Mice are one of the most challenging infestations you can have in your home because they’re so elusive; you can hear them, smell them, and will sometimes see them scurrying across your floor, but catching them and keeping them out?
That’s a real trick.
Luckily, we’ve put together the best guide for getting rid of mice for good – no matter how bad your infestation.
Don’t miss:
- What do mice look like?
- What attracts mice to your home?
- How to know if you have a mouse infestation
- What is the fastest way to get rid of mice?
- How to keep mice out of your home
- What to expect from professional mouse pest control
What do Mice Look Like?
Though most people have a pretty decent idea of what mice look like (high-pitched squeaking, big round ears, Disneyland’s mascot), there are some key features that distinguish them from other rodents you might find around your home.
Most standard house mice typically have:
- Grey or brown fur
- Small eyes
- Long, lightly haired tails
- Triangular noses
- Thin bodies that are between 2-3 inches long
- Smaller droppings than rats
After you’ve read our guide, house mice will be easily identifiable and distinguishable from rats, giving you the upper hand you need over a rodent infestation in your home.
What Attracts Mice To Your Home?
When house mice nest in your home, they’re scavenging for resources, like food. The most effective way to get them out is to cut them off from your own food supply.
What do Mice eat?
Mice are will eat:
- Nuts
- Meat
- Grains and seeds
- Sweets and berries
- Pet food
- Compost
- Leftover table scraps
Keeping your surfaces tidy and your food (including pet food) tightly sealed is one of the best ways to make your home less inviting to most pests, especially mice.
How to Know if you Have a Mouse Infestation
Seeing a mouse run across your kitchen or bedroom floor is a strong indicator you have a mouse infestation in your home.
Maybe it was a lone mouse, but it’s better safe than sorry – at the very least, getting your home inspected for an infestation ASAP will either begin your pest control process or give you peace of mind.
Here are common signs of a mouse infestation in your home without needing to spot one with your very eyes:
- Strong urine odor
- Gnawed furniture, plastic, or food.
- Grease marks on furniture, walls, or rugs
- Mouse droppings
- Tracks on surfaces
When you see these signs of mice, you don’t want to assume they’re simply passing through.
Contact your local pest control professionals immediately to see if you can take care of a potential mouse infestation in your home as soon as possible.
What is the Fastest Way to Get Rid of Mice?
As we mentioned, when you see the sign of one mouse in your house, there are likely more. Thus, catching one is usually not the cure-all to a mouse infestation.
Five Natural Ways to Get Rid of Mice
- Catch and Release Traps – Use food as bait for catch-and-release traps to relocate the mice.
- Scents – Mice have powerful senses of smell; Peppermint, cloves, or other essential oils can drive them away.
- Cats – Considering mice are a cat’s prey, having a cat roam around your property proves a great deterrent for mice.
- Sealing nests – If you can pinpoint where your mouse infestation originates, sealing their nest entrance from the outside can stop them from getting back into your home.
- Food deprivation – If you seal off access from and remove all loose food sources for them, mice will have to move their nest elsewhere.
Other DIY Ways to Get Rid of Mice
If natural remedies are not working, you can also try these ways to get rid of mice:
- Poison traps
- Kill traps
- Sound removal
- Hot pepper solutions
- Over the counter mouse repellant
While these methods can effectively get rid of mice in your home, an actual mouse infestation likely requires more potent remedies or professional pest control services.
Related: Should You Do Your Own Pest Control in Phoenix?
Pest professionals will develop a unique plan and treatment for your property, and will likely last longer than any DIY home remedies you may try.
How to Keep Mice Out of Your House
Keeping mice away is a long-term game, and a lot of it has to do with consistent preventive measures.
To keep mice out, try:
- Keeping your home and surfaces tidy and clean
- Storing all food in airtight containers – including pet food
- Sealing all cracks in your home and foundation
- Storing firewood and other potential nesting materials away from your home
What to Expect From Professional Mouse Pest Control
When DIY measures aren’t stopping your mouse infestation, it’s time to turn to your local professional pest control service provider.
A high-quality mouse control technician will:
- Appraise your property and identify areas of entry for mice.
- Show you what might be attracting mice to your home.
- Create a detailed plan that is unique to your property and mouse infestation.
- Use property-safe and eco-friendly treatments.
- Keep detailed records to help monitor and prevent further mouse infestations.
The value of professional pest control for mice is that you won’t have to play the guessing game of what will and won’t work, potentially wasting your time and likely more money using ineffective home remedies.
Additionally, the likelihood of long-term success with DIY methods in keeping mice away is much lower than if you were to use professional services.
Keep Mice Out of Your House for Good
At Insectek, we care about your quality of life. We know that a mouse infestation makes for an unhealthy, unpleasant, and stressful home to live in. That’s why we provide the best mouse pest control service in Arizona.
If you’re looking to get rid of mice in your home quickly, please reach out to us right away. We’ll send a technician to your home as soon as possible and begin reclaiming your home from your mice infestation today.
