How to Get Rid of Mice

1. Identifying the Signs of Mice Infestation

Identifying the signs of mice infestation is the first step to get rid of rodents. We'll guide you through these signs step by step, so you can identify a potential mouse infestation before it escalates.

Look for Mouse Droppings

Mouse droppings provide the first clue of a mouse infestation. Mice, like other rodents, often leave small, dark pellets about 3-6mm in length in areas they frequent. And according to a Health Canada study, an average mouse produces 50-75 droppings per day, which can quickly accumulate in hidden areas of a home.

These areas can include kitchen counters, cabinets, and near food sources. Using gloves for protection, examine the pellets. They are dark and moist, while old ones are dry and crumbled.

Check for Gnaw Marks

Mice and rats have a habit of chewing on objects to keep their teeth sharp. So, gnaw marks on furniture, wiring, and food packages often indicate the presence of mice. These chew patterns tend to be small and may have rough edges. In cases of severe infestation, extensive damage from gnawing can occur.

Listen for Scratching Noises in Walls or Ceilings

If you have mice, you'll likely be disturbed during the night by the sound of scratching noises coming from the walls or ceiling. Mice, being active rodents, often squeak, gnaw, and rustle. They cause damage, especially during nighttime when the house is quiet. These noises indicate that mice might be developing a nesting area or moving around in search of food.

Notice Unusual Smells

An unusual, musky odor, particularly strong in enclosed spaces like closets and cabinets, might suggest a mice infestation. Dogs and cats can become more alert and agitated as they can sense the presence of mice much before humans, becoming restless in particular spots where the odor is strongest.

How to Assess the Severity of the Mice Infestation?

Assessing the severity of a mouse problem involves several steps. The number of droppings, frequency of noises, scope of the physical damage, and intensity of unusual smells all provide clues about the extent of the infestation.

As the number of these signs multiplies, so does the level of infestation. Consulting a professional pest control service is advisable if the infestation seems to be widespread and beyond control.

2. Sealing All Mice Entry Points

Sealing all mice entry points is the next step into getting rid of mice. Carefully sealing all possible access points ensures mice can't return once they're removed from your home.

Inspect Your Home for Gaps and Holes

Inspecting your home for gaps and holes is your best defense against mice. Inspect the ins and outs of your residence, and try identifying any crevices large enough for a mouse to squeeze through.

Given that mice can fit through pretty much any holes, we should never underestimate small openings. Examine the following:

• Walls, especially where pipes or wires enter,
• Corners
• Baseboards
• Any cracks in your foundation

A thorough inspection instigates efficient sealing efforts, addressing the core of the issue rather than mere symptoms.

How to Seal Mice Entry Points?

Upon completing your home inspection for common entry points, the next course of action involves sealing them.

Fill Gaps Using Steel Wool or Caulk

Filling gaps using steel wool (or caulk) is the most effective and economical solution to seal mice entry points. To seal, simply plug small openings with steel wool, and for small cracks, the caulk will be just enough prevent rodents' access.

Install Weather Stripping Around Doors and Windows

Doors and windows often allow easy access to mice, but installing weather stripping helps obstruct these potential access points. Weather stripping and door sweeps seal the space below doors, while window stripping covers gaps along window frames.

Repair Any Damaged Screens or Vents

Faulty screens or vents provide alternative entry points to stealthy rodents. To secure your home from this threat, replace damaged screens and vent covers promptly. Consider installing rodent-proof meshes for vents, further detering creatures from finding a way inside.

By taking these preventative measures, the integrated mouse control strategy becomes stronger, and your home transforms into an increasingly inhospitable environment for these pests.

3. Removing All Food Sources

Removing all food sources is necessary to make sure you get rid of mice, because of course, the infestation issue doesn't stop at just sealing entry points. Making sure food is out of mice reach will help you stop rodents from surging your house.

Secure All Food in Airtight Containers

Secure all food by storing them in airtight containers. Such containers prevent the aroma of food from attracting rodents, making your house a less desirable spot for them. For instance, cereals and grains pose a potential mouse attractor and keeping these foods in flimsy cardboard or plastic bags offers little defense against a determined, hungry rodent. An airtight container with a hard exterior, preferably glass or metal, is an excellent option. These containers not only fend off mice but also help maintain food freshness longer.

Eliminate Access to Water and Pet Food

Keeping your kitchen and bathroom dry might seem impossible, but it's another step towards a rodent-free home. Mice also need water, and they will take advantage of leaks and standing liquid. Check your home for any leaks and fix them promptly.

Dry pet food also tends to attract mice. They like the smell and taste of it. When not feeding your pet, store food in sturdy airtight containers and keep feeding areas clean. Consider cleaning up your pet's feeding area right after meal times.

