Does steel wool keep mice out?

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Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication. They're not just for scrubbing! Here's how you can use steel wool pads to keep mice and other pests out of your house. Chances are you’ve got some steel wool in your cabinet of cleaning supplies. But did you know that the versatile scrubbing tool can also be used for pest control? When used correctly, steel wool can prevent rodents and other small pests from infiltrating your home through its nooks and crannies. Here’s how.

Why Use Steel Wool for Pests?

Steel wool is a great way to block the small holes pests use to enter your home. First off, steel wool is tough but flexible; it can be pushed into all shapes and sizes of cracks and crevices. Pests like rats and mice hate chewing through steel wool, since the sharp edges hurt them the more they try to chew. Steel wool is also non-toxic, unlike many pest control solutions, so you can place it around your house without worrying about one of your pets or children getting into it.

How to Keep Out Pests

First, identify the places pests might entering your home. Here are some area you should check for potential pest entry points:

Around floor vents and dryer vents;.

Along the walls inside your attic;

In your basement and laundry room floor drains;

Along the walls in your basement or crawl space;

Around the corners inside closets;

Around any fireplaces/chimneys;

Between the floor and wall juncture;

Around doors;

Around the pipes under your sinks and washing machine;

Inside, under and behind kitchen cabinets, refrigerators and stoves;

Around the pipes leading to hot water heaters and furnaces.

Keep an eye out for telltale signs like rodent droppings, which can lead you to pest entry points. Once you find those points, plug them with as much steel wool as it takes to create a solid, impenetrable blockage. For good measure, apply some caulk to the exposed steel wool to seal it in place for good.

Best Steel Wool for Pest Control

via homedepot.com

If you do go with steel wool as a pest preventative, choose the right kind: medium grade. Lower grade steel wool is too soft and won’t provide enough of a challenge to deter pests, while higher grade is less malleable and harder to stuff into tight entry points. Medium grade offers just the right mix of flexible and rigid, providing a sturdy blockade.

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What insulation can you leave exposed?

Builders leaving fiberglass insulation exposed are in compliance with building codes because as long as the insulation is undisturbed. The American Lung Association agrees. This means if your attic or basement with exposed fiberglass insulation is used for storage only, there's no need to change anything.

azinsulation.com - Does Fiberglass Insulation Need To Be Covered?

Fiberglass Insulation In Spaces That Are Unoccupied

Exposed Fiberglass Insulation In Occupied Spaces

What if the previous owner of your new home used the unfinished basement for storage, but you want to convert it into a gym or playroom? In this case, even if you don’t plan on completely finishing the basement, you should cover the exposed fiberglass insulation for safety reasons, including disturbing fiberglass insulation can send particles into the air that act as lung, eye, and skin irritants and children playing around exposed fiberglass insulation may touch or even eat it, which can be a serious risk to their health.

Covering Fiberglass Insulation

If you decide to cover fiberglass in an occupied living space, make sure you choose a permeable barrier that won’t trap moisture. This allows your home to breathe more easily and helps prevent mold growth. Suggestions for covering exposed insulation include working with an insulation expert to ensure safe, code-compliant results, installing plywood flooring over the floor, installing sheetrock or paneling over the walls and sealing the insulation by stapling a polymembrane sheet on top of it.

Source: https://www.ibptampa.com/blog/covered-fiberglass-insulation

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