Getting rid of mice means combining traps to remove the mice already inside with sealing and cleanup to keep new ones out. A steady, thorough approach usually clears an infestation and prevents it from returning better than any single quick fix.
What you'll need
- Snap traps
- Steel wool or copper mesh
- Caulk or expanding foam
- Airtight food containers
- Disposable gloves
- Disinfectant
Step by step
- Find the signs and entry pointsLook for droppings, gnaw marks, and greasy smudges along walls. Mice can squeeze through gaps the size of a dime, so check around pipes, vents, and door gaps.
- Remove food and shelterStore food and pet food in sealed containers, clean up crumbs, and clear clutter where mice hide and nest. Taking away food and cover makes your home less inviting.
- Set traps along the wallsPlace snap traps against walls where you saw droppings, with the trigger end toward the wall. Mice run along edges, so this position catches them on their route.
- Bait the traps effectivelyUse a small dab of peanut butter or a similar sticky food. A tiny amount makes the mouse work at it and trip the trap rather than snatching it away.
- Check and reset dailyInspect traps each day, dispose of caught mice while wearing gloves, and reset. Move traps if some stay untouched for a few days.
- Seal the entry pointsOnce activity stops, plug gaps with steel wool or copper mesh packed into holes and seal over with caulk or foam. Mice struggle to chew through metal mesh.
Handy tips
- Set more traps than you think you need; several close together catch more than one or two spread out.
- Wear gloves when handling traps so your scent does not warn the mice away.
- Keep firewood, compost, and clutter away from the outside walls of your home.
Heads up
- Mouse droppings and urine can carry disease; wear gloves, avoid sweeping or vacuuming dry droppings, and dampen with disinfectant before wiping up.
- Use caution with rodent poisons, which can harm children, pets, and wildlife that eat poisoned mice; traps are often safer indoors.
FAQ
Are traps or poison better?
Traps are usually safer and let you confirm the mouse is dead and remove it, avoiding odor from a mouse dying inside a wall. Poison carries risks to pets and other animals.
How do I know all the mice are gone?
When you stop finding fresh droppings, gnaw marks, or sprung traps for a couple of weeks, the infestation is likely cleared. Keep a few traps set as a check.
What is the most important step?
Sealing entry points. Trapping removes current mice, but if openings remain, new ones will move in, so blocking gaps is what keeps them out long term.