Does steel wool help keep mice away? Will mice chew through it? What grade of steel should be used? Here are your answers.
Over the years, many provisions have been devised to make rodent control more effective and convenient. These are primarily strategies borne out of the need to curtail pest activity.
For example, the burrowing activity of rats leaves openings or passageways through which rodents can access your home.
The response to mice’s destructive activity (burrowing) led to using steel wools, as these can be used to plug holes or tight spaces.
Mice don’t necessarily have to burrow through walls, as some homes may have existing cracks or openings exploited by rodents.
Here, we’ll be looking at steel wool for mice control
Does Steel Wool Stop Mice?
Mice are known to burrow through almost anything they can to enter your home.
Your home has many things mice can chew through, including plastic, wood, vinyl, rubber, fiberglass, foam, fabric, wires, low-gauge aluminum, and water pipes.
-
Can rats chew through steel wool?
While these materials can easily be chewed through, others cannot. This is where steel wool comes into effect.
Steel wool is used to plug holes because mice stand no chance of chewing through steel material.
Steel Wool Isn’t Used Alone
You’ll need to use steel wool alongside a caulking compound to have the best result.
By itself, persistent mice activity is likely to lead to dislodging of the steel wood. Such wool is readily pulled off, thus defeating the aim for which it was applied in the first place.
With the help of a caulking compound, the surface is smoothened, making it impossible for mice to go through.
How to Plug Mouse Hole With Steel Wool
You can use multiple strategies to effectively exclude these rodents from your home when dealing with a mouse problem. All of these revolve around the use of steel wool.
Methods include filling cracks in the foundation, sealing small openings, and sealing off utility lines.
Other strategies for excluding mice using steel wool include surrounding possible entry points and filling gaps below your doors. Having mentioned the different methods, how do you perform these procedures?
Let’s have a look at each of them.
-
Filling of Cracks in Foundation
One of the primary reasons for mice’s presence in homes is due to cracks in the foundation.
Sealing off such cracks helps achieve a double function, keeping your building safe and strong while helping to keep out or block mice entry.
To begin the process, you’ll need first to identify cracks in your foundation. This requires a careful inspection of your home’s foundation.
You’ll need to go around your home and mark all possible openings that mice may exploit.
As stated earlier, you’ll also need a caulking compound.
Every product you get requires users to follow definite use instructions. So, you’ll need to carefully implement all the procedures necessary for correctly applying or plugging cracks.
-
Sealing Small Openings
Similar to cracks in foundations, small openings on walls provide a ready access point for mice. It’s crucial never to overlook even the most minor holes during this process.
Consider plugging any openings larger than a one-quarter inch to ensure your mice exclusion efforts pay off. That’s about 0.6 centimeters wide)
-
Sealing off Utility Lines
Many people are surprised to find out that mice exploit entry points of utility lines into homes. The tiny spaces around such utility lines can be used to get into your home.
Your best bet is to target such holes for sealing with steel wool. There should be no space left for these rodents to squeeze through.
-
Surrounding Possible Entry Points
Have you considered other points, such as pipes entering your cupboards? These are often overlooked and quickly become the entry point for mice.
So, your aim should be to surround these entry points with steel wool and be tight enough to make it difficult for mice to penetrate.
-
Filling Gaps Below Doors
Gaps below doors are handled in many ways.
One of them includes stuffing some steel wool beneath. Sometimes, weather-stripping the area might suffice. The point is to keep mice as far out as possible.
Best Steel Wool Grade For Mice Control
Steel wool for mice control comes in different variants. Of course, all are made from the same material; steel. For persons interested in using steel wool for mice exclusion, there are many products to choose from.
We’ve included some of these to supply you with the best steel wool for mice.
Top steel wool products include XCluder Residential Pest Control Door Sweep, XCluder Rodent Barrier Kit, and Standard Synthetic Steel Wool.
Others include PestPlug Steel Wool DIY Kit and Red Devil Steel Wool Extra Fine.
-
XCluder Residential Pest Control Door Sweep
This multipurpose steel wool applies to mice exclusion and other rodents and pests.
As the name implies, it’s installed beneath doors and has a flexible fill that quickly returns to its original form whenever the door is closed.
It’s durable and weather resistant, thus keeping out mice for a long time.
-
XCluder Rodent Barrier Kit
This product is designed to provide a barrier that will keep out rodents when plugged into openings and cracks.
Coarse stainless steel wool is used to deter rodents, insect pests, and reptiles.
-
Standard Synthetic Steel Wool
Another option you can choose from is the Standard Synthetic Steel Wool product. This has multiple uses, as it can be applied to cracks, openings, and gaps.
-
PestPlug DIY Kit
To pick the best product, you should include PestPlug Stainless Steel Wool DIY Kit in your search. It’s designed to meet your rodent exclusion needs and comes with basic use instructions.
-
Red Devil Steel Wool Extra Fine
This product comes in a handy size and is ideal for household chores and projects, including mice exclusion. You only need to follow the use instructions for the best results.
Conclusion
Does steel wool deter mice? Yes.
Steel wools used for mice control have proven effective in mice exclusion.
While this is true, taking preventive measures is essential to eliminating all rodent attractions in your home.