There are hundreds of products to get rid of mice on the market, from poisons to electronic repellant devices. Unfortunately, many of these products do not work, or only work for a short period of time. In order to solve the problem of mouse infestation for good, steps must be taken to make your home an unattractive environment for mice.
Before you start trapping or poisoning mice inspect your home inside and out. Mice can fit through any opening larger than three-eighths of an inch, and they have no problem climbing up most exterior walls. Seal any opening you find that is big enough for a mouse to squeeze through. Pay special attention to holes in foundations and attics, around pipes, and in garages.
Once your home is sealed, start working on the inside environment. Mice are attracted to human homes because we provide them with food, water, warmth, and safety from predators. Eliminating those attractions will make your home less appealing to mice, and all other pests as well.
First, remove easy access to food. Store cereals, pasta, rice, and other boxed foods in sealed plastic or glass containers. Items like onions and potatoes should be stored in ventilated bins with metal mesh over the vents. Fresh fruits should be refrigerated. Dishes should be washed immediately after use, and trash should be taken out and placed in a sealed bin daily.
Mice may also eat things we wouldn’t normally consider food. When you want to get rid of mice, you have to think like a mouse. That organic honey and walnut facial scrub may not look appetizing to you, but to a mouse it looks like dessert in a tube. Go through your bathroom cabinets, craft supplies, and cleaning supplies as carefully as your kitchen, and seal any sweet or food based products in plastic. Edible houseplants may need to be removed from the home until the mice are gone.
Eliminating water sources will also help reduce your home’s attractiveness to pests. Check for leaks around pipes, in basement walls, and near chimneys and vents. Also look for condensation on cold water pipes, toilets, and windows.
Finally, take an honest look at your home. Piles of boxes in the attic are ideal hiding places for pests, as are dresser drawers that never get opened. Areas with a lot of items stored in them are usually where mice like to nest, especially if those items are paper or cloth. Clear out those areas, and you get rid of potential nesting spots for pregnant mice.
Once you have gotten rid of food, water, and shelter for your mice, and sealed up access holes, you can start removing mice. In a sealed home, traps are preferable to poisons, since dying mice are notorious for hiding in inaccessible locations. Set your traps in areas that are hidden from view, such as under the kitchen sink or behind furniture. To completely get rid of mice, check the traps daily, and continue setting traps until no more mice are caught.