There are four steps a homeowner can take to start the process of getting rid of mice. First, inspect the home and seal up any holes that mice may enter. Then begin to clean and disinfect, inside and outside of the home. Make sure to remove anything that would attract a mouse, such as food, standing water, and clutter used to make nests. Lure mice out of walls with bait stations, and set traps to catch them.
Mice are considered to be a nasty intruder and a nuisance. These creatures have the potential to bring potentially serious health-based hazards into your home.
In addition to this, they may cause several types of household issues. Examples include chewing items found in the home to create a nest, chewing through drywall and wiring, and leaving behind urine and feces that may cause structural complications.
Illnesses and diseases that mice may bring into your home includes salmonellosis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis, and hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome. If you observe the signs of an infestation, you must work immediately to eliminate the issue. In this guide, you will be provided with steps that will help you achieve success with this endeavor.
Why Mice Find Your Home Attractive
It all boils down to the fact that they are in search of a warm place to nest that is in direct proximity to water and food sources.
With the temperatures starting to drop, these creatures will find an instant attraction to homes, garages, sheds, barns, and other types of structures. Mice have the capability of entering into a structure in holes and cracks as small as ¼ of an inch. It is likely that – in the past several weeks – the interior of your home has been much warmer than outdoor temperatures. It is just in the nature of the mouse to seek out warmth, comfort, food, and water.
What are Home Remedies to Get Rid of Mice?
While it may seem nearly impossible to eliminate rodents once they have infested your home, it is actually not. In fact, there are several home remedies that may just do the trick. The following outlines the most productive:
- Cloves – Mice do not like the smell associated with cloves. This is an excellent natural remedy for driving the rodents away. Simply wrap cloves inside of a cloth – it can be muslin, old socks, or another type of fabric – and place them in close proximity to the holes or cracks where you believe the mice are entering into your home. Soon, you will discover that they no longer enter into the home. In addition to deterring rodents, the homemade clove cloths will leave your home smelling fantastic!
- Seal up – Mice must enter into your home through a crack, crevice, or hole. One home remedy for eliminating these creatures is to ensure that you carefully inspect your entire home for openings. If you discover any, seal them up. In most instances, caulk is an appropriate sealant. If you are sealing in the bathroom or kitchen, be sure to utilize waterproof caulking. As an additional layer of security, you may integrate a wire mesh on the caulking. To do this, place a thin layer of caulk, the wire mesh, and then another layer of caulk over the mesh.
- Eliminate Clutter – The next home remedy to getting rid of mice is to eliminate clutter in and around your home. Dirt, dust, storage areas, and areas with a lot of potential nesting supplies are highly attractive to rodents. Not only do these areas have a lot of hiding spots and nesting materials, they may attract other types of pests that mice use as a food source. If you eliminate these areas and your have a clean and clear home, you are sure to clear your home of mice.
How to Get Rid of Mice in the House
If you have personally observed signs of infestation or a mouse in your house, it is time to take measures that will eliminate them from the structure. While we have reviewed a couple of steps already, continue reading for an outline of specific measures that should be taken right away:
- Evaluate and inspect your home – from the floor to the ceiling. Look for potential entry points for the rodents. These are usually through gaps, holes, cracks, and in crevices. It may even include entry doors for cats and dogs. If you leave your windows open, it could be through a broken screen. Once you discover potential entry points, resolve them immediately. It does not matter if you have to replace a broken screen or seal a hole, it must be done quickly. Rodents leave behind a scent to remember routes and to alert other rodents where to go. Failure to eliminate entryways into your home will only result in more mice finding their way into your home.
- If you know for sure that you have mice, you should consider setting up some mouse traps. There are both humane and standard mouse traps available on the market. You should research both to consider which you are most comfortable with and then follow the instructions on how to set the traps. When using traps, one of the best baits you may use is peanut butter.
