Now that we’re in the midst of winter, it is prime time for rats to find their way into your home in search of food and warmth –with these temperatures, who can blame them?

Of course, most people don’t want to welcome rodents into their homes or gardens, but they’re highly skilled at finding their way in, and if left untreated, your rat problem could soon become a big expense.

From chewing electrical wires, causing damage to your property, to spreading disease that could lead to liver and kidney damage, these rodents will give you a hard time. 

The best way to avoid rooming with the rodents is by putting preventative measures in place rather than trying to get rid of them. The experts at Bunk Bed are here to help, sharing their top tips for keeping rats away from your home this winter.

Preventing rats and other rodents from getting into your home is a much better solution than trying to get rid of them. With that in mind, the home experts at Bunk Beds have shared their top tips for keeping rodents out of your home this winter.

Check your garden

When on the hunt for food, rats can smell from over 2km away and are willing to travel far and wide to find the food they need. It's this reason that rats are often found in and around bins, and so the best thing to do is ensure any food thrown in your bins is secured tightly.

To avoid rats from rummaging around your home, you should always try to store your bins away from your house, if you’re able to. Keeping your bin far away from your house will reduce the risk of the scavengers finding their way into your homes, searching for more scraps. 

Use natural deterrents

If you’re not willing to use synthetic predator scents, then why not give natural-smelling spices or oils a go? 

Strong scents, such as cayenne pepper or garlic cloves, can be used to deter rodents if sprinkled around your doors and windows. 

Another natural remedy like this could be using vinegar to wipe surfaces in your home; this removes the odour of food, the kind of smell that's attracting them in the first place.

It’s important to note that these natural scent deterrents are only a temporary fix, and so if you’re looking to make some permanent changes to bid farewell to the rodents for good, consider planting some strong-scented plants around your home. These can include mint, lavender, or marigolds to create a force field of sorts around your house. 

Use natural predators

Why not consider using your pets and animal friends to help keep your rodents away? Some dog breeds, like Jack Russell terriers, are useful for this, along with cats and owls, to help protect your home from rodents.

Installing owl boxes in and around your outdoor spaces can encourage the animals to hold fort in your garden, all while keeping the rat population to a minimum.

However, you may be avoiding having animals around your garden altogether; in that case, you can use decoy predator scents, easily purchased online. Not only can these scents deter rats, but they can also scare off moles, voles, mice, squirrels, and skunks.

Speak to your neighbours

Sometimes, it might be that your rodent infestation isn’t even your problem, but your neighbour's. Rats like to travel from home to home, so if your neighbours are also on board with using these deterrent methods, you’ve got the best chances of keeping them out of your house.

A problem shared is a problem halved, so by gathering your community to clear up shared spaces such as bins, alleys, and parks, you can reduce the amount of debris, which rodents love.

Share these tips with your neighbours, and if you spot that their bins aren’t secure, give them a heads-up so you can all live in a clean and healthy environment. 

Adeel from Bunk Beds said that it's far better to prevent a rat infestation than to try and remove one. She explains: "Rodents are dirty and carry nasty diseases, and the last thing you want is to invite these creatures into your home.

"Rats and other rodents can also be expensive to get rid of, too. Traps and baits can cost hundreds of pounds, and there is no guarantee that it will get rid of the problem either.

"If you don't get rid of your rodent problem quickly, it can become near impossible to fix, a female rat can have up to 13 babies in a litter and can have anywhere from three to 12 litters in a year. Rats can also reach sexual maturity after nine weeks, so a population of two rats can exponentially grow to over 1,200 in a year."