KEEP MICE OUT OF YOUR STORAGE UNIT
As winter time approaches thoughts of finishing up
projects, unpacking warmer clothing, making sure the vehicle that gets you from
point A to point B is prepared, and perhaps one last summer fling is occupying
your mind. I’m sure the contents and safety of your storage unit are not in the
forefront of your mind. You may think, “that’s a matter for the Manager or
Owner of the storage units”. Unfortunately, you might be wrong. Most storage
unit agreements contain wording that releases the Owners and Managers from
responsibility for the contents of your unit. Which understandably they cannot
100% control what other tenants may bring into their units. Plus, as warmer
weather turns to colder weather, mice will begin to seek a warm place to hunker
down and stay warm.
So, what should you do to prevent or reduce the
likelihood that mice will invade your items. In this blog we will attempt to
cover some preventative ideas to reduce the likelihood that mice seeking a place
to live, food to eat, or bedding for winter or having babies will plague your
unit.
Mice are notorious for getting into everything and
storage units are no exception. A mouse can even fit into or through the
smallest spaces. If you really want to prepare and prevent while keeping these destructive
and disease carrying creatures out of your unit and out of your items here are
some steps to take to help you achieve this goal.
1. Check
and Inspect your unit frequently.
2. Don’t
provide food or bedding for these creatures.
3. Only
store odor free and clean items if possible
4. Pack
to Prevent
5. Be
proactive with prevention
With a few simple steps of prevention and precaution
you can keep most mice out of YOUR unit and protect YOUR items from infestation
and/or damage.
CHECK AND INSPECT YOUR UNIT FREQUENTLY
One of the first things you will want to do to keep
mice out of YOUR storage unit is to check your unit and inspect your items at
least once a month (if not more frequently). It is VERY important to look for
signs of mice so you can take care of them before they multiply or cause any
problems or damage to your items.
Look for mice droppings on your containers/boxes,
pawprints, foul odors, or chewed boxes (if you have any in your unit) or paper.
There will usually be piles of paper or cardboard where they may be making a
nest/bedding. There may be chew marks on your stored boxes or holes in the plastic.
Look for unsealed entry points. Even the smallest
opening or hole can be an access point for a mouse. Check every corner or crevasse
along the floor, you may see mouse droppings or small paw prints. Protect any
openings where a mouse could come through. (We’ll discuss this later in our
blog) Sweep or clean any open floor areas before leaving your unit after
inspecting each time to make sure you have not missed something. Especially
along the corners and crevasses.
DON’T PROVIDE FOOD OR BEDDING
Nothing attracts mice like food items (especially
spoiled food). Do not make the mistake of storing perishable food items even if
they seem to be sealed. Mice can chew through most packaging to get to a food
source for satisfying their hunger. Circle V Storage specifically states in
the lease agreement that food (regardless of packaging) is prohibited. This
is to not only protect your items but the items and content of other tenants.
One or two mice can do a lot of damage, especially if they begin to multiply.
ONLY STORE ODOR FREE AND CLEAN ITEMS
It is best if you inspect every box, package, or
container before placing it into a storage unit. Never move an uninspected box
or package into a storage unit without going through it in its entirety. Empty
out boxes and packages at home if you have had them stored in an attic, shed,
closet, store room, etc. before moving them to your storage unit. Make sure no
strong odors are emanating from the items that could indicate to a mouse (with
an excellent sense of smell) that you have provided housing and possibly
bedding. Also, make sure you are not moving dirt, food grade oil covered items,
or paper/cloth products that are not sealed in an odor free container into your
unit.
PACK TO PREVENT
When packing your items, it is best to use heavy-duty
plastic storage containers or “totes” instead of cardboard boxes and bags. Mice
really chew and use cardboard, paper, or plastic as bedding. If you are an
eco-conscious individual and really against the use of plastic, you can opt for
more eco-friendly storage using recycled plastic from ECOstorage at https://www.amazon.com/ECOstorage-Recycled-Plastic-Storage-Container/dp/B08575M7ZK?th=1
If you are storing a mattress, you can spend a little
extra in prevention to reduce the likelihood of a big problem later, both
emotionally and financially. If anyone tells you that they make a “mouse proof”
mattress storage bag they may also believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.
Unfortunately, the only way to prevent a mouse from getting to your mattress is
to wrap in in wire mesh with less than quarter inch holes or glass. Having said
that, there are “rodent-resistant’ storage bags that will reduce the likelihood
that you will be dealing with mice in your mattress when storing it in a unit.
You can search sites like Amazon for mouse resistant or rodent resistance
mattress storage bags and choose the one that works best for you.
Another suggestion would be to keep your items off the
floor. Many times, companies and individuals are looking to rid themselves of
pallets that they would otherwise have to pay to have removed. Simply contact
one of them and ask if they will be willing to let you come and pick up a few
at no cost to you. Not only will this get your items off the ground to reduce
to possibility of unwanted damage from mice, it will also work great for damage
from moisture on the ground that could ruin your items from water damage.
