An even better option is to prevent mice and other rodents from infiltrating your home in the first place.
Use one of these methods to keep mice away forever.
Mice can enter by squeezing through cracks as small as 1/4-inch in diameter.
The Spruce / Alex Dos Diaz
Refrain from using spray foam since rodents can chew through it.
Instead, fill holes tightly with steel wool or fasten wire mesh patches over entry points using screws.
Check your attic, too, since rodents love insulation’s warmth.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
However, no completely effective rodent-proof insulation is available.
If you have bird feeders, keep them as far from the house as possible.
More than one homeowner who has poured pet food into a bowl has found a mouse in the bag.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Dry pet foods are mana from heaven for rodents, sostore them in tightly sealed containerswell above the floor.
Similarly, the garbage bins in the house should be emptied regularly.
Never leave trash overflowing, which attracts rodents.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Instead, store these foods in tightly sealed plastic or metal containers on high shelves or the refrigerator.
Clean Floors and Countertops
Clean up crumbs or food scraps on floors or countertops.
If you have a pet bird, sweep up any scattered seeds that might have fallen beneath the cage.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Ensure weather seals along the bottom edges of garage doors are in good shape.
Get into the habit of closing yourgarage doorimmediately after entering or exiting your car.
Also, keep the side entry doors to the garage closed.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Keep sliding patio doors and basement windows closed or at least protected with screens to prevent rodents from entering.
Never leave a garage door or other entries open overnight.
Rodents are especially active in the dark hours.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Set Traps and Bait
Set a fewtrapsandbait stationsindoors as a diagnostic measure throughout the year.
Rodent poisons are a significant cause of pet poisoning in the United States.
Use Natural Repellents
Mice have a strong sense of smell anddon’t like certain odors.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
In one study, eucalyptus oil showed some success in repelling rats.
Chemical smells that keep mice away include ammonia, bleach, mothballs, and fabric dryer sheets.
Move boxes up on shelves and out of easy reach.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Darker, less frequented spots like basements and closets are prime mouse hiding spots.
Also, remove clutter in the yard, shed, or garage.
If you have a compost pile, keep it far from the house.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Mice vs.
Rats
Both rats and mice can start fires by gnawing on electric cables.
The pros have other methods, like heavy-duty poison or baits.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Since rats are bigger creatures, they tend to be more aggressive than mice and harder to kill.
Pest control experts are better equipped to eliminate rats.
They work much faster than poison methods, which usually take some time to take effect.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Your home is also a source of warmth during colder times.
A house is an ideal environment for a typical mouse.
However, people living two miles away might not appreciate your mouse drop-off.
Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images
Wear disposable gloves to handle them.
Avoid touching dead mice if you’re able to; wash your hands thoroughly if handling is unavoidable.
1, Jan. 2015, pp.
2014, 2014, pp.
- doi:10.1155/2014/249284
Gwaltney-Brant SM.Miscellaneous indoor toxicants.
In:Small Animal Toxicology.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diseases directly transmitted by rodents.
Updated July 5, 2017
