How to Get Rid of Mice in Your Home

If you see a hole eaten into the side of a cereal box or a bunch of little mouse droppings on your counter or in other places, you can be sure a mouse (or maybe two) has taken up residence in your home. No one enjoys having mice in her house, unless they are in a cage. Mice are unsanitary and can carry diseases. Don’t worry, though, because there are ways to get rid of them.

Things You'll Need

• Mouse traps
• Glue boards
• Mouse bait blocks

Instructions

1. Put out mouse traps. You can bait the trap with cheese, but there are other foods you can use as well, such as a small amount of peanut butter or a small piece of bacon.

2. Place glue boards on counters. When a mouse walks onto a glue board, its feet will become stuck to the glue. Some people think this is a very inhuman way to kill mice, but it does work.

3. Set out a mouse bait block. These blocks are poisonous, and need to be put somewhere where kids and babies will not be able to get to them.

4. Seal up all mouse holes. Sealing up any holes you find will help keep out any more mice. You can replace the small area around the hole, board it up or put some liquid foam in the hole.

5. If all else fails, call an exterminator to get rid of your mouse problem.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping a clean house will help prevent you from getting mice in the first place. When you don’t pick up after yourself, you take a chance on finding your belongings (especially paper) shredded up. Mice also gnaw on wiring inside your walls, which could cause fires.

• Getting a cat may also help rid your house of mice.

• Live traps are another, more human way to get rid of mice. Once the mouse is caught, you simply take the trap outside and release him.

• All of these methods are dangerous to humans. Be careful around mouse traps to avoid getting a finger or toe caught in one. Also make sure that the glue boards are put somewhere where kids can’t get to them. If a glue board gets stuck to a child’s face, she can suffocate.