What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Rats Indoors?

If you’ve spotted droppings in your kitchen, heard scratching sounds in your walls, or noticed chewed wires, you’re likely dealing with a rat problem. These pests don’t just cause damage; they spread disease, contaminate food, and multiply quickly. Once inside, rats can be difficult to eliminate without the right strategy.



So, what’s the best way to get rid of rats indoors? The answer combines prevention, targeted trapping, and professional pest control for complete and lasting results.

1. Find and Seal Every Entry Point

Before you set traps or call for help, the first step is to stop more rats from coming in. Rats can squeeze through holes as small as a quarter, which means even tiny gaps around doors, vents, or pipes can serve as entry points.

Inspect your home carefully, paying special attention to:

• Gaps in baseboards or around plumbing
  
  
• Cracks in walls or floors
  
  
• Open vents or chimneys
  
  
• Spaces around doors, windows, and foundations
  
  

Seal openings with steel wool, caulk, or metal flashing, materials rats can’t chew through. Blocking entryways cuts off their access and helps prevent future infestations.

2. Eliminate Food and Water Sources

Rats invade homes because they’re looking for food and shelter. Removing their food supply makes your home far less attractive to them.



Here’s how to reduce their access to food and water:

• Keep food sealed in airtight containers
  
  
• Clean up crumbs, spills, and pet food immediately
  
  
• Secure garbage bins with tight-fitting lids
  
  
• Fix leaky faucets or standing water around sinks and drains
  
  

Consistency is key. Even small crumbs or drops of water can sustain a rat colony.

3. Use Effective Traps

When it comes to indoor rat removal, traps are safer and more effective than poisons. They give you control over where and how rats are caught, and they prevent the unpleasant odors associated with poisoned rodents dying inside walls.

Common trap types include:

• Snap traps: Quick and reliable; place them along walls or near droppings.
  
  
• Electronic traps: Deliver a quick, humane electric shock.
  
  
• Live traps: Capture rats safely so you can release them away from your home.
  
  

For best results, bait traps with peanut butter, dried fruit, or nuts and place them in areas with visible rat activity.

4. Clean and Disinfect Affected Areas

Rats leave behind droppings and urine that can carry harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Hantavirus. After removing them, thoroughly clean and disinfect affected areas.

Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning, and use a disinfectant spray rather than sweeping or vacuuming droppings. This helps prevent airborne contamination.

5. Call the Professionals for Lasting Results

DIY trapping and cleaning can help reduce a rat population, but it rarely eliminates the entire infestation. Rats are excellent at hiding, and even one surviving pair can quickly repopulate your home.

Professional rat control services offer a more comprehensive solution. Experts can inspect your home, identify nesting sites, and use proven methods to eliminate rodents safely and efficiently.



At Protective Pest Management, our trained technicians use advanced trapping and exclusion techniques to completely remove rats and prevent their return. We focus on long-term protection so you can feel confident your home is rodent-free.

Call for a Free Quote

Don’t let rats take over your home. Call Protective Pest Management today at (814) 244-0067 or fill out our online form to request a free quote. Our expert team will inspect, trap, and secure your home with safe, effective rat control solutions.