19 Effective Ways To Keep Mice Away From Your House & Yard

Mice are the most irritating and destructive domestic pets. They hide in the house’s dark corners and multiply rapidly, resulting in a mouse infestation.

These animals wreak havoc on electrical wires, wood, food, and clothing. They also transmit bacteria and viruses, which can cause diseases such as rat-bite fever, plague, and Lassa fever.

Getting rid of the mice infestation as soon as possible before they cause harm to your health and property. Natural methods for trapping or killing rats can be used in various ways.

What do mice eat?

Mice eat a variety of foods. They prefer cereal, grains, and nuts but will eat anything, including produce and pet food if available. They have strong, long-lasting teeth that allow them to gnaw through plastic packaging and rubber. This means they can open even the most securely secured containers.

What draws mice in?

Experts currently estimate that there is one rodent for every person in the United States. These resilient species may be found in almost every region and environment, from meadows to woods.

While mice are adept at building nests in the wild, they will gladly enter a warm home if given the opportunity. Here are three major factors that lure mice indoors:

Haven

As the weather cools and winter approaches, mice seek refuge and warmth inside homes. They can squeeze through openings as small as 14 inches due to their thin bodies.

Food

Mice require consistent food sources to survive. They will set up shop wherever they can find enough food to feed them.

Materials for nesting

Mice build nests in which to give birth and raise their young. They prefer soft materials such as shredded paper and cotton but will use pet hair, insulation, and whatever else they can get their hands on.

How do I know if I have a mouse problem?

While mice are little, the traces they leave behind are often evident. Look for the following tell-tale indications of a rat infestation:

• Chew or scratch marks on shelves and near food containers. You may also notice scratches on the baseboards or around the floor trim.
• Food crumbs or trash on shelves, in the pantry, or strange locations – such as the middle of the floor.
• Mouse droppings that resemble little, oblong pellets. These are abundant in heavily trafficked mouse corridors, behind sinks, cabinets’ backs, and room corners. To make it easier to find droppings, use a flashlight.
• Fabric, shredded paper, pet hair, rope, or other soft, shredded material nests
• Nighttime noises such as scraping or squeaking in the walls.
• Barking, scratching, or pawing at or beneath appliances are unusual pet behavior. This could imply that your pets are aware of a pest problem.

Mice infestation home remedies:

We’ve listed various traps and baits to help you get rid of rodents on your property. To get rid of mice, use them as directed…

Peppermint essential oil

Although natural remedies aren’t always the best approach to get rid of pests (such as using cucumbers to get rid of cockroaches and many other methods that don’t kill cockroaches), peppermint is a successful natural remedy for repelling mice.

This is due to the nature of mice, which rely mostly on their sense of smell rather than their vision. Mice have extremely poor vision but a strong, acute sense of smell. That explains why mice like a large amount of stinky cheese, doesn’t it?

Peppermint has an overpowering fragrance that mice despise. Peppermint has high levels of menthol, which irritates their nasal canals. A scent of peppermint will keep them at bay.

You may bring peppermint’s scent into your house in two ways. The first is to produce peppermint plants and scatter them throughout the house. They are deterred from entering or roaming around in the first place due to the odor.

Take a couple of cotton balls.

• Apply 20–30 drops of peppermint oil to each cotton ball.
• Place the cotton ball in areas where you commonly see rats or near their hiding places.
• Replace with a new one once or twice a week until you no longer notice mice in the house.

Mouse repellant spray with the spiciness

This spray is incredibly good at keeping mice out of the house. While spraying the solution, wear goggles and gloves.

• 1 gallon of water should be brought to a boil.
• 1/4 cup habaneros and 2 tablespoons hot pepper flakes in a blender
• Blend until the vegetables are roughly chopped.
• Pour the combined mixture and boiling water into a 2-gallon bucket.
• Allow it to sit for 24 hours, covered.
• Strain the solution through a cheesecloth.
• Fill a spray bottle halfway with the solution and spray it inside and outside the house. Concentrate more on the house’s crevices and dark corners.
• Spraying should be done once every three days.
• The remaining solution can be stored in direct sunlight for a few months.
• Avoid spraying the solution on carpets since it will discolor them.

Dryer sheets

Dryer sheets are extremely good at keeping rodents out of the house. Mice despise the odor of the dryer.

Spread a few dryer sheets in different spots where you discover mice regularly or near cracks where mice are suspected of entering.
Replace them once the stench has faded.

Kitty litter

Place tubs of used kitty litter around the house’s entrances. I can’t swear to the success of this one because I don’t have a cat, but it stands to reason that mice would flee at the smell of cat urine.

