Mouse infestations can be both annoying and dangerous, so it’s important to take the necessary steps to keep them away from your home. If you’re looking for effective, humane methods of mouse proofing your home, these ten genius hacks to keep mice away may be exactly what you need.
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Store Food in Airtight Containers
Mice are natural foragers and are always on the lookout for something to eat. To reduce the chance of a mouse infestation, make sure to store food and other edible items in airtight containers. If possible, choose containers made of metals like aluminum or stainless steel, as they’re tougher to gnaw through. -
Keep Your Home Clean
The best way to protect your home from mouse infestations is to keep it clean. Vacuum floors and furniture, mop floors, and disinfect surfaces regularly. Take out the trash often, and make sure to close the lid of the bin. These will help to make your home unattractive to mice. -
Use Natural Repellents
Strong smells, such as citrus or peppermint, can act as natural mouse repellents. Place bags of citrus peels or bottles of peppermint oil around your home as a preventive measure. You can also make use of other herbs and spices, such as bay leaves, cloves, lavender, and cayenne pepper. -
Line the Perimeter of Your Home
Create a physical barrier around the perimeter of your home to prevent mice from getting inside. Line the outside walls and foundation with a combination of steel wool and caulk, and block any small space between windows and door frames with rigid foam. -
Place Traps Around Your Home
Snap, glue, and electronic traps are an effective way of dealing with an existing mouse infestation. Place these traps in areas where you’ve noticed mouse droppings or evidence of nesting. Keep in mind that traps are most effective when used in multiples and when combined with proper sanitation measures. -
Seal Entry Points
Mice are adept climbers, so they can easily access your home through holes and cracks in the walls and roof. To keep them away, take a good look around the exterior of your home and locate any potential entry points. Then, use caulk or expandable foam to seal up these openings. -
Use Double-Sided Tape
Double-sided tape is a simple and effective way to keep mice away from certain parts of your home. Place it around the edges of furniture, countertops, and baseboards to create a barrier that mice won’t be able to cross. -
Remove Outdoor Sources of Food
Mice don’t only stay inside. They can also come from outside your home if there are sources of food. To prevent them from entering, make sure to keep all pet food and birdseed stored away securely. -
Eliminate Rodent Shelter
Mice like to hide, so look around your property for places where they can easily access shelter. Some of these places may include dense or overgrown brush or piles of leaves or wood. Trim back vegetation to make your property less attractive to rodents. -
Secure Your Pet’s Food Bowl
If your pet eats outdoors, make sure to feed them away from your home so as not to attract rodents. To further prevent mice from taking any food, ensure that their food bowl is securely stored and that it is not left out overnight.
Keeping mice away from your home can be tough, but these ten genius hacks are sure to make mouse proofing your home a little easier. Remember to store food away securely, keep your home clean, use natural repellents, line the perimeter of your home, place traps in strategic areas, seal entry points, use double-sided tape, remove outdoor sources of food, eliminate rodent shelter, and secure your pet’s food bowl.