Smart Tips To Keep Insects & Rodents Out Of Your Garage

Imagine you are in your garage looking for some tools, and suddenly, you come across an unsettling sight – chewed wires, cobwebs in the top corners, and tiny insects moving around those cardboard boxes. As weird as it may seem, pest infestation in garages is a common problem in more homes and farms.

But Why Do Pests Attack Your Garage?

• They are looking for shelter, a hiding spot, or a quiet place to protect themselves from predators.
• They were looking for a food source, and your garage has plenty of leftover droppings, piled packaged foods, and other edible items that they can feed on.
• Your steel garage is moisture and dark, making it an ideal place to nest, rest, and breed.
• The garage building’s entry points are the invitation for insects and rodents, such as cracks, gaps, holes, and broken seals around the windows and doors. 

These insects and rodents don’t just enter your space. They wreak havoc! Mice and rats gnaw through wiring, insulation, and stored items, which can lead to costly repairs. Moreover, termites and roaches can contaminate the space, leading to foul odor and health risks in the long run.

Here, we will uncover some practical tips to get rid of these common pests and maintain a clean & secured garage. Let’s start. 

7 Effective Yet Practical Tips To Keep Insects And Rodents Out Of Garages

Here are 7 easy-to-apply and simple tips and techniques to get rid of pests like insects and rodents.  

1. Seal Up The Entry Points To The Garage

Around Foundation And Walls – Pests keep looking for creative ways to sneak into cracks and holes near the foundation of your steel garage building. But you can easily avoid this scenario by sealing all openings with caulk, silicone-based waterproof sealant, or concrete patch (around the concrete slab, pipes, and wires).

Around Doors – You open and close the garage door several times a day. This may invite mice, bugs, and sometimes snakes through tiny gaps. A simple step would be to install weather stripping along all sides, ensure the bottom seal fits against the door, and add doa or sweep along the walk-in door to avoid any unwanted entry. 

Near Windows – If your garage has windows, make sure their screens are intact and tightly fitted. If you find any gaps or potential entry around the window frames, seal them promptly with caulk.

2. Keep Items Tidy Inside Your Garage

Remove Food Source – Food crumbs and stored packaged food items can attract pests inside your garage. So, clean your metal 2-car garage regularly and store food & edible items in an airtight container.

Reduce Clutter – Most rodents and insects like to hide in a place that is dark and cluttered. So, we advise you to keep your garage clutter-free and install organizers so you can find tools easily while keeping the garage floor free from mess.

3. Choose A Smart Storage Solution For Garage Storage

Elevate Items Of The Floor – You can install vertical shelving, hooks, and wall-mounted organizers to keep items off the floor and away from direct pest attacks. Bonus – it gives your garage an aesthetic look as well!

Be Careful With Cardboard Boxes – For most rodents and mice, cardboard boxes are easy to chew through. You can minimize the use of these types of boxes and replace them with transparent plastic containers or bins. You can easily find the items without opening boxes and keep them safe from pests. 

Store Packaged Food In Airtight Container – If you are storing perishable items in your insulated metal garage, we suggest using airtight containers and bins with tight lids to keep pests away.

Keep Trash Bins Tightly Sealed – No home or farm can be without trash. But these can attract pests easily. One way to avoid animals would be to opt for a trash bin with a lid that is emptied on a regular basis.

4. Ensure The Garage Is Moisture Free

Find And Fix Leaks – If your one car garage has leaky pipes, roof damage, and water logging around, ensure to fix them promptly, as these are the breeding ground of insects like mosquitoes, which carry deadly diseases. 

Improve Ventilation Systems – Make sure your garage has proper ventilation to remove moist and humid air and bring in a fresh breeze of air. If garage windows are the source of airflow, you can add screens to stop pests from entering inside when the windows are open. 

Use Dehumidifiers Or Silica Packs – These will absorb excess moisture inside the garage and keep the interior dry. 

5. Use Natural Deterrents And Repellents Inside The Garage For Pests

DIY Essential Oils – Some scents repel insects and rodents, such as peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus oil, etc. You can soak cotton balls in these oils and place them near entry points, but keep them away from kids and pets. 

Bay Leaves – Insects like roaches don’t like bay leaves. So, you can use them to deter these unwanted visitors in your garage. For example, you can place bay leaves in drawers, corners, etc., where roaches are likely to hide.

Diatomaceous Earth – These food-grade, natural powders dehydrate insects when they come in contact. You can sprinkle this powder lightly in cracks, crevices, etc., but avoid inhaling it yourself.

6. Opt For Traps And Barriers To Catch Them Inside The Garage

Now, even after all the above remedies don’t work, here are some measures you can take to keep insects and rodents out of the garage:

• Sticky Traps (for catching insects, ants, and monitoring rodents)
• Mesh Screens (install these over vents, drains, etc., to block entry)
• Door Sweeps (it seals the gap between the bottom of the door and the foundation)

7. When To Seek Professional Help To Remove Pests From The Garage 

It is likely your DIY solutions are not working if:

• Despite repeated efforts, you still see large infestations
• There are signs of damage like chewed wiring, shredded insulation, etc.
• There is a stringent foul odor and repeated dropping inside the garage.

When everything else fails and things start getting out of control, it is time to consult with a professional exterminator. They will take a look around to identify the problem areas, use targeted treatments, and recommend some long-term strategies to stop these in the near future. 

Tip: How To Avoid Pests In Your Garage Building? 

# Do Routine Inspection – It is important to check your garage regularly since pests are sneaky and keep looking for new entry points to enter. Ensure to clean your garage on a regular basis to avoid unwanted visitors.

# Keep Garage Clean – You can sweep the garage floor to clean and remove any crumbs, dust, and hidden items that can attract pests. Keep the garage organized and declutter items on a regular basis.   

# Limit Access – Close the garage doors when not in use, to avoid possible entry by pests. Don’t forget to seal gaps (around doors and windows) and store food items in tight-lid containers. 

# Seasonal Checks – Some seasons may have more active pest infestations than others. So, adjust the cleaning routine as per season. For example, some insects thrive in warm summer weather, while some rodents seek shelter during colder winters.

So, it is best practice to keep a check on gaps, cracks, insulation, etc., to avoid nesting and resting for common household and farm pests.

Start With These Simple Tips For A Pest-Free Garage Today!

Keeping insects and pests out of the garage is not just about avoiding nuisance but also protecting your property, along with safety, and maintaining a clean space. With these simple methods, you will be able to keep your metal garage secured from unwanted spies. So, which one would you like to apply to your garage first? Try these remedies and share your thoughts with us.