How to get rid of mice in your home
As it gets colder outside, we look forward to the warmth and cosiness of our homes. And this isn’t just the case for us; if they can find an entrance, mice will happily make their way indoors in search of shelter and food.
It’s never a nice feeling when you suspect a mouse in the house. Whether you notice a bin rustling or you spot a few chewed-through cables, it will leave most feeling unsettled. Some may find mice cute, while others will be terrified at the prospect of one, but in either case you need to address this house guest.
Mice carry diseases and can do some real damage to your home with free rein. Not to mention they will naturally startle you when they scuttle by! So it’s best to deal with this problem as soon as possible. Want to know where to start? We’ve rounded up the best preventative measures as well as the best solutions if one finds its way in.
Prevention is key
Keeping your surfaces clean and crumb-free is key to preventing mice from making themselves at home as they can live on a lot less food than you would think.
You should also make sure your food containers are sealed and kept in a cupboard where rodents can't reach, particularly boxes of cereal, bread, pasta and pet food. It may be worth putting your pet's food bowl away overnight.
Try not to leave uneaten food sitting in your pet’s bowl. Smaller and more regular meals may reduce pet food sitting in the open.
Vacuum your floors regularly, paying special attention to your kitchen floors where crumbs will likely collect.
However, if you spot mouse droppings, care must be taken with the vacuum. According to Natalie Bungay, Technical & Compliance Manager at the BPCA: “The best way to get rid of mouse droppings is to vacuum them up and then dispose of the bag. As long as the vacuum itself doesn't touch them, or is cleaned after, then that is safe. For a bagless vacuum, you can just empty them out into a bin bag and dispose of them. You can also remove the canister and rinse it to be extra safe.”
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How to tell if you have mice in your home
Small dark droppings, shredded packaging, nests of paper and a sour smell are all signs of mice, and you may also hear them scuttling around at night.
Unfortunately, it's never just the one mouse. If you've seen one skulking around, there are more hiding somewhere. The mice that invade your home may be resident (house mice) or merely hunting for food and warmth (field mice), but both have the same unhygienic habits that spread disease.
Because mice urinate to mark their territory, they contaminate food and can cause outbreaks of food poisoning. As rodents, they need to chew constantly and can cause fires when they bite through cables and wiring.
Skip the home remedies
There are a whole host of DIY repellent ideas (including peppermint sprays, dryer sheet stuffings, cotton balls soaked in oil and cayenne pepper, etc), but there's little scientific evidence to back up the effectiveness of these solutions, and if you're not blocking off the route that the mice are entering through, it's not going to solve anything permanently.
Set the traps
The first step is to find out where the mice are getting in and block off these holes with quick-hardening sealant, or 'mouse mesh'. Avoid using caulk, rubber or plastic fillers as mice can chew through these.
Traps should be placed in areas where there is evidence of rodent activity, and will be more effective if they are put inside tunnels or set directly alongside walls. Always use gloves when handling traps, as rodents tend to avoid anything with a human scent.
They are also suspicious of changes in their environment, so for the first few days, provide bait (chocolate, peanut butter and bacon are all good choices) but don't actually set the trap. Being able to take the food without harm at first lulls them into a false sense of security, and they will approach the traps with less caution, making successful capture more likely.
If you use a live trap, it's recommended that you release the mouse at least two miles from your house to prevent them from getting back in.
Don't forget the garage
Make sure you check that the mice aren't coming into your garage. They could choose to live in your car and gnaw at wires near your engine, which causes serious damage. Attach brush strips to the bottom any doors and your garage door so that mice can't squeeze themselves underneath them.
Call in help
For serious infestations, you should contact your local authority's environmental health officer, or a commercial pest control contractor.
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