You Need to Think Like a Mouse to Keep the Pests Away
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Think you just saw a mouse? You’re not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest American Housing Survey, nearly 15 million households reported seeing rodents in the last year. “Living with mice isn’t just unsettling, it can make your home less healthy,” says Dan DiClerico, the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Improvement & Outdoor Director. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that mice can spread diseases to humans directly through feces, urine or saliva, and indirectly through ticks, mites or fleas that have fed on the rodents.
We know — you didn’t need any more convincing that mice are a menace. But it’s important to appreciate the many ways rodents in your home negatively impact quality of life. Now for the good news: containing a mice infestation, or better yet, keeping one from happening in the first place, is easily done with the right combination of prevention and containment.
How to spot a mouse infestation
Where there’s one mouse, more are usually lurking. The Building Performance Institute, which sets standards for the creation of healthy, pest-free homes, notes that a single female mouse can have up to eight litters per year, producing as many as 100 young mice! “Since mice are nocturnal, droppings are usually the first sign of an infestation,” says DiClerico. The droppings look like dark grains of rice, about a quarter-inch long. Rat droppings tend to be wider and longer — about half an inch in length.
Mice leave their mark in other ways, too. They’re always foraging for food, so the kitchen tends to be the hottest spot. Scan your pantry and cabinets for debris on shelves or gnaw marks on food boxes. Look for gaps and cracks in walls, along baseboards and windows, and around pipes, wire and drains. “Mice can get through holes as small as a quarter inch in diameter, which is about the size of a pencil,” says DiClerico.
Tips on How to Get Rid of Mice
Just like getting rid of silverfish and other pests in your home like cockroaches, it's best to keep mice away in the first place. Yet even with every precaution in place, mice may slip through the cracks (quite literally!). Once you pick up on signs that you have unwelcome guests in your home, follow this step-by-step guide to remove mice as quickly — and painlessly — as possible.
1. Find their entry point.
Before mice can nest in your home, they need to find a way inside. Basements, attics, crawlspaces and cracks around windows and doors are all possible entry points. "Figure out where they're coming from, because putting traps randomly all over your basement floor isn't going to do you any good," says Cindy Mannes, a spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association. Do your best detective work to determine where the mice are living and building nests, and then set your traps around those general areas.
2. Set mouse traps.
Mouse traps are one of the most effective ways to get rid of mice that have taken up residence inside your home. Place mouse traps in the more vulnerable areas of your house, like along walls and behind trash cans. There's a variety of mouse traps to choose from, all of which range in cost, function and design.
⚠️ Due to the inhumane killing method of sticky or glue mouse traps, we do not recommend them. Similarly, we do not recommend rondenticides, which should never be used in homes because of the risk of accidental poisoning, especially of children.
Choose from the following best types of mouse traps:
Snap traps: This popular quick-trigger system catches mice in their tracks. When used correctly, snap traps kill mice quickly, making it an efficient way to wipe out an entire population. Different kinds of snap traps include bar, clam and hidden kill.
Electric traps: These mouse traps lure mice into the chamber before killing them with electric shocks. They are specifically engineered to prevent humans and pets from being shocked.
Live catch traps: Similar to ones used for larger mammals, these traps catch, but don't kill, the mice. They are a specific type of chamber or cage with a trigger-activated door, which won't reopen until you release the captured rodent.
All mouse traps require bait of some kind — peanut butter is by far the most commonly used bait, but you can also use chocolate, cheese, bird seed or nuts to lure mice into the trap.
3. Clear out the garage.
Mice like cars just as much as houses. "If they get into the garage, they might just decide to live under your car hood, where the engine is nice and warm," warns Mannes. Once they start chewing on wires, they can seriously damage your car. Wrapping problem areas in rodent tape (which is treated with components also found in chili peppers) can help prevent mice from returning.
While setting a few mouse traps in your garage to rule out any unwanted pests is great, preventing them from entering your space is even better. "It's important to seal off the garage. Weather stripping under the garage door helps keep the pests out," says DiClerico. Most importantly, you should keep any food that would attract pests out of reach. "Never store trash, pet food or any other items that attract mice in your garage," says DiClerico.
4. When all else fails, call an exterminator.
Everyone has their own threshold for what they can put up with until they ask for help. If you get to the point of needing a professional, ask your friends and neighbors if they have any recommendations, whether you're looking for someone who can aggressively and effectively get the job done or an exterminator who will offer up a more humane approach. Expect to spend between $150 and $250 for treatment, depending on the size of your home and the extent of the outbreak.
⚠️ We do not recommend bombs or foggers of any kind, since they are hazardous to people and often not very effective.
And always check an exterminator's credentials before hiring. "Ask the pro if they're licensed by the state and if they're a member of a state or national association," says Mannes. "Those folks are usually taking the time to be credentialed properly, and they're learning the latest techniques for treatment."
How to Prevent Future Mice Infestations
After you've removed any mice roaming through your house, work your way down this list to make sure they — and any other rodents, for that matter — don't return.
1. Seal off entry points.
Seal narrow gaps with 100% silicone caulk. For holes that are larger than 1/2-inch wide, first stuff them with steel wool or copper mesh, which will prevent mice from chewing through, then seal them with joint compound; a foam insulation pest blocker is another option. "Pay close attention to where pipes enter the house, and check basement foundations," says Mannes. Attach door sweeps to the bottom of outside-facing doors to keep mice from scurrying underneath.
2. Prune branches from your house.
Shrubbery and branches are basically inviting mice and insects into your home. Cut off their highway to the house by trimming shrubbery back from the exterior of your house. While spring is generally the best time for pruning, if you're just removing dead or broken branches, that can safely be done any time of year. "It's also important to keep stacks of firewood at least 20 feet from the house, since mice — not to mention termites and carpenter ants — like to nest in the piles," says DiClerico.
3. Remove food supplies.
In colder temperatures, mice are looking for warmth and a constant food supply. Try to keep your kitchen shelves, cabinets and countertops clean, and store unsealed food in airtight food storage containers to limit their access. Same goes for pet food: Try not to leave food out in a cat or dog bowl all day long since it will attract rodents.
Mice will also munch on paper products and cardboard, so it's best to toss or recycle any excessive food packaging during your weekly kitchen cleanup.
4. Make your garbage off limits.
Like insects and other pests, mice are also attracted to trash cans. For a mouse-proof can, go with a trash can that has a tight lid or use rubber cords to keep it shut; metal bins are best. Clean the cans regularly, inside and out, to prevent rodent-attracting smells.
5. Break out the essential oils.
Although Mannes argues that homemade remedies aren't the best way to get rid of mice, there's no harm in trying out natural deterrents. Some claim that the smell of peppermint and clove oil repel mice. Soak cotton balls with these essential oils and stick them in areas that frequently attract mice like drawers, cabinets and entryways.
6. Think about getting a cat.
Mice aren't afraid of cats only in cartoons. A study out of the Scripps Research Institute has found that "mice are hard-wired to feel fear if they smell pheromones from cat urine." Another academic report noted that the one-two combination of a cat and a dog at home is especially effective at scaring off rodents. Of course, this shouldn't be the only reason to get a four-legged friend, and there are tradeoffs to consider, from the cost of feeding and care to all that pet hair.
The bottom line
Mice are a major nuisance that can get worse in a hurry if left unchecked. As with most pest infestations, the cause may be the result of other household issues — for example, cracks around windows and doors that also let in water and cold air. Fortunately, the fixes are usually straightforward, and when done in tandem with eliminating food sources, they're almost certain to resolve your mouse problem. It might take a couple weeks to achieve, but a mouse-free home is well within your reach.
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