Mice are some of the more common pests we get at home. Almost everyone has encountered mice or rats at home. They might appear in the pantry or cellar, as well as pretty much anywhere with food and good enough conditions for them.
Do not worry, though. Finding a mouse in your home does not mean you are not clean enough, or a bad housekeeper. However, ignoring a mice infestation might mean just that. Such issues should be addressed as soon as possible. Mice carry around 27 diseases, dangerous to humans. What is more, their droppings may cause irritation to those with asthma or allergies. Mice can also chew through electrical wires and cause a fire in your house. In general, they might be cute but quite mischievous.
We would like to help you with some tips on how to get rid of them. We will discuss what signs to look for when suspecting a mice infestation, as well as how to get rid of them, prevent more issues and clean up your home after mice.
Signs that you have mice
It is not so easy to spot mice in your house. They are pretty good at hiding and usually reside in walls or behind appliances. They will not come out if you are around. If you see a mouse, know they are more and they are probably feasting around in your kitchen at night while you are asleep.
Anyways, finding a mouse would be nearly impossible. There are a few other signs that will help you find out that you have a problem. Those would be:
- finding droppings ( they look like dark rice grains)
- finding debris from broken packages of food on your shelves
- discovering large holes chewed into furniture or mattress upholstery
- finding random bits of stuffing or wood shavings in corners of rarely used rooms
- hearing scratching noises coming from your walls or ceilings
- finding gnawed electric wires or having some of your appliances suddenly stop working
How to get rid of mice
Generally, there is one way in which you can deal with mice in an efficient way. That would be traps. Of course, depending on the type of trap that you choose, you can decide how to get rid of them – in a natural way, to kill them or not. Here are the basic types of traps you can choose from:
Live traps – Those are no-kill traps that allow you to catch and release the mice. However, they are not usually recommended because direct contact with the mice is inevitable. Another important thing to know about this type of trap is that when releasing the mice, you must bring them at least a mile away from your house before letting them go.
Bait station – This is poison in a dispenser. It is a quick and inexpensive solution for getting rid of mice. However, there is a chance that the poisoned mouse crawls into your wall and dies there. That would mean that your house will smell bad for a couple of weeks at least. If you have pets, it is possible that your pets eat the poisoned mouse and get sick themselves.
Snap traps – Those are some of the most efficient, old school traps. They kill the mice almost instantly. However, the steel trap closes so fast that it is not suitable for a house with pets or children.
Electric traps – Those might be a bit more expensive but are reusable. They are also safe to use around pets and children. The trap will send lethal shocks to the mice. All you have to do is take out the removable chamber with the dead mouse inside of it and throw it away.
How to keep mice out of your house for good
Get rid of the gaps so that more mice cannot come into your home. Make sure that all your doors are closed at all times. Make sure that your garden is well maintained, mow your lawn regularly and do not allow any rubbish that might attract mice to lay around there. Try using peppermint. Mice do not like the smell of it, so you can try some essential oils to get rid of them. Camphor is another smell they cannot stand. Starving them would be rather hard to do, so make sure your home is tidy and they don’t have anything to chew on.
- Find and seal all holes that might allow small mice inside your home.
- Store foods in air-tight containers
- Don’t leave food around the house
- Sweep all your floors daily.
- Empty your rubbish bin regularly
Even professional cleaners use those methods.
Clean after mice infestation
Mice droppings contain harmful bacteria and even parasites. Their fur is often infested with fleas, so you best take some time to properly clean your home after having one of those little pests indoors. Scrub and clean the area where they were with soapy water, scrub twice if needed. Then, take a disinfectant and treat all surfaces. Wear clothes you don’t care about so you can throw them away later and prevent disease spreading around your house.