Discovering the telling signs of unwanted guests in your home, or worse, seeing the furry rodents themselves, leads to the question: How to kill rats? Learning of the health risks and diseases the critters carry into a home makes the question even more pressing. Before venturing into how to kill rat’s territory however, it is helpful to know how to avoid them in the first place and how to keep them from coming back.

Clean up your home and you never have to think about how to kill rats

The most basic preventive measures that need to be taken are sanitary ones. Rats will make themselves at home wherever there is a steady source of food and shelter. Common culprits are food and water left out, dirty dishes, clutter or trash around the home, and food kept in cardboard packages.

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To prevent the unwelcome rodents from getting comfortable, be sure to clean up any food sources quickly. Wipe counters and pantry shelves to keep crumbs to a minimum. Keep clutter, such as magazines and newspapers, trash, and wood, clean and tidy.

The most effective way to keep critters at bay is to seal openings around the house. Any hole, crack, or opening larger than a dime is a potential entry for even large sized rats and rodents. When sealing openings, keep in mind the gnawing and chewing ability of these unsightly creatures. They can gnaw through just about anything, so its important to seal openings tightly with professional quality materials.