Expert consulted: 
It's that time of year: Now that the weather is warming up, it's breeding season for rodents like mice, and homeowners will see an uptick of pests inside their homes. But fear not: With some spring cleaning and preventive measures, you can keep unwanted visitors at a minimum. If you do see a mouse in your home, you'll want to act quickly, as mice can be very destructive, damaging drywall and even furniture, plus they can spread diseases to members of the family.
We spoke with pest control expert Kevin Carrillo, who is a senior project manager for M&M Pest Control in New York, about his best tips and tricks for making your living situation completely mouse-free. You'll be surprised to know that there's a whole world beyond leaving out traps and bait. And, if you're trying to figure out how