10 Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Mice In Your House
Mice are not welcome guests in any house. They can damage your property, contaminate your food, and spread diseases. If you have a mouse problem, you need to act fast to get rid of them before they cause more trouble. Here are 10 effective ways to get rid of mice in the house.
1. Use Mouse Repellents
Mice can smell very well, and you can use that to your advantage to make them go away. Mixture of apple cider and water, fabric softener sheets and hot pepper solution can be ideal options.
2. Keep A Cat
Having a cat is a great way to keep mice away. If you can't have a cat where you live, ask someone who does to give you some old kitty litter. Put the litter in containers near the doors of your house. The smell of cat pee may make the mice leave.
3. Use Live Traps
Live traps are available at hardware and home goods stores. Place them where you see signs of mice and use peanut butter, cheese, or popcorn to lure them in. If you catch a mouse, let it go far from your house, at least a mile. If not, it may return.
4. Use Essential Oils
Mice don't like the smell of some essential oils, like peppermint and clove oil. You can put the essential oil of your choice on cotton balls and place them where you see mice signs - like in drawers, cabinets, and under sinks.
5. Remove All Food Sources
Remove food that mice like to eat to keep them out of your home. Put all grain, pet food, and other dry foods in glass or metal containers that are safe from mice because they can't bite through them.
6. Take Nesting Materials Away
Mice won't have anything to nest in if you keep all fabrics, rugs, and blankets in sturdy plastic storage bins. Don't forget that mice will also shred cardboard, paper, or thin plastic for nesting, so get rid of your household recycling quickly.
7. Seal Entry Points
Mice will seek a warm place when it gets cold. Stop them from coming in by using caulk or weather-stripping to close small holes in your foundation, siding, and doors. Put duct tape over holes, and stuff steel wool into vent openings to prevent entry without blocking airflow.
8. Use Traps
Trapping can quickly get rid of mice. Some live traps catch mice and allow you to let them go, while other traps kill the mice immediately, quickly reducing the mouse population. Wooden snap traps are good for a few mice, while bait traps and multiple-capture traps are better for more mice. You can use peanut butter, bacon, or dried fruit to lure mice into traps.
9. Use Commercial Repellents
You can use natural repellents to keep mice away, but if you have a lot of mice in your home, you can also use professional repellents. They work well, are kind to animals, and are good for the environment.
10. Use Bait
Bait stations are packed with poisoned food or bits inside that can kill mice. The packets are wrapped in plastic, paper, cellophane, or something else that mice can bite through. The mice die when they eat the bait.