Water with apple cider vinegar

Spray this mixture outside your house and any interior entrance points. Make it a habit to reapply the remedy once a month.

Stainless steel wool

Because mice cannot chew through the strong material, this is a terrific choice that has proven to help keep mice away. Simply insert steel wool into any fissures or holes in your property and secure it with a touch of silicone.

Keep a watchful eye on where pipes enter the house and along basement foundations. Make careful to update weather stripping and screen the vents and openings of your chimneys.

Aluminum foil

It may appear strange, but trust me when I say it works! The foil drives the rats away from your home and keeps your belongings from being destroyed. Perhaps the mice dislike the noise it produces, or perhaps the foil causes a sensation in their teeth when they come into touch with it, or perhaps the aluminum foil appears to be highly unnatural for them to penetrate. Whatever the cause, if you cover the items in aluminum foil, the rats will not touch them.

• Cover the surfaces of the items that the rats generally attack with aluminum foil.
• Continue the process of covering the items with aluminum foil at night.
• Fold the foil in the morning and cover the items with aluminum at night.
• Following this procedure daily can assist you in effectively getting rid of mice.

Cloves

Cloves are repulsive to mice. To get rid of mice in the house, use whole cloves or clove essential oil. However, clove essential oil is more effective because it is extremely potent.

Add a few drops of clove essential oil to a couple of cotton balls.
Place the cotton balls in mouse-infested places or regions where you discover mice regularly.
Replace the cotton balls every 3-4 days.

Instant mashed potatoes

Even though this procedure appears bizarre, instant potatoes are fantastic bait for fast-killing mice. Instant potatoes are dehydrated potatoes that may be purchased from any local or online retailer.

• Place the instant potato flakes in areas where rats are frequently seen or near infested areas.
• When the rat consumes them, the potato flakes expand in the stomach.
• The rats perish from bloating before they can comprehend the situation.
• Repetition of the procedure is required.

Plaster of Paris

This method yields homemade rat poison. Although this mixture is non-toxic to humans, it can be detrimental to children and pets. So keep them out of your way.

• Combine 100gm of Plaster of Paris and 100gm of cornmeal.
• Add 1.5 cups milk and knead into a dough.
• Tear them into small balls and scatter them about your home.
• They will harden and need to be replaced regularly.

Baking Soda

If you need to get rid of a mouse infestation quickly, baking soda can be of tremendous assistance. Sprinkle baking soda in mouse-infested areas. Alternatively, you can use the procedure outlined below to keep mice away overnight.

• Mix equal parts flour, baking soda, and sugar.
• Take a few cups and add little quantities of the mixture to them.
• Put the cups in rodent-infested locations.
• When the rats consume the concoction, the baking soda produces bloating, which leads to the rat’s death.
• Remove the deceased rats as soon as possible.
• Rats do not perish instantly; instead, they travel to open areas before dying. As a result, it is simple to detect and remove the deceased rats.

Balls of moths

Mothballs, with their powerful odor, is an excellent way to keep mice away from your home.

You’ll Need:

• Small lidded containers – as needed
• Mothballs – as needed

Process:

• Take the little containers and puncture a few holes in them (the holes should be large enough so that the smell of the mothballs comes out easily.)
• Fill each container with 2 to 3 mothballs.
• Place the containers in areas where mice are known to congregate.
• This strategy will cause the mice already in your home to flee while preventing outside mice from accessing your home.
• Mothballs are a fantastic way to keep mice out of your attic.
• Take care while using mothballs to get rid of mice because mothballs are harmful and can damage your child or pet if they ingest them.

Cow feces

Though it may sound strange, cow manure effectively removes mice.

• Collect cow manure and store it in your garden, attic, and basement.
• The rodent dies from bloating after eating them.
• As soon as you notice any dead mice, remove them.

Baby powder

This method is not as effective as the previous one, but it is the best approach to catching mice and disposing of them. The baby powder prevents the rat from moving, making it easy for us to trap them. Baby powder should be liberally sprinkled in areas where mice are regularly spotted.

Castor Oil

The fragrance of castor oil makes rodents avoid invading or inhabiting the area. Infested regions should be treated with a few drops of castor oil. Repeat the procedure once every 3–4 days. Citronella oil, like castor oil, can be used similarly.

Tabasco Sauce with Soap Detergent 11

• In 4 liters of water, combine 2–3 tablespoons tabasco sauce and 1 cup detergent.
• Fill a spray container halfway with the mixture.
• Spray this combination in rodent-infested areas or where you commonly observe rodents.
• Spraying should be repeated every two days.
• Caution: Do not spray the solution on the flooring since the detergent may cause the floor to become slippery.

