All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. THE cold weather can make you want to hunker down and shelter from the elements. Unfortunately, this cosy time of year is also prime time for rats, who have the same idea for surviving winter. If you're looking to protect your home from these pesky rodents, the experts at Bunk Beds have shared the four preventative measures you can take.

"Rats are more likely to enter homes during the winter months as they search for food and warmth," they explained. The professionals revealed that rats are "highly skilled at finding their way inside.". They recommended taking swift action if you notice anything suspicious as "the problem can get worse and it can be an expensive fix" if untreated. "Rodents can chew electrical wires, cause expensive property damage, and spread diseases that can cause liver and kidney damage, and salmonella," they explained.

They highlighted the importance of taking preventative action in your home. For their first step, they advised homeowners to start with securing their garden. "Rats have an amazing sense of smell and can smell food from over two kilometres away and will travel long distances to find a food source if they need to," they said. "For this reason, if you have any food thrown in your bins then you need to make sure they are secured with tight-fitting lids.".

They also suggested storing your bins away from your house if you have the space. "Rats and other rodents are scavengers and if you can keep your bin away from your house walls, you will reduce the risk of attracting unwanted pests," they shared. The experts also recommended using "natural predators" such as cats or owls to keep the rodents away. "Some dog breeds such as Jack Russell terriers can also protect your home," they revealed.

And while you likely don't own an owl, installing an owl box in your garden can help encourage the predators to take up residence and keep the rodent population to a minimum. And if you don't want these animals in your gardens, you can use decoy predator scents. "These scents can deter rats as well as a wide range of animals like moles, voles, mice, and squirrels," they explained. You can also incorporate natural deterrents into your home, many of which you probably already have.

Using natural-smelling spices or oils is considered to be the next best option after synthetic scents. "Strong-smelling spices like cayenne pepper or garlic cloves can be sprinkled around the entry points of your home," the experts said. "These scents are strong and can burn a rodent's nose as they are so sensitive to smells. "You can also wipe any surfaces in your home with vinegar as it removes the food odour that may attract them in the first place.".

Peppermint or cinnamon oil also work but are only a temporary fix, for something more permanent consider planting rodent-repelling plants such as mint, lavender, or marigolds in your garden. The experts highlighted how quickly a rodent infestation can take place. "Rodents are dirty and carry nasty diseases and the last thing you want is to invite these creatures into your home," explained Adeel from Bunk Beds.

"Rats and other rodents can also be expensive to get rid of too. "Traps and baits can cost hundreds of pounds and there is no guarantee that it will get rid of the problem either. "If you don't get rid of your rodent problem quickly it can become near impossible to fix, a female rat can have up to 13 babies in a litter and can have anywhere from three to 12 litters in a year. "Rats can also reach sexual maturity after nine weeks so a population of two rats can exponentially grow to over 1,200 in a year.".