Ajax Wildlife Removal: Does Steel Wool Help Keep Mice Out?

You may be most familiar with steel wool as an abrasive pad used to clean and polish metal. When combined with soap, it can also be used to scrub heavily soiled dishes. Steel wool has many other potential uses, one of which is as a deterrent to prevent mice from getting into your home. If not effective, the next step would be to call for mice removal in Ajax as soon as possible.

What Is Steel Wool?

Invented in 1896, steel wool consists of narrow metal strips with sharp edges bundled together to form an abrasive cluster. There is no actual wool in steel wool; its name comes from the similarity of its appearance to sheep's wool. Despite the name, steel wool is not necessarily made of steel either, although it can be. It can also be made out of bronze or aluminum. There are different varieties of steel wool. It comes in different thicknesses called grades. Not all grades are appropriate to use as a mouse deterrent. High-grade steel wool may be too rigid to seal off entry points where mice can get in, while low-grade steel wool may not be strong enough to keep them out. If you decide to try to use steel wool as a mouse deterrent, be sure to choose medium grade.

How Can Steel Wool Be Used as a Mouse Deterrent?

Mice often get into a building through small holes, openings, or cracks. You may find such openings around windows or doorframes. Mice may also be able to get through the openings by which utility lines enter the home from outside. They are able to compress their bodies to squeeze through holes that might seem impossibly small. If you see holes or cracks around your home that you think mice may be able to get into, you can fill them up with steel wool to create a barrier that mice shouldn't be able to get past to enter your home.

What Are the Benefits of Using Steel Wool as a Mouse Deterrent?

Because of its malleability, steel wool can be shaped to fit a hole or a crack even if it is oddly shaped, with no room for the mice to get around it. It is non-toxic, so you don't have to worry if a child or a pet accidentally gets ahold of it. However, because of its sharp edges, it can cause rodents pain when they try to chew on it.

What Are the Limitations of Using Steel Wool as a Mouse Deterrent?

Steel wool may be effective as a stop-gap measure to plug up potential entry points for mice until you can find a more permanent solution. However, you should not rely on it on a long-term basis. Depending on what it is made out of, it may corrode with exposure to moisture and deteriorate over time. Mice are very motivated to find food and shelter, so even the most effective deterrent may not keep them out forever. Furthermore, steel wool only helps to prevent an infestation; it doesn't do anything to abate an infestation that is already in progress. In other words, steel wool can help keep new mice out of your home, but it doesn't do anything to remove mice that are already there. If anything, it keeps them inside so that they have no other choice but to forage for food within the confines of your home.  

When Should You Call for Mice Removal in Ajax?

Call Skedaddle at the first sign of an infestation. Mice are prodigious breeders with a gestation period of 21 days. Removal is easier the earlier you intervene, whereas the longer you allow an infestation to progress, the larger it becomes. Our process involves sealing entry points to prevent future incursions. Contact us to learn more.