Table of Contents
1. Eliminate Entry Points
Rodent-proofing your home is one of the safest and most effective ways of preventing mice from invading your home in the first place. But then again, it’s important to note that mice are persistent critters that can squeeze into your home through a very tiny hole the size of a nickel.
For this reason, the first crucial step is to thoroughly inspect your home for any hole or space. You can eliminate any entry point that exists in your home’s exterior and interior walls, as well as any holes and crevices in the foundation. You can choose to repair large holes while using copper scouring pads or steel wool to fill the minutest of holes. Make sure that you use a secure plug so that the mice cannot pull it out. You should also avoid using plastics, wood, rubber or anything that the mice can easily gnaw to gain entry. Lastly, use weather stripping to seal gaps in doors and windows to deny them entry.
2. Deny the Mice any Food or Water Supply
Although mice can invade your home in search of shelter, the main aim of their invasion is to search for food and water. It, therefore, only makes sense that one of the best ways to get rid of the mice infestation is to deny them food and water. Given that the mice can survive on a small portion of food, there shouldn’t be any trace of food or water in your home. In other words, make sure that the remnants are cleaned and perfectly discarded. The remaining food should be stored in airtight containers and stored in areas where the mice cannot access them.
You should also wipe up stovetop spills or any spillage, for that matter. Equally important, fix any leaky faucets in your home and dry clean every part of your home to eradicate what would be their water source. You should also empty your trash cans immediately and make sure that the exterior dustbins are moved away from your home immediately.
3. Clean Your Indoors and Clear Outdoor Clutter
It’s important to keep in mind that there can be a mice infestation even in the cleanest of homes. After all, good sanitation will not eradicate the mice but poor sanitation will attract them in droves. So what’s the way forward?
All you have to do is make sure that your home is always clean. You can do this by vacuuming your floors, wiping countertops, eliminating all food crumbs, and denying the mice any food source. When it comes to the outdoor, make sure that you clear clutter as they give the mice potential hiding places. So whether it’s the garage, a pile of wood, blocks, weed, bush or trash, make sure that the clutter is cleared and the entire compound remains clean.
4. Get a Cat
Many cats love hunting down mice and getting a cat as a pet can be a fun way of getting in on the action while also eradicating this serious mice problem. This is, of course, a natural way to control mice infestation in your home. Mice are generally afraid of cats and will most likely disappear when there are cats around. In essence, having a cat at your home is a proven way of dealing with the mice infestation.
5. Set Up Multiple Mice Cage Traps
Using mice traps is one of the best ways of eradicating mice from your home. However, the traditional mice traps can be limiting in the sense that they will most likely hold a single mouse at any given time. But because chances are there is an army of mice in your home, the best approach is to set up multiple mice cage traps that will easily catch several mice at a time.
Your only duty will be to place these traps at strategic locations and wait for the action. You can use baits to attract the mice to the traps and with time and consistency; you’ll significantly reduce their population. We, however, have to note that this method will only work best if you’ve closed all the entry points.
6. Use Bait Traps
Another method that can go in tandem with mice traps is the use of bait traps. You can put baits in glue traps that will catch the mice once they step on them. Again, the idea here is to use several bait traps that capture the mice. Needless to say, using multiple bait traps up your chances of catching and eradicating all the mice in your home. Combining it with other deterrent methods is even better. You should also consider setting these traps all around your property; not just indoor but also outdoor.
7. Consider Using Ultrasonic Mice Repellents
Even though acquiring electronic mice repellent can be quite expensive, it’s one of the best ways to get rid of mice infestation. These devices are designed to produce ultrasonic vibrations, which are inaudible to humans but scary and intolerable to mice. You can use the devices depending on the area of influence and the mice will run away for their dear lives.
The fact that these devices are completely safe to humans and pets – except for the mouse pet – makes them an ideal option of eradicating mice. You can also use them on any premises and do not require a lot of maintenance. All you have to do is charge the batteries and you’ll be good to go.
8. Use Organic Mice Repellents
There are organic mice repellants that contain natural oil extracts that significantly affect the taste and olfactory receptors of mice. In other words, these natural repellents bring significant discomforts to mice that irritate them thereby forcing them to leave. One such repellent is the organic mice repellent peppermint oil spray.
Make sure that you apply the repellent on various surfaces using a spray. Its effect can last for a very long time and the mice will be a thing of the past.
9. Use of Chemical Methods
You should only consider using chemicals or poison to kill the mice if the infestation is severe and as the last resort. In most cases, mice poison come in granules but can also be in powder form to be mixed with baits. These chemicals are made from toxic substances that will most likely kill the mice.
But as you’ve probably imagined, some of the mice are likely to consume the poison and die in inaccessible areas. This might leave you with the disgusting smell of a head animal in your home, which can sometimes last for months on end. As such, the most efficient chemicals should contain brodifacoum. This is a chemical that leads to suffocation in mice. So instead of dying, the mice will get suffocated and attempt to get out of their hiding places to get fresh air and will likely die outside or in areas that you can easily access. This method may involve having to remove dead mice from your home. Again, these chemicals may be harmful to you and your pets.
10. Electrocute the Rats
If you are looking for a more humane way of eradicating mice from your home, electrocuting them can be an ideal option. It’s also a good way of eradicating the mice if you feel that the use of traps or poison is so old school.
It involves setting up the electronic devices on strategic places and using baits to attract the mice to the device. Once the mice step on the plate, they’ll be electrocuted, leaving you with no blood, no squeaking, and no mess!
Conclusion
Your home is, without a doubt, your oasis and fortress. Sharing it with the mice can be disgusting. But then again, the mice are annoying creatures that can easily access your home. So what should you do? Use the above-described methods and the mice will be a thing of the past. From denying them entry points, ensuring that your home is clean at all times, to denying them food and water source, you’ll be on the right path in getting rid of the mouse. You can as well use traps, ultrasonic repellents, natural repellents or even poison if necessary.
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