How to Keep Rodents Away from Your Furniture
Rodents love to hide in schools, offices and homes where there’s food, water and a cozy spot to nest. If they get into your desks or chairs, you end up with chewed wood, stained fabric and nasty droppings. The good news? You can stop them with a few low‑cost actions and a bit of routine.
Why Rodents Target Furniture
Most rodents aren’t after the furniture itself – they’re after the shelter and the crumbs left behind. A cluttered storage unit or a dusty bookshelf offers the perfect dark hideout. They also like the warmth that comes from electronics or heated rooms. When they find a spot where food is nearby, they’ll set up camp and start gnawing on wood, plastic or upholstery.
Easy Ways to Keep Rodents Away
1. Clean up food spills right away. Even tiny crumbs on a desk can attract a mouse. Keep snack areas tidy, put food in sealed containers and wipe down surfaces daily.
2. Seal entry points. Check the edges of walls, windows and doors for gaps larger than a quarter‑inch. Use steel wool or caulk to close them – rodents can’t chew through steel wool.
3. Use simple traps. Snap traps or humane catch‑and‑release boxes work well in classrooms or office break rooms. Place them along walls where you’ve seen droppings.
4. Elevate storage. Keep spare boxes or seasonal items off the floor. A shelf or a pallet creates a barrier and makes it harder for rodents to climb.
5. Add natural repellents. Herbs like mint, rosemary or bay leaves have a scent rodents dislike. Toss a few into drawers, cabinets or under furniture.
6. Keep humidity low. Damp spots attract pests. Use a dehumidifier in basements or storage rooms and fix any leaks promptly.
7. Regular inspections. Walk around once a week and look for droppings, gnaw marks or small footprints. Spotting a problem early makes it easier to act.
Putting these steps into a weekly checklist takes only a few minutes but saves you from costly damage later. If you already have a rodent problem, start with traps, then move on to sealing holes and cleaning up food sources.
Remember, the goal isn’t to set up a high‑tech security system – it’s to make your furniture less appealing than a comfy nest. Simple habits, a quick tidy‑up and a few basic fixes go a long way toward keeping rodents out of your learning or working spaces.