While finding a container or mouse proof bag for furniture
may be a futile effort, there is some things you can do to protect your furniture
as much as possible. First you can use plastic to wrap your furniture tightly
to keep it protected. This may reduce the possibility of mice and bugs from
taking up housing in your furniture. Also, spritzing your covered
furniture with peppermint oil will offer a great deterrent for mice and help make
your unit smell a little nicer.
As previously mentioned, avoid the use of cardboard
and paper items in your unit. Mice LOVE to chew and make bedding. If possible,
throw away any exposed cardboard or paper products before moving into your
unit.
BE PROACTIVE WITH PREVENTION
Dealing with mice in your unit can become an extremely
unpleasant experience and cause you much financial hardship. Here are a few ways
to be proactive with prevention for mice possibly entering your unit.
Fill holes with steel wool, if you spot a hole,
sealing it with steel wool will or can harm mice that are trying to venture in and
out of that hole. They will most likely avoid that path and opt for a path of
least resistance.
As mentioned above, a few spritzes of peppermint oil
can prevent mice from entering your unit. If however, you are not a big fan of
the scent of peppermint, other oils may work fine such as cinnamon, tea tree,
clove, etc. Check out this website to determine which oil works best for you. https://pestpointers.com/scents-that-mice-hate-and-how-to-use-them/#:~:text=Mice%20have%20a%20very%20keen,clove%20oil%2C%20and%20cayenne%20pepper.
Another idea, that may not be too suitable for your
senses but is a strong deterrent for mice is ammonia. Spritzing pathways or
other areas that mice may find to enter your unit with ammonia actually causes
mice to run the other way. Mice have a strong sense of smell. So, while their
noses help them find food, even in the dark, it also allows them to detect the
scent of a possible predator. The scent of ammonia imitates the scent of urine
from a predator and will keep mice away from your unit.
Much like ammonia, mothballs help prevent mice from
entering your unit, however, it does create an unpleasant smell. If scents and
smells are not for you, the next suggestion would be baits and traps.
An age-old prevention for mice has always been mouse
traps. These can be a little tricky but effective in catching unwanted mice
before they have had a chance to do too much damage in your unit. Also, sticky
traps work well for catching and containing mice that may be meandering around
your unit. As they make their way along a path, encountering a mouse trap or
sticky trap can quickly stop them in their path. Of course, these two items
would require more frequent inspection of your unit. Dead mice can cause a foul
odor, so you will want to inspect these sources of stopping mice at least twice
a month.
One other way of reducing the likelihood of a mouse
infestation in your unit would be bait stations or just bait. This is of course
a poison, so you would not want to allow access to these methods to any animals
or children you may have that join you on your visits to your storage unit. Also,
as this method sometimes results in mice dying in your unit, possibly in or on your sources of packaging, you may want to frequently check your unit and items
for a mouse that may have decided to sample this deadly food source.
Being proactive with prevention can and usually will
avoid unwanted misery and damage to your items so please take these suggestions
serious. You can also search online for other methods of mouse prevention if
none of these ideas have been helpful.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE DISCOVERED A
MOUSE OR MICE IN YOUR UNIT?
First and foremost, NOTIFY MANAGEMENT!!! While Circle
V Storage has many bait stations set out, we cannot prevent what others may
bring in to their unit. Also, to assist you in being proactive, Circle V
Storage DOES offer sticky traps and bait sticks at no cost to you in the
prevention of infestation. If you would like to take advantage of this generous
amenity, contact the Manager and arrangements will be made to ensure that you
can receive one or both of these items.
Safety is smart!! Before cleaning any mess a rodent may
have made, it is best to wear protective gear. Wearing a HEPA face mask and rubber
gloves can help protect you against the many possible diseases these little pesky
creatures carry.
If you discover a mess in your unit, do not simply sweep
or vacuum the droppings or nests. Start by spraying a disinfectant on the
droppings or urine (which may not be seen). Allow the disinfectant to sit for a
few minutes then, while wearing your protective gear, use a paper towel to
clean up the mess. You could also use a moist bleach and water-soaked cloth to
wipe up the areas where mouse droppings, nests, or urine have been discovered. Dispose
of the paper towel in a plastic trash bag or disposable container along with
your protective gear.
For more ways to clean up from mice Read this.
In closing, generally speaking, keeping mice out of
your storage unit can be a simple task. You can prevent a miserable experience
or ordeal by maintaining and keeping your storage unit clean and organized.
Proper packing with the right type of storage containers, being diligent to
ensure proper seal, avoid storing food items, and don’t make it easy for mice
to enter your unit without consequences can significantly improve your storage
experience.
Remember, if you discover mice have made their way
into your unit, NOTIFY MANAGEMENT IMMEDIATELY.