Bay Leaf

Bay leaves are one of the most effective and safe ways to eliminate a mouse infestation. Place some bay leaves near infested regions or areas where you’ve often observed rodents. Replace the leaves every 2–3 days.

What plant keeps mice away?

To keep mice away, grow any of the following in or around your home: any form of:

• mint
• Amaryllis
• sweet pea
• lavender
• daffodils
• wood hyacinth (or squill)
• grape hyacinth
• alliums
• catnip
• camphor plant
• elderberry
• euphorbias
• and wormwood

Rodents are also reported to be repelled by oak and bay leaves.

Ammonia

The strong odor of ammonia deters rodents from invading or infesting your home. Fill a couple of cups with ammonia and set them in various locations throughout your home. Make certain that your pets and children do not have access to the ammonia-filled cups.

Get yourself a cat

Cats are among the most efficient mouse deterrents available. Adopt a cat if you can to help keep your mouse population under control. If you reside in an area where cats are not permitted, find a friend who owns one and deposit containers of used kitty litter at the entrances to your home. Mice may flee the premises if they smell cat urine.

Alternatively, you might go to the store and purchase some pure ammonia. Ammonia smells like predator urine and will keep mice away. Place ammonia-soaked cotton balls in areas where mice congregate.

Consider using a humane trap.

There are mouse traps that catch mice in a box. The mouse can enter but not exit. This can be a humane technique to catch mice, but once caught, you must release them at least one mile from your home, preferably in a thickly wooded region, to give them somewhere else to go. Also, check the trap at least once a day because mice will die if left in it for more than a day or two.

Mouse traps continue to be one of the most effective methods for getting rid of mice already wreaking havoc inside. Place mouse traps in high-risk areas in your home, such as along walls and beneath trash cans. There are numerous mouse traps to pick from, each with its price, purpose, and design. Choose one of the mouse traps listed below:

• Snap Traps: This quick-trigger device stops mice in their tracks by far the most prevalent sort of mouse trap. When used properly, these mouse traps kill mice quickly, making them an efficient way to eliminate an entire colony. Snap traps are classified into three types: bar, clam, and hidden kill.
• Electric Mouse Traps: These mouse traps entice mice inside the chamber before stunning them with lethal electric shocks. Don’t worry; they’ve been designed to keep humans and pets from being shocked.
• Traps with Sticky Traps: Mice become attached to a sticky glue board until you release them, which is not as high-tech as the other solutions (or kill them). Because it can only be used once, it is less efficient than other solutions.
• Live Catch Traps: These traps catch mice like those used for larger mammals but do not kill them. They are a chamber or cage with a trigger-activated door that will not close until the captured rodent is released.

All mouse traps, except sticky traps, require some sort of bait. The most frequent bait is peanut butter, but you can also use chocolate, cheese, bird seed, or nuts to entice mice into the trap.

Precautions and Recommendations:

• Keep your home clean and sanitary.
• Place mothballs in your closets or cupboards where you keep your books or food. The odor of mothballs deters rodents from infesting the area and causing damage to the items.
• If you have rotting onions, place them near contaminated areas or holes in the walls where rats are suspected. The odor keeps them at bay and prevents them from infesting the area.
• You can fill any gaps or holes in the wall using aluminum foil or steel wool. Mice cannot eat through them and enter the house.
• Use human traps to catch the rats and dispose of them. They are available at any online or local retailer.
• Rats are naturally preyed upon by cats and owls. You can own any of these to eliminate a mouse infestation.
• Spread kitty litter around your garden to fool mice into thinking you have a cat and they will never invade your home.
• To prevent mice from accessing your home, repair any gaps or crevices in the outside and interior walls.
• Food crumbs and leftovers should not be left out since mice can eat on them.
• Keep the garbage can lid closed at all times.
• Clean your basement, attic, and garbage cans regularly.
• Use a disinfectant solution to clean your residence regularly.

How can you know when all of the mice have gone?

There is clear evidence that mice have finally left the property, such as the absence of droppings and the absence of scratching or scurrying noises. In general, if you haven’t seen any droppings in a week, you should be fine. To see if the mice are gone, spread flour or talc in the locations where you spotted them (note: you must use odorless talc because mice will avoid the smell). You should be rodent-free if there is no indication of tiny footsteps.

Conclusion

If nothing seems to be working, seek the assistance of a professional pest control company.
You must inspect the locations frequently. This aids in detecting and treating the infestation in its early stages. Please leave your questions, thoughts, and experiences in the space below.

FAQs

Last update on 2024-04-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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