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How do mice get into the home?
Help stop mice from getting into your house
Rodents may be cute in fairy tales and cartoons, but in real life…inside your home? Not so much.
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So let the experts at d-CON tell you how to help prevent mice from getting into your house with five simple steps. These pests are heading indoors to seek shelter from predators, warmth and food, but you can outsmart them with this advice.
- Block their usual entrances.: Mice are nature’s contortionists; they can squeeze through spaces as small as a dime! Among their favorite access points are where utility lines come into walls, so check those, as well as any openings around air conditioning, drainpipes and unscreened vents. Fill holes, cracks and crevices, using cement, caulk, and steel wool (they can’t chew through it). TIP: Before you have closed up the hole, place a d-CON bait station on the other side of the wall, then seal it. They make the perfect first line of defense to help prevent mice from even entering homes.
- Eyeball doors and windows.: Many of us have broken basement windows and warped doors we haven’t gotten around to fixing. Mice take advantage of these deferred-maintenance issues and consider them an invitation to come on in. Repairing these areas will keep your place pest-free. If you can’t close all the gaps, place d-CON’s trap and bait stations where the breach is to protect your home from invasion.
- No free meals!: Leaving your messy plate out overnight is basically an all-you-can-eat buffet for mice. Get in the habit of cleaning up dirty dishes, giving countertops and floors a once-over, and cleaning your large kitchen appliances regularly – all are mouse magnets. Double-down on sealing open packages (chip bags, we’re looking at you!) with clips or rubber bands so that they are airtight. Think that stashing snacks on a high pantry shelf or in an upper cabinet is good enough? Sorry, but rodents are Olympic-caliber climbers; seal everything well to prevent mice. Lastly, don’t leave pet food out overnight; these pests are happy to dig in. The only free food you want mice to have at your house is the bait in a d-CON trap or station!
- Give the garage a closer look.: It’s often a gateway to the rest of your home since garage doors often have holes and gaps that practically roll out the welcome mat. Seal ‘em up. And do your best to minimize clutter, which can provide nice, cozy spots for mice to rest and nest.
- Barricade your bedrooms.: If (shudder) you’ve seen signs that you have mice in the bedroom – well, that is not going to help you get a good night’s sleep. Try a door sweep to keep them from sneaking in. You might also consider placing a d-CON glue trap in front of your bedroom door to help catch mice before they get into your bedroom. Just remember not to step on them yourself! Securing your home’s perimeter and keeping a crumb-free kitchen are the best ways to make sure you’re mouse-free. By following the five steps above, you’ll tell pests -- loud and clear -- to pass you by.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many mice are in my house?
It can be difficult to tell exactly how many mice are in your house, which could range from a couple to a full-blown infestation. In short – the more signs you see, the more mice there are likely to be. If you actually see a mouse in the flesh, this is usually a sign that there are more nesting in your home.
Does one mouse mean an infestation?
One mouse doesn’t necessarily mean an infestation and it’s possible that you’ve only got a couple living under your roof – for now.
It’s important to remember that a few mice can turn into many due to their high rate of breeding, so if you notice any signs of mouse activity at all, make sure you get on top of the problem quickly with our no-mess Corner Fit Bait Stations.
How to tell if Mice are Gone
Once you’ve tackled your mouse problem you should know they’re gone simply by monitoring the signs that told you they were there in the first place. Over time you should notice that there are no more droppings, and all scratching sounds should have totally stopped. If you’re using bait stations, look out for signs that they’re working by checking for nibble marks on the actual bait, as well as by sprinkling flour around the station and watching out for footprints.
No one likes to think of having mice in their home but, unfortunately, it’s incredibly common. Read our hub of articles for more top tips and tricks about dealing with rodents in the home, including our article about the mouse’s bigger, scarier friend, ‘signs you have rats in your home’!