Remember, controlling access to food and water sources significantly contributes to getting rid of mice inside the house. By ensuring an inhospitable environment, the mice find it less appealing to stay, reducing the likelihood of an infestation.

4. Getting Rid of Mice with Mouse Traps

Getting rid of mice with mouse traps is the most important step. They offer a widely adopted method to address your mice resurgence quickly.

Choosing the Right Mouse Traps

Purchasing an ideal mouse trap aligns with strategic pest control efforts. Here are our most recommended mouse traps.

Tomcat Press 'N Set Mouse Trap

The Tomcat Press 'N Set 'Mouse Trap is easy to set and will effectively capture mice, while being a cost-efficient solution. This mouse catcher also ensures that you won't have to pick the dead mouse yourself, as you can use the U-shaped bar to release the snap and dispose of the mouse.

Owltra Indoor Electric Mouse Catcher

The Owltra Indoor Electric Mouse Catcher uses electricity to quickly, humanely eliminate mice. This device offers touch-free mouse disposal, avoiding direct contact with dead mice. You just place bait inside, power it up and wait for mice to enter.

Victor Easy Set Mouse Traps

The Victor Easy Set Mouse Traps deploy the time-tested, reliable snap trap method. Their ease of setup and reusability, coupled with effectiveness, render them a practical choice for residential settings.

How to Place Mouse Traps in a Home?

To place mouse traps in a home, follow these instructions:

• Bait them with high-calorie food like peanut butter, chocolate, or oatmeal
• Then place them along walls, under furniture, in dark corners and near access points
• Check and reset your mouse traps regularly to make sure the strategies remain effective

⚠️ Safety Considerations: If you have children or pets, be sure to place the mouse traps in locations where they can’t access them, or consider trying tamper-resistant bait stations.

How to Use Mouse Baits Effectively?

Effective baiting attracts mice towards traps. Peanuts, chocolate and oatmeal serve well as attractants. Replace baits regularly to maintain freshness.

Masking your scent by wearing gloves during bait placement prevents deterring rodents from the trap. Always remember, enticing effectively results in capturing efficiently.

5. Monitoring and Disposing of Trapped Mice

Monitoring and disposing of trapped mice is important to make sure you don't make the infestation worse than it already is. That's what we'll be focusing on in this next section.

Check Your Traps Regularly

Inspecting the mouse traps regularly, say every 24 hours, helps you know if they are performing well or need adjustment. Seeing if the traps worked also aids in understanding where rat activity is highest.

Make Sure to Dispose of Mice Safely

Disposing of dead mice isn’t something to take lightly. Ensuring safe disposal is a must. Remember, health should always be our top priority. Mice carry a multitude of diseases, so preparing to dispose of them involves wearing gloves, preferably plastic or latex-free for the allergy-prone, or other protective types like steel mesh gloves for an extra layer of security.

• Place the dead mouse in a plastic bag, seal it carefully, and dispose of it right away in an outdoor trash bin.
• After, clean the area where you found the mouse, and the trap, with a bleach solution or other disinfectant.
• Always wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

6. Cleaning and Sanitizing Affected Areas

Cleaning and sanitizing affected areas will keep your home safe from any annoying diseases mice can carry. This section is especially important if you have pets or children at home.

Cleaning Up Mouse Droppings Safely

Cleaning up these droppings safely hinders potential health risks.

1. Always remember to put on rubber or latex gloves before you start.
2. Consider applying a disinfectant or bleach mixture consisting of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.
3. Dampen the mouse poop with this mixture before picking them up to prevent releasing virus particles into the air.
4. Place the droppings in a plastic bag, seal it, and dispose it in an outdoor trash bin.
5. Clean your gloves with the bleach mixture before removing them, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

How to Deal with Contaminated Items? (Pro Tip)

Dealing with contaminated items forms an integral part of cleaning and sanitation.

Like when getting rid of mice dropping, always wear gloves when dealing with touched items. If possible, wash objects with hot water and soap or launder in hot cycle for at least 10 minutes. Non-washable items, especially those in the kitchen, might require disposal to ensure complete sanitation. Dispose these items in outdoor trash bins and not inside the house.

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly and clean your gloves after dealing with contaminated items.

7. Contacting Pest Agent to Get Rid of Mice

Contacting Pest Agent to get rid of mice is one of the most effective ways to solve your problem. Why? Because we'll connect you with the best mice removal professionnal in your region. These experts have years of experience and we'll be able to get rid of mice in a heartbeat.

Of course, all of the tips above are great to tackle your mouse issue independently. But, sometimes a rodent problem becomes too extensive or dangerous to handle without professional help. That's why we're here.