- Now, it is a known fact that good cleaning and disinfecting will not actually prevent an infestation; however, if you do not clean and disinfect well, that WILL attract mice. So, be certain to clean and disinfect on a regular basis. This will help eliminate crumbs, water sources, and residues that mice will find to be attractive. Keep your trash can completely clean and change the bag frequently. Do not store trash in the home.
- Once you have thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the inside of the home, be sure to clean around the outside perimeter of the home. Cut down weeds, trim bushes, eliminate any potential nesting areas, pick up trash, and do not store trash near the home. If possible, pressure clean regularly and use an ammonia spray around the home. All of these activities will get rid of mice and other rodents.
- If you so choose, you may utilize bait stations. When mice feed on these meals, they will eventually die. If you or someone in the home has respiratory conditions, allergies, or you have small children or pets, bait stations should not be utilized unless they are put into place and monitored by a professional pest control company.
How to Get Rid of Mice in the Walls
The best way to get rid of mice in the walls is to lure them out.
The last thing you want to do is to take a step that will result in mice dying inside of your walls. This will produce an immensely terrible smell that will leave you cringing for weeks.
Additionally, it has the potential to attract other types of pests inside of your home.
Mice will come out of the walls into your home and when they do, they typically run up against the wall. The best strategy is to use traps that have a little bit of peanut butter up against the walls of your home where there is a presence of an infestation – such as mouse droppings.
Once you are confident that you have resolved the infestation, seal off any openings that the rodents may have used or made to gain entry into your home.
DIY Mice Repellent – Natural and Synthetic
The last thing you want – as a homeowner – is to attract mice to your home. The good news is, there are several natural and synthetic mice repellents available to you. The following outlines the most effective of these:
- Electrically Powered Repellents – Today, there are several plug-in mice repellent systems available. These systems emit a very high sound from a frequency that repels all types of rodents. When mice hear the ultrasonic sound waves, they will move away. There are mini-systems that are the size of a night light, 2-speaker devices, and 3-speaker units currently available.
- Scent Pouches – On today’s market, you can purchase specially-designed scent pouches that are designed to effectively repel mice. These usually contain ingredients that mice do not like – such as spearmint and peppermint.
- Granules – You may now purchase bags of granules that are designed to repel mice. There are natural, poison-free products and synthetic products. In most instances, a combination of recycled paper and/or cardboard is used in conjunction with essential oils that rodents do not like. The unpleasant scent will result in their moving away from your home and other areas where you place the product on your property.
- Pest Foaming Insulation Kits – These foam insulation kits usually come in a can that may be used on cracks, crevices, and holes in and around the home. It helps to block out entry points; therefore, acting as a wonderful repellent to mice.
- Natural Products – There are many natural products that you may use to repel mice. These include – but, not at all limited to – peppermint oil, spearmint oil, combinations of cocoa powder and plaster of Paris, flakes from hot peppers, onions, garlic and garlic bulbs, bay leaves, ammonia spray, and cloves.
- Battery-Operated Devices – There are mice repellents that are operated by battery that will quickly drive away rodents. These include items that may be hung, placed on the floor, or placed inside of areas – such as under sinks and bathtubs. These are much like those that are controlled by electricity, but usually smaller and emit a high frequency over a smaller area.
- Cinnamon Oil Spray – The next method for repelling mice is to create and utilize a cinnamon oil spray. Just spray it around the outside of the home and along the walls on the inside of the home. The rodents are put off by the odor that is emitted from the spray and will scurry away from it.
We Can Help
If you have established that you have a mice infestation, it is advised that you seek the assistance of a professional pest control to assist with the issue. Remember, mice may cause harm to your health and may hurt your home. It is not something that you should take any chances with.
We here at All Pest can assist you. We will first start with an inspection to determine the overall severity of the problem. The information derived from this inspection will then allow us to create a customized pest control plan for your home.
We will take into account all in the home, special health issues, the presence of children, and if you have pets. We will then create a safe personalized plan that will eliminate mice from your home – once and for all! If you would like to learn more about our services or are in need of mice removal services, call us today at: 765-259-0043