How To Get Rid Of Rats Fast: 7 Effective Methods

by John Griffith
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Eeek! Rats are not animals you want to keep around your house. These pests can carry a variety of diseases and can be quite the health risk if left to roam your home freely. But that’s not the only concern. Rats are also super destructive. They will have no problem chewing through your walls, wires, cupboards, food and so on. These unwelcome visitors will make themselves feel at home on your property and wreak a ton of havoc. And while these animals are nocturnal, there will be plenty of signs of their presence all around the home even in broad daylight. You will find droppings, hear scratching noises, smell horrid smells, find holes, nests and more. Yikes! These pests need to be dealt with and fast. That’s why today we will show you how to get rid of rats fast and effectively.

Rats are not animals you want to keep around your house

up close picture of a rat

How To Get Rid Of Rats

Rats can range from around five inches in length to the size of a house cat, which can be quite frightening. But no matter their size, you can still get them out of your home. In general, these pests come into your house for three main reasons: shelter, food, and water. If your property satisfies all their needs they will make it their permanent home. That’s why you need to act fast and drive them out as soon as possible.

These pests come into your house for three main reasons: shelter, food, and water

how to get rid of rats two gray rats

#Seal gaps

This is the very first thing you should do once you realize you have rats inside your home. These pests can sneak into your home through any hole, even one the size of your thumb. So, go around your property and carefully inspect any possible access points. This includes drains, cracks, vents, gaps around plumping, holes underneath your cabinets, gaps in your windows and doors and so on. Once you identify all the possible gaps, you need to seal them. Seal them accordingly with cement, caulk, wire, and so on.

Here is a good guide to identifying potential entry points

#Clean up food

Rats are mainly attracted to your home because of the food. So, a great way to discourage them from coming into your home and staying is to make finding food impossible. Some easy ways you can do this is by keeping all your foods sealed in thick containers with airtight lids, cleaning up any food debris, not leaving dirty dishes around, throwing the trash away regularly and so on. In general, keep everything in places or containers rats cannot bite through.

Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink

how to get rid of rats cleaning dishes at sink

#Traps

Traps are a poison-free method to getting rid of rats. There are a variety of different types of traps you can get. There are snap traps, which are classic. You can also get glue traps, which are great for identifying high traffic areas. There are also trap and release cages that you can put bait in and when the rat gets inside, the door will shut behind it and it won’t be able to escape. You can use bananas, peanut butter, apples, or seeds as bait.

Traps are a poison-free method to getting rid of rats

rat eating cheese off rat trap

#Remove hiding places

As we mentioned, one of the main reasons for rats to come into your home is because they seek shelter and places where they can hide and build their nests. So, a great way from discouraging them from staying in your house is to be a bad host. This means you need to eliminate all of their possible hiding places. Clean up all the clutter around the home, remove leftover newspapers and magazine, lift boxes from the floors, and so on. Make your inconvenient and undesirable for these pests.

Clean up all the clutter around the home

woman cleaning up clutter

#Use repellents

A few simple ingredients can help you keep the rats at bay. If you are looking for natural options that will make rats turn away, then try these. You can spread some peppermint oil, cloves, black pepper, or cayenne pepper all around the outside of your home. This will stop them from entering in the first place. Place these natural repellents near your foundation line and the ground or at possible entrance points.

You can spread some cayenne peppers all around the outside of your home

how to get rid of rats cayenne peppers red

#Poison

This is the most radical method but it is also very effective. Baiting rats with rodenticides is a sure way to eliminate the pest, however they need to be used with caution. There are two main types of rat poison: anticoagulants and non-anticoagulants. Both get the job done and come in a variety of different forms, including pellet baits, liquid baits, food baits, and blocks. However, since you are dealing with deadly substances it’s very important you read the labels how to use them correctly. Always use gloves when setting and keep them far away from the reach of kids and pets.

There are two main types of rat poison: anticoagulants and non-anticoagulants

blue rat poison pellets

#Call the professionals

If it seems nothing is working or the rats are out of control and you are dealing with a full-blown infestation, then it might be time to call in some professional help. Call your local exterminator if you can’t handle the problem. They will be able to get everything under control and will rid your home of rats.

Call your local exterminator if you can’t handle the infestation

exterminator working in home

These were some of the most effective methods on how to get rid of rats as fast as possible. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can once again reclaim your space and enjoy a rat-free environment.

These were some of the most effective methods on how to get rid of rats fast

huge rat with piece of cheese in mouth

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John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.