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This article was co-authored by Kevin Carrillo and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.
There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 1,800 times.
Mice may seem small and harmless, but they can cause their fair share of damage and contamination around your home.[1]
How do you convince these pesky critters to get out and stay out for good? Don’t worry. Keep reading for plenty of tips, tricks, and hacks that can keep your home rodent-free, especially when the cooler weather starts to hit.
This article is based off an interview with our MMPC-certified pest control specialist, Kevin Carrillo. Check out the full interview here.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 13:Block off any entry points to your home.
Method 1
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1Mice can fit through blueberry-sized openings in or around your home.[2] Sealing off these entry points, however small, is one of the most effective ways that you can permanently keep mice out of your home.[3] Scan both the inside and outside of your home for any gaps, holes, or other openings that seem wide enough for a mouse to squeeze through. Here are a few DIY solutions to get started:[4]
- Cracks and small holes: Fill in these gaps with quick-drying cement.[5] You can also seal these openings using steel wool that’s held in place with caulk.[6]
- Holes without wiring: Stuff these holes with a piece of copper mesh pan scrubber.[7]
- Big holes and openings: Fill in these openings completely with cement, or seal them off with sections of lath screen, lath metal, metal sheeting, or hardware cloth.[8]
- Doors and windows: Remove and replace any damaged weatherstripping.
Method 2
Method 2 of 13:Make a natural repellant with peppermint oil.
Method 2
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1Mice really hate the smell of peppermint and won’t want to go anywhere near it. Squeeze several drops of peppermint oil onto some cotton balls. Then, stick these cotton balls into any openings or cracks that the mice might use to get into your home. Just be sure to add more peppermint oil to the cotton balls multiple times during the week, so the minty scent stays potent.[9]
Method 3
Method 3 of 13:Set up humane or fast-acting traps.
Method 3
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1Traps are a great final line of defense in case any mice somehow sneak into your home. Pest control experts suggest using electronic or snap traps, which kill the mice almost instantly. There are also humane options, like catch-and-release traps. Set these traps near any potential entry points to catch any wandering mice.[10]
- Don’t use glue traps to catch mice. These are very inhumane, and can also trap other unsuspecting animals.
- Steer clear of any rodenticides. These are lethal to all kinds of animals, including family pets.
Method 4
Method 4 of 13:Plug in ultrasonic mice repellers.
Method 4
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1Mice hate ultrasonic sounds and won’t want to be near them. With this in mind, pick up some plug-in, ultrasonic electronics. Simply plug these devices in around your home and let the ultrasonic sounds do the rest! Although these sounds won’t bother you, all nearby mice will definitely hear them![11]
- These traps may not be foolproof—some persistent rodents might get used to the frequencies and choose to stick around your home.
Method 5
Method 5
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1Crumbs, birdseed, and other messes offer mice a free meal. Look around both the inside and outside of your home for some potential food sources. Clean up any messes that you find, like stale bread crumbs around your toaster or scads of birdseed scattered around your backyard.[12] Mice may also be attracted to your:[13]
- Outdoor grill
- Leftover dishes in the sink
- Compost piles
Method 6
Method 6 of 13:Store leftover food in airtight containers.
Method 6
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1Mice will sniff out and get into food that’s easy to access. Go through your pantry and cupboards and look for any ingredients/foods packaged in paper, cardboard, or another flimsy material. Transfer these foods to sturdy, air-tight containers that mice can’t nibble through.[14]
- Mice won’t want to hang around a place with no free food.
Method 7
Method 7 of 13:Clean up any uneaten pet food.
Method 7
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1Mice will treat your leftover pet food as a free meal. Keep an eye on your pet’s food and water dishes throughout the day. If your furry friend doesn’t eat all of the food, toss it out or store it in a sturdy, airtight container.[15]
- Try to get in the habit of immediately transferring your pet’s dry food to a sturdy container. This way, mice can’t gnaw their way through the bag for a free snack.
