage or droppings

…it’s time to call in professionals. Check with https://www.cityhelpers.ca/get-help-at-home for a professional recommendation

With City Helpers, local workers can:

Inspect your home
Seal cracks and gaps
Clean up or repair rodent damage
Provide long-term prevention tips

Learn more and request help today: Get Help at Home.

For more tips and tricks about your home contact https://www.cityhelpers.ca/get-help-at-home