The common blunder that can turn your house into a rat magnet

An expert has revealed the surprise blunder that could make your home more attractive to rats and mice. Across the country, households will be making the switch from summer to winter, replacing duvets with thicker versions, changing over their wardrobes, and generally prepping their houses and flats for the colder months. But there is one thing they should avoid doing, and it's something they might not be aware of.

One expert has focused on a number of autumn storage mistakes, including one that you might be innocently making without realising it. How you store your bedding and clothes is extremely important. Not only do you want to keep them as fresh as possible, but you also want to keep them safe from potential pests such as rats, mice and moths. With now being a time of year when people make these kinds of switches for a new season, it's important to know what to do and what not to do.

Frederic de Ryckman de Betz, CEO ofHOLD Self Storage, has said that rats and mice could consider it an open invitation if you store your clothes and bedding a certain way.

"Every year, we see a surge in people looking for storage solutions after discovering mice have destroyed their belongings," he said.

"The irony is that most of these infestations could have been prevented with just a few simple changes to how items are stored."

Breeding season and colder weather are driving rodents such as rats indoors, so now is a good time to remind yourself of this advice.

Leaving clothes, duvets and blankets in unsealed boxes could attract rats and mice, the expert warned. He said that the solution is to invest in some air-tight plastic containers that you make sure to seal.

"Mice don't just nibble, but shred fabric to line their nests, and once they've established a territory, they're incredibly difficult to remove," he said.

This solution protects your belongings from rats and mice that might have found their way into your home, as well as from moisture and dust. When you need to store bulky items like duvets, vacuum bags are a great choice because they save a lot of space and keep your duvets just as safe as boxes.

Other steps you should take to protect your home from rats and mice include sealing small entry points, storing pet food in thick metal or plastic containers, and keeping cardboard boxes off the floor.