Mice migrate into people\u2019s homes in search of food, warmth, or shelter. They reproduce fast and can spread diseases.<\/p>\n
They often cause damage by chewing on wires, books, and toys, or getting into cupboards and spoiling food by gnawing on storage bags and even plastic containers. Mice leave traces of urine and feces, which contain bacteria and viruses.<\/p>\n
Read on to find out how to get rid of mice if you have them in your home, and how to prevent an infestation if you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
7 tips to get rid of mice<\/p>\n
Mice can get through tight spaces because of their small size. Cracks even as small as 1\/4 of an inch need to be sealed.<\/p>\n
If you have mice in your home, knowing their preferred locations will help you get rid of them faster. The black fecal pellets they leave behind are a giveaway of their whereabouts.<\/p>\n
Keep food away from these areas, and store everything edible in containers that can\u2019t be chewed.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019re familiar with the whereabouts of your mice, try one of the following ways to get rid of them.<\/p>\n
Get a cat
\nIf no one in your family has a cat allergy, getting a cat might just be the easiest way to get rid of mice. If a cat isn\u2019t an option, buy cat litter and spread it in areas most frequented by the mice. This can act as a deterrent. Be sure to keep cat litter out of the reach of children.
\nUse essential oils
\nThe strong smell of peppermint oil and clove oil seems to repel mice. Saturate cotton balls with these essential oils and put them in areas that attract mice like drawers, cupboards, and home entryways. Although the smell alone won\u2019t be enough to get rid of mice completely, it can work in conjunction with other methods.
\nSet humane traps
\nHumane traps keep mice alive so you can release them. Place traps in the areas of your home most frequented by mice and check them every morning. Mice generally come out looking for food at night. Examples of yummy treats to attract mice include peanut butter, cheese, and buttered popcorn.
\nBe sure to release any mice you capture at least a mile away from your home, and preferably not in an inhabited area. Don\u2019t touch the mice directly in order to avoid any diseases they might be carrying.<\/p>\n
Try a hot pepper solution
\nPoison baits may seem like an easy solution, but they can also be risky. Poison can sicken pets and children in your home, so it\u2019s safer to stick with nonpoisonous baits and treatments. Try a concentrated hot pepper solution. Spray it in spots out of the reach of children and pets, but where mice frequently visit, such as under the stove or behind cabinets.
\nBuild your own humane trap
\nIf you\u2019re crafty, try to build your own easy-to-use live traps using household items:
\nBucket, stick, and plastic cup: Skewer the cup with the stick and lay the stick-and-cup contraption across the open top of the bucket. Smear some peanut butter on the cup to act as bait.<\/p>\n
The mouse should run out to the cup, and then fall into the bucket. Release the mouse in the morning.Repeat as needed.
\nGlass and coin: Using a large glass with peanut butter smeared inside, balance one side on an upright\ufffdcoin.<\/p>\n
When the mouse runs in for the peanut butter, it should knock down the coin and become trapped inside the glass. Repeat as needed.<\/p>\n
Pack spaces with steel wool
\nPack steel wool into the tight spaces mice like to sneak into. Steel wool is impossible and unpleasant to chew and will create a natural deterrent for the little buggers.
\nBlock with duct tape
\nOnce you identify some of the entry points mice are using, such as under your sink around the pipes or at the back of cupboards where there are wires, cover them with duct tape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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