mice and spider prevention

another_casualty

Howdy !
I've recently moved into a flat ( not rented ) . The building is an old house built around 1900, and converted into 4 flats . 3 flats in my section and one around the other side.
The flat is full of old wooden floorboards and suspended ceilings .
I live on the ground floor . The communal area is ok . Sometimes the young kids from the flat above leave the main front door open .
I have recently had the whole flat carpeted ,with lino in the kitchen .
The bathroom has waterproof laminate flooring . A job done from my builder when installing a new bathroom for me .

I have an old plug in by pestcontrol 2000 . It's about 20 years old .
I'm wondering if I would need a new one . Do they wear out and become ineffective after a while ? I found it last week and plugged it into the hallway . So far So good . I understand they don't like peppermint either, so I'll get some essential peppermint oil asap.

Thankfully, there are no signs of anything yet. There seemed to be a bit of a smell by the kitchen sink today . May be nothing .
As I say , I want to prevent anything coming into the property.
I'm used to living in upstairs maisonettes . Being on the ground floor makes me more paranoid in that aspect.

Your thoughts ?

Thanks

keith969

If you have mice you'll know it from the droppings. Traps are probably best indoors, you don't want to use poison in case they die under the floorboards as they will stink!

As for spiders, just remove them if you find them, or use a vacuum cleaner. I seriously doubt those plug in things work at all.

Davesnave

another_casualty wrote: »

Your thoughts ?

My thoughts are that if you really hate the idea of mice or spiders in your flat, you've probably bought into the wrong type and age of building!

Davesnave

keith969 wrote: »

As for spiders, just remove them if you find them, or use a vacuum cleaner. I seriously doubt those plug in things work at all.

Exactly.

Put yourself in the position of a male spider who hasn't seen a female in months and ask yourself: are some high pitched vibrations going to make it feel any less horny?

kathrynha

Peppermint oil definitely works. You do end up with a house that smells of polo's but it's worth it if you have mice.

Norman_Castle

I would worry about this if they become a problem. Pick the spiders up and put them outside and deal with mice if they arrive. You'll get less spiders if you fill any cracks and gaps where they might want to live.

another_casualty

Thanks for your advice everyone
I was just trying to be ahead of the game so to speak . I haven't got anything so far , and if I keep tidy then hopefully shouldn't in the future
I'm too much of a softy to be getting traps tho;)
My mind was over analysing and I know the score

firefox1956

Your best plan of action is to install outdoor bait points.
You then control the problem outside your property before it becomes
an internal problem.
This sort of thing is what the professionals use.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/rat-bait-station
HTH

another_casualty

firefox1956 wrote: »

Your best plan of action is to install outdoor bait points.
You then control the problem outside your property before it becomes
an internal problem.
This sort of thing is what the professionals use.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/rat-bait-station
HTH

Wow ! Something I never thought about . Thanks for that

getmore4less

keep the spiders they help catch the flies from the dead mice.

Davesnave

another_casualty wrote: »

I'm too much of a softy to be getting traps tho;)

What is an outdoor bait station if it isn't a trap designed to kill rodents?
Yes you won't be subjected to the sight of half-dead things, still wriggling, as you might with a conventional trap, but it will still be less 'kind' than a catch & release trap, or a sharp blow on the head.

The other thing that you may have to consider is the attitude of other residents to the sight of bait stations, although if you have a private garden area, that won't be an issue