Rodents choose a house for three things: food, water and warm shelter, plus a gap big enough to get inside. Mice and rats are among the most common pests in homes, and a kitchen with open food, a slow leak and a small opening near a pipe gives them everything they need. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company whose rodent work starts with finding how mice and rats get in. Below is what draws rodents in and how to take each attraction away.
Food: crumbs, pantry goods and garbage
Rodents eat almost any human or pet food, so the first fix is to make food hard to reach. Store pantry goods and pet food in sealed glass, metal or heavy plastic containers, wipe up crumbs and spills the same day, and keep garbage in a bin with a tight lid. University of California guidance notes that good sanitation alone will seldom completely control house mice, so pair a clean kitchen with sealing and trapping. Look for droppings and fresh gnaw marks near food, which show where rodents are feeding.
Water: leaks, drips and pet bowls
Rodents also need a steady water source, and leaking pipes, dripping taps, condensation lines and pet bowls left out overnight all qualify. Fix leaks under sinks and around water heaters and washing machines, and pick up pet water at night if you’ve seen activity. These same spots matter for sealing too, because the CDC lists the pipes under sinks and washing machines among the places to check for gaps.
Warmth: shelter and small entry points
As temperatures drop, mice and rats look for warm, sheltered nesting sites, and wall voids, attics, garages and crawl spaces fit well. They get in through surprisingly small gaps: the CDC notes that a mouse can fit through a hole about the width of a pencil, roughly a quarter inch. Seal small holes with steel wool and caulk, and use hardware cloth, metal sheeting or cement for larger openings. A professional inspection helps find gaps along the roofline and foundation that are hard to see, and every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection covering entry points, attics and basements.
For rodent control for mice and rats, Saela’s rodent exclusion service includes inspecting for access points, repairing openings and placing traps for rodents still inside.
In a February 2024 Google review, kay mccallop reported that Saela identified rodent-prevention issues and repaired them that day. On Google, Saela’s Lakewood, Washington location is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,164 reviews as of October 2026. To learn how rodents travel once they’re inside, see how mice and rats get inside walls.
If you’re seeing droppings, gnaw marks or noises in the walls, compare Saela’s plans and pricing to see how ongoing service and return visits work.
Frequently asked questions
What attracts mice and rats to a house most?
Easy food is usually the main draw, followed by water and warm shelter, and rodents only need a small gap near those resources to move in. Sealed food storage, fixed leaks and closed entry points together make a home far less attractive.
How small a hole can a mouse get through?
The CDC says a mouse can fit through a hole about the width of a pencil, roughly a quarter inch across, so even small gaps around pipes matter. University of California guidance recommends sealing all holes larger than a quarter inch to keep out both rats and mice.
Is cleaning enough to get rid of rodents?
Cleaning reduces food and shelter, but it rarely solves an active infestation on its own because rodents already inside keep nesting and breeding. Combine sanitation with sealing entry points and trapping, and clean up droppings the way the CDC recommends, with gloves and a disinfectant rather than a broom or vacuum.
Next steps
If you’re seeing droppings, gnaw marks or hearing noises in the walls, book a call to schedule a rodent inspection.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
