[MikeSid]

First, know your enemy, are they black rats or Norway rats? Are they in your attic or on the ground floor/basement?

Step one is contain the perimeter. Find all access points and seal with hardware cloth.

Step two, use snap traps to eliminate any trapped occupants.

Step three, spray an enzyme cleaner on any access points. Rats excrete something like pheremones through their fur and anyplace the fur rubs will likely have a black streak from the oils in the fur. Other rats will locate this smell and attempt to follow in the path of your prior house guests. You want to eliminate this smell.

Step four, clean up any feces. Use caution doing so. Gloves, and a virus blocking respirator. Pick them with tissue - don't sweep or vacuum.

Read up on the Hanta virus - don't read an exterminator's website - because most just monger fear. But the viruses and diseases in rat feces should not be taken lightly. They can cause life threatening illness.

The CDC has reliable information, and for example, you'll find that the Hanta Virus won't live for more than about 5 days. So if you delay your cleaning a bit, there is significantly less risk. No exterminator website will volunteer that information.

I'd avoid glue traps and bait. FDA just restricted certain bait systems based on danger to children and animals. It's nasty stuff and I don't want to see in out in the world, in the water, etc. A snap trap is your best bet. Glue traps...well without being overly gross, a rat will gnaw off it's own leg to get free - or just rip itself free at whatever cost. Trust me...just use multiple snap traps.

Good luck.