6 Tips to Get Rid of Mice
Updated on April 24, 2024 / 4 min read
Most pests and rodents, such as mice, invade homes for shelter, food, and warmth. Their infestation can be a nuisance for one and cause several health problems. Mice also have a short gestation period and breed continually, so getting rid of them as soon as possible is crucial. While professional rodent control is the best option for infestation, certain natural methods can help one get rid of mice in a couple of days.
Signs of mice infestation
Mice are typically nocturnal creatures who are wary of humans, so they tend to stay hidden. When they invade a home, they wait for a time when there is no noise and come out to forage. This explains why peak mouse activity typically occurs between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. That said, if food is abundant and there are no signs of threat, mice tend to relax and come out to feed at any time of the day.
Plus, often, spotting a mouse signals the presence of others nearby. This means that if a mouse comes out of hiding in plain daylight, it can indicate the presence of a high mouse population that is too hungry to wait until the house becomes quiet.
Many other signs can indicate mice in the house, but mouse droppings are usually the first sign. The creatures also leave behind debris on kitchen shelves and gnaw marks on food packages and boxes in the pantries and kitchen cabinets.
Tips to get rid of mice
Once the signs of a mouse infestation have been identified, it is important to take action immediately to get rid of them.
1. Find the entry points
Before mice start nesting in a house, they need to find entryways to get in. These entry points are usually in the attic, basement, crawlspaces, and cracks in doors and windows. Figuring out where the mice are coming from can help one set up traps in strategic places instead of just picking random spots. Besides, one should ensure these points are sealed off to prevent more mice from entering.
2. Set up traps
Setting up traps is one of the most effective ways to get rid of mice in nearly two days. These traps should be hidden in nooks and crannies or concealed places, such as behind trash cans and along the walls of dingy rooms. Snap and electric traps are often considered the more humane options for permanently getting rid of mouse infestations in two days. One should make sure to place bait inside the trap. For instance, one can place peanut butter, hot dogs, chocolate, nuts, or bird seeds inside the trap, all of which can lure mice.
3. Clean out the garage
Mice are more likely to be present in garages attached to houses. This is because cars offer warmer environments in which mice like to stay. So they will most likely nest under the car’s hood, near the engine. They will also chew on the wires, causing serious damage to the car.
To avoid this, one should use rodent-deterrent tape, which is a type of electrical tape laced with spicy chemical compounds. In addition to this, one can set up a few traps and implement measures to seal and clear the garage. This includes sealing air leaks under the garage door, not storing pet food in the garage, and not bringing trash into the garage.
4. Prune off branches around the house
Mice often use shrubbery and branches to get in and out of a house. One should trim back the shrubbery near the house’s exterior to get rid of these paths. One should also remove dead and broken branches and prune off any branches that are too close to the outside walls and windows of the house.
5. Secure trash cans with cords
Like most rodents, mice forage for food in trash cans and garbage. So, while taking measures to get rid of mice, one should make sure to keep the trash cans off limits. This can be done by fixing the trash can with rubber cords to keep it shut. Alternatively, one can purchase a new garbage can with a tight-fitting lid. In addition, it is important to clean the can every other week to prevent odors.
6. Use natural deterrents
Certain home-based remedies and household products can also be useful in keeping mice away and getting rid of them. Peppermint oil, cinnamon, clove oil, cayenne pepper, chili oil, eucalyptus oil, cedar oil, lavender oil, and vinegar are some of the products that have scents capable of deterring mice. One should place these in areas that the mice frequent.
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