How Can I get Rid of Mice?

Finding mice in your home is never good news. They carry diseases, can damage your property, and at the end of the day it just doesn’t feel good knowing there are rodents sharing your home. 

So how can you get rid of mice in your home? Firstly, you need to eliminate the ones that are already residing in the building and then work on preventing any from returning. 

The first step in catching mice is finding all of the entry points they are using to get inside. It would be a good idea to check the basement, the attic and any crawlspaces. Additionally, they could be entering the building through cracks around doors or windows. Once you've located the areas that you believe the mice are using, you can set up traps or bait boxes. Remember that even the smallest of holes or gaps could be an entry point, all a mouse needs is an ¼ inch opening. There will likely be more than one place along the buildings perimeter that they are using, so you may need to spend some time finding them. In the long run it will be worth the effort if it means preventing an infestation. 

Now you’ve found out where and how the mice are getting into your home, what's the best way to get rid of them? Here are a few products that have been designed to successfully get rid of mice.

Mouse traps that are made from sturdy stainless steel and tough, durable, heavy-duty plastic,  can be reused and don’t rust or stain like wooden traps. The Eco Pro Pest Control mouse traps come in 2 different pack sizes, a pack of 6 and a pack of 12. Investing in multiple traps means that you can cover a larger area and have effective perimeter protection. Why use traps? One advantage of using traps is that they do not require the use of poison or harmful chemicals; instead, bait like chocolate or peanut butter can be used to effectively bait and trap rodents. 

Bait stations are a great option if you have children or pets as they are tamper proof and can only be opened with a key, keeping any bait or captured rodents away from little fingers or nosy pets. Again, these are re-usable, which means you can keep leaving bait until all the mice have been caught. 

Once you’ve decided if you will be using bait stations or traps, you then need to decide where to put them. Mice like to hug the perimeter of a room when they move, so keep that in mind. Pathways are the areas that mice use to travel through your home, pathways such as alongside walls, as well as hidden damp corners or behind bins. When using snap traps set them up perpendicular to the wall, with the bait holder closest to the wall. Using more than one trap at a time will speed things up. 

Here's a list of common places mice can be found: 

• Beneath cabinets

• Gaps in furniture such as couches, chairs, dressers

• Secluded corners

• Cluttered garages

• Bases of kitchen appliances, such as the refrigerator and oven. 

• The top of basement and crawl space foundation walls

• Storage boxes in closets

• Cluttered garages

• Ceiling and wall voids near corners and heat sources

Now you've rid your property of mice let’s talk about how to prevent more of them from entering your home. As we mentioned earlier, finding the entry points is key. Now it’s time to plug up any holes or gaps you have found. You could use steel wool, foam or caulk to seal the entry points. Regularly check and repair these areas to make sure you keep the mice out. 

Rodents look for shelter and food to thrive, so these are the two things you want to ensure are not available to them. Clean up any clutter or nests that you have found, both inside and outside. Keep any trash bins clean and covered, reduce the number of edible items stored in your shed or garage, and if you have pets keep their feeding area clean. 

Getting rid of mice does require time and effort, but it’s always worth it. Rodents in your home can get out of hand and become a real risk to your health and property if left unchecked. If started early, fixes are simple and straight forward and your pest problem can be resolved.