Mice excel at finding small cracks to enter homes, slipping through holes as narrow as a pencil. Seal any openings near windows, beneath doors, and around pipes using caulking or weatherstrips.

Rodents have the ability to chew through various materials like plastics, paper, and even drywall, but they can’t penetrate metal. Therefore, using steel wool is an excellent option for plugging holes and cracks. Simply insert it into the areas that require patching.

Mice are less likely to enter your space if there’s no accessible food. Keep your surroundings clean by sweeping regularly, picking up any crumbs on the floor or countertops, and sanitizing surfaces consistently.

Keep some mouse traps on hand just in case. If you suspect unwanted rodents in your home, don’t hesitate to set them out and observe the results. Use various types of traps, such as bait traps, glue traps, and live traps, for effectiveness.

Dark and dimly lit areas can attract rodents. Ensuring well-lit spaces can deter mice from nesting, as they are nocturnal creatures that dislike bright lights.

Rodents have an aversion to aluminum foil. You can prevent their entry by lining the bases of doors and cracks with thin sheets of aluminum foil. Additionally, if you have food on your counter, wrapping it in aluminum foil can keep rodents from accessing it.

When setting mouse traps, it’s crucial to use the right bait. Different mice have varying preferences, so use what they’ve been consuming in your home as bait. Alternatively, nesting materials like cotton balls can also be effective bait.

You definitely don’t want the mice to make off with the bait. To secure it, consider using dental floss to attach the bait to the trap’s trigger, preventing easy theft. Alternatively, you can use hot glue to affix the bait securely.

Using pleasant-smelling substances can not only make your house smell nice but also deter mice. However, be cautious if you have pets, as it can irritate the respiratory tracts of dogs and cats.

This catch-and-release trap won’t harm the mouse and is as effective as store-bought traps. It’s straightforward to create, and you can find a video tutorial on how to build one here.

The most effective placement for traps is perpendicular to walls. Mice tend to run along the baseboard and will enter the trap directly this way.

Placing traps in the middle of the floor might lead them to approach from the wrong angle.

Typically, mice don’t stray more than 10 to 20 feet from a food source.

This method is only viable if you don’t have pets. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that can lure animals, but ingestion of antifreeze can lead to poisoning.

Coating a cotton ball with garlic powder or cayenne pepper and using it to seal a hole can deter mice from passing through. You can also strategically place these treated cotton balls in your home or garage to keep rodents away.

Soap has a similar effect to spices in repelling mice. To discourage them, you can position a few bars of soap in cracks and corners of areas where mice might attempt to build nests. This can effectively keep them away.

These are small poison packets that mice are drawn to. They chew through the packet, consume the contents, and eventually die. However, they can be somewhat hazardous if mishandled, so they are not recommended if you have young children or pets in the vicinity.

If you have holes that can’t be sealed with caulking or steel wool, think about using bricks to block the area. Bricks are too heavy for mice to move and can effectively prevent their entry.

Dryer sheets with strong scents can also be used to deter mice from entering your home. Just remember to replace them every few weeks, as the scent on the sheets diminishes over time.

Mice require only three to four grams of food per day to survive, and even crumbs on the ground near trash cans can sustain them. Garbage can attract various rodents and other pests, so it’s important to manage waste properly to prevent infestations.

Ammonia is not only effective for making glass surfaces shine but also serves as an excellent rodent deterrent because mice dislike its smell. Using ammonia as a cleaning solution is a smart strategy to prevent mice from visiting your home.

Accumulated piles of debris around the foundation of your house can attract mice and provide them with a place to nest. Maintaining a clean yard reduces the likelihood of mice coming near your home, let alone entering it.

Mice can rapidly damage the contents of your food cabinet. To prevent this, store your food in glass or other hard-sided containers that mice can’t access.

Avoid using cardboard boxes, as they are not a suitable barrier for keeping rodents away from your food.

Clutter inside the house can make it more challenging to spot mice, as it provides hiding places for them to stay out of sight until they come out to search for food. Keep items like toys neatly organized rather than in large, disorderly piles to minimize potential hiding spots for rodents.

Cats are natural hunters and can be highly effective at deterring mice. Their presence alone often scares rodents away, as mice instinctively try to avoid cats to ensure their safety.

Cats will typically hunt mice without needing any encouragement.

Using mothballs is a practice that your grandparents might have employed for as long as you can recall. The strong smell of mothballs effectively deters both moths and rodents, as neither of them likes these pungent odors.

Air fresheners can make your house smell delightful, but it’s worth noting that mice typically dislike the scents associated with most air fresheners. So, while your home may have a pleasant aroma, it can also serve as a deterrent to mice.

If you have large hedges, plants, or bushes close to the side of your house, it may be advisable to consider removing them. Such vegetation provides excellent habitats for mice to live in.

Keeping the plants well-trimmed at their base can help reduce potential hiding spots for rodents.

A less commonly recognized entry point for rodents is around utility lines. Wherever your electricity or cable lines are attached to your home, there are often small gaps that rodents can exploit.

It’s important to ensure these gaps are properly filled to prevent rodent access.

Rodents are adept at finding entry points into homes, and an open chimney can be an invitation for them. To prevent their access, it’s essential to cover the tops of chimneys with vents or screens.

Mice are attracted to the sugar content in carbonated beverages, but they cannot tolerate the carbonation. If they consume enough of it, the carbonation can ultimately be lethal to them.

House gutters frequently become filled with leaves, creating ideal pathways and hiding spots for mice. These gutters essentially serve as roads for mice. To prevent this, consider installing gutter guards to block this path and discourage rodent activity in your gutters.

Cloves are a delightful holiday spice that can make your garage or home smell wonderful. An added advantage is that mice tend to dislike the scent of cloves.

The pungent aroma generated by cooking with hot sauce can permeate your home and effectively drive rodents away. The intensity of the smell is overwhelming for them, as mice are not fans of spicy flavors.

Inspect underneath your sink and other areas with pipes for any gaps or cracks. If you find any, seal them with caulking or steel wool to prevent mice from entering your home through those access points.

Garages often have frequent openings and closings, making it easy for mice to gain access. One important reason to avoid storing food or refrigerators in the garage is to prevent incentivizing mice to enter.

Consider using ultrasonic devices that emit high-frequency sounds, which are unpleasant to rodents but inaudible to humans.

Install motion-activated lights in your garage, attic, or other potential entry points. Mice are nocturnal and dislike bright lights.

Place decoys or figurines of natural predators like owls or snakes around your property to deter mice.

Hang reflective tape near entrances or potential mouse entry points to disorient and deter them.

Utilize white noise machines or radios set to talk stations at low volumes to create vibrations and sounds that make mice uncomfortable.

Ensure that electrical outlets and switches are properly sealed to prevent mice from entering through wall openings.

Use two layers of trash bin lids to make it more difficult for mice to access the garbage.

Plant rat-repelling herbs like mint and basil around your garden or near potential entry points.

Install motion-activated sprinklers in your yard, which can startle and deter rats.

Store pet food in airtight containers and avoid leaving it out overnight, as rats are attracted to pet food.

Bird feeders can attract rats with spilled seeds. Consider relocating them away from your home.

Rats are skilled climbers, so trim trees and branches that are close to your home to limit their access.

Fix any leaking faucets or pipes, and ensure that there are no standing water sources in your yard, as rats need water to survive.

If you compost, use a rodent-proof bin or container to keep rats away from food scraps.

Some natural repellents, like dried snake feces or cat urine, can deter rats.

Clean and secure outdoor grills after use to remove food residue that might attract rats.