Method 8
Method 8 of 13:Take your trash out frequently.
Method 8
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1Rodents and trash are peas in a pod. Dump out your trash frequently so the bags in your home aren’t overflowing. Then, securely close and place your outdoor trash cans at the very end of your driveway, so mice won’t be tempted to check out your house after a late night of dumpster diving.[16]
Method 9
Method 9 of 13:Clean out any clutter in your yard.
Method 9
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1Mice love hunkering down in overgrown brush and piles of clutter. Circle around your yard and take a close look at any bushes, shrubs, mulch piles, and tall grass. Trim down any plants so mice aren’t tempted to take shelter there, and remove any weeds or piles of trash that the critters could use as a hiding spot.[17]
- If your shrubs and bushes are really close together, consider replanting them a little further apart. This way, mice won’t have a huge shelter at their disposal.
Method 10
Method 10 of 13:Set up a barn owl nesting box in your yard.
Method 10
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1Barn owls prey on mice and will be a natural deterrent. Each barn owl actually eats up to 3,000 mice each year, making them a great addition to your yard. Mice definitely won’t want to stick and around and be a predator’s dinner![18]
- Hungry Owl Project and Barn Owl Box Company sell premade nesting boxes that you can set up in your yard.
Method 11
Method 11 of 13:Adopt a cat.
Method 11
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1Cats aren’t guaranteed to get rid of your mice, but they definitely can’t hurt. At best, your cat scares off any unwanted intruders and helps keep your home mouse-free. At worst, you have a new feline friend to keep you company![19]
Method 12
Method 12 of 13:Install metal door sweeps.
Method 12
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1Door sweeps help block any gaps beneath your doors. They come in different materials, but metal is the best option for keeping unwanted critters out of your home. Thankfully, these devices are cheap and easy to find online or at any home improvement store.[20]
- You can buy a metal door sweep for around $10.
Method 13
Method 13 of 13:Fix any plumbing leaks in your home.
Method 13
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1To mice, a dripping faucet or leaking pipe is like a free water fountain. Remove any temptation by fixing up these leaks yourself, or calling a plumber to get the job done. Take a close look at any dripping appliance pipes, too—any water source, however small, could be a popular mouse hangout.[21]
Warnings
- Some mice may sneak into your home through gaps in your home’s foundation. Deteriorated bricks and flooring joists are other possible entry points.[24]Thanks!
References
- ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/alberta/pages/Pests-house-mouse.aspx
- ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/is-there-a-mouse-in-the-house-eliminate-mice-with-ipm
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. MMPC, Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-wild-mice
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-wild-mice
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent_infestations/seal_up.html
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-wild-mice
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent_infestations/seal_up.html
- ↑ https://www.chicagotribune.com/consumer-reviews/sns-bestreviews-home-how-to-use-peppermint-oil-keep-mice-away-20210726-7kl4picg3ff4vc5vwmfag7r7my-story.html
- ↑ https://saferodentcontrol.org/site/rodent-control/
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/rats-mice.html
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-wild-mice
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent_infestations/clean_up.html
- ↑ https://saferodentcontrol.org/site/rodent-control/
- ↑ https://saferodentcontrol.org/site/rodent-control/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent_infestations/clean_up.html
- ↑ https://www.washtenaw.org/3022/Rats-Mice
- ↑ https://saferodentcontrol.org/site/rodent-control/
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pest-control/21283727/mice-removal
- ↑ https://www.washtenaw.org/3022/Rats-Mice
- ↑ https://saferodentcontrol.org/site/rodent-control/
- ↑ https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-kill-pest-rats-and-mice/
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. MMPC, Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. MMPC, Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
About This Article
MMPC, Pest Control Specialist
This article was co-authored by Kevin Carrillo and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News. This article has been viewed 1,800 times.
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: November 23, 2021
Views: 1,800
Categories: Rodent Control
