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, a lot of provisions have been devised to make rodent control more effective and convenient. These are mostly strategies that are borne out of the need to curtail pest activity.
For example, the burrowing activity of rats leaves openings or passageways through which these rodents gain ready access to your home.
The response to this destructive activity (burrowing) by mice led to the use of 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 which are 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 just about anything they can to gain entry into your home.
Your home has lots of things mice can chew through including plastic, wood, vinyl, rubber, fiberglass, foam, fabric, wires, low gauge aluminum, and water pipes.
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Can rats chew through steel wool?
While these materials can easily be chewed through, others cannot be chewed through. This is where steel wool comes into effect.
The reason why steel wool is used to plug holes is that mice stand no chance of chewing through steel material.
Steel Wool Isn’t Used Alone
To have the best result using steel wool, you’ll need to use it alongside a caulking compound.
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 thereby making it impossible for mice to go through.
How to Plug Mouse Hole With Steel Wool
When dealing with a mice problem, you can use multiple strategies towards the effective exclusion of these rodents from your home. 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 go about performing these procedures?
Let’s have a look at each of them.
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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 also helping to keep out or block mice entry.
To begin the process, you’ll need to first identify cracks on 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 may be exploited by mice.
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 the proper application or plugging of cracks.
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Sealing Small Openings
Similar to cracks in foundations, small openings on walls provide a ready access point for mice to go through. It’s important never to overlook even the smallest of holes during this process.
To ensure your mice exclusion efforts pay off, consider plugging any openings larger than one-quarter inch. That’s about 0.6 centimeters wide)
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Sealing off Utility Lines
A lot of 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.
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Surrounding Possible Entry Points
Have you considered other points such as those where pipes enter into your cupboards? These are often overlooked and easily become the entry point for mice.
So, your aim should be to surround these entry points with steel wool and must be tight enough to make it difficult for mice to penetrate.
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Filling Gaps Below Doors
For gaps below doors, these 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 tons of products to choose from.
To supply you with the best steel wool for mice, we’ve included some of these.
Top steel wool products you can buy 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.
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XCluder Residential Pest Control Door Sweep
This is multipurpose steel wool that applies to mice exclusion as well as other rodents and pests.
As the name implies, it’s installed beneath doors and has a flexible fill that easily returns to its original form every time the door is closed.
It’s durable and weather resistant, thus serving to keep out mice for a long time.
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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 not only deter rodents but also insect pests and reptiles.
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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.
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PestPlug DIY Kit
In your bid to pick the best product, one of those you should include in your search is PestPlug Stainless Steel Wool DIY Kit. It’s designed to meet your rodent exclusion needs and comes with basic use instructions.
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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 best results.
Conclusion
Does steel wool deter mice? Yes.
Steel wools used for mice control have proven to be quite effective in mice exclusion.
While this is true, it’s important to take preventive measures by eliminating all rodent attractions in your home.
