How To Prevent Mice From Making Your Home Theirs

Why do mice want to make your home theirs? Instinctively, mice will go where they can find cosy living conditions. Unfortunately, that probably describes your home. Food and water sources, such as leftover crumbs, pet food, and accessible trash, can also be a huge draw. Another factor is shelter and warmth; especially during the winter months, small rodents will seek refuge indoors rather than living out in the open.

Long story short, the things we enjoy about our homes are the same things mice are looking for. So how can you prevent them from getting into your personal space and getting comfortable? Let’s look at some simple, easy methods to keep mice out.

Inside Your Home 

Your kitchen has everything mice are looking for, food, water and shelter. Here are some tips to make them feel less inclined to make it their new home. 

• Keep all food in sealed containers, leave nothing out and open on the counter. 

• Regularly clean kitchen counters, any small crumbs can attract mice.

• Clean stovetops before going to bed, don’t leave any sauce spills or food overnight. 

• Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink. 

• Make sure your trash can has a fitted lid and empty it regularly. 

• Check for any holes or gaps in cabinets. 

• Fix any water leaks. 

Another area to consider is shelter and nesting. Mice will look for quiet and dark places, with materials they can use for nesting close by. Materials like wastepaper, fabric from torn furniture, empty cardboard boxes or exposed stuffing from cushions. If you find anything like this around the house make sure you dispose of them. Keeping your house as decluttered as possible will also reduce the risk of mice. 

Lofts and basement spaces are the first places to check for clutter and nesting materials. After clearing out any clutter, you will then need to seal up any small holes, or cracks in the walls. Mice can fit through even the smallest of gaps, so make sure you get them all. The thing to remember is the cleaner and more decluttered your home is, the less inviting it will be for mice.

Outside Your Home 

You’ve taken steps to keep the inside of your home mice-free, but don’t overlook the area outside your house. Your outdoor space can be just as attractive to mice if it’s not properly maintained. Here are some practical steps to help keep the mice away.

• Cut back trees and large shrubs away from the walls of the house. Mice can use these as walkways to get into your home. 

• Keep lawns short.

• If you have a compost pile, make sure this is as far away from the house as possible.

• Install gutter guards, and keep gutters clean.

• Keep large bins away from the house.

• Birdseed doesn’t just attract birds. Store birdseed in containers that cannot be chewed through. You may need to take down your feeders for a few weeks to make sure that the mice move on. 

• Locate and seal up entrances into outbuildings and sheds. 

Hopefully, these simple steps will help keep mice out of your home. But what if they still manage to get in?

At-home pest control products can be an effective solution. Bait boxes work well for both mice and rats and can be used with the bait of your choice. Place them in areas where you’ve noticed rodent activity and allow them to do their job.

Mouse snap traps are another good option. Position them along common pathways, such as against walls, skirting boards, or near small gaps where mice may be entering and exiting your home.

The key thing to remember is this: if you suspect mice have entered your house, there’s no need to panic—but you do need to act. Catch and eliminate any mice first, then focus on preventing them from coming back.

Sources

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/household-advice/a69176554/how-mice-get-into-your-home/
https://www.lodi-uk.com/consumer-media-centre/how-to-guides/rodent-control/6-tips-to-mouse-proof-your-house
https://www.victorpest.com/articles/how-to-keep-rodents-out-of-the-garden#:~:text=Here%20are%20several%20steps%20you,discard%20them%20in%20the%20trash.