DIY: Mouse Sticky Traps
Mice in your home are not just a nuisance, they are also very unsanitary, infesting kitchens, ruining food and leaving their droppings behind. Additionally, mice may carry diseases that can infect people, such as the often fatal Hantavirus. While there are several types of commercial mouse traps available, a sticky glue trap is one of the easiest to make at home and least expensive, requiring just a few household items. You can put the trap together in about an hour. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Cut a rectangle from a sheet of corrugated cardboard 13 inches long and 10 inches wide with the corrugation running along the 10-inch width.
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Measure 1 inch from one 13-inch edge of the cardboard. Draw a line across the 10-inch width at that point. Measure 4 inches from that line and draw another line along the 10-inch width. Measure 4 inches from that line and draw another line along the width. Fold a crease in the cardboard along these lines.
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Fold the cardboard sheet into a prism shape, overlapping the 1-inch section with the opposite edge of the cardboard. Staple the 1-inch section to the cardboard.
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4
Combine equal parts water and corn syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil. Allow the mixture to cool to form the adhesive.
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5
Spread the cooled corn syrup and water adhesive on the cardboard inside the trap with a knife. Avoid getting any adhesive on the outside.
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Tips & Warnings
Place the sticky mouse trap in an area where mice frequently travel, particularly along baseboards and in kitchen cabinets. Check the trap regularly and dispose of any mice caught in the trap promptly.
Handle trapped mice with gloves and wear a face mask to avoid direct contact with the animal or any germs it may carry.
References
- Photo Credit Michael Blann/Digital Vision/Getty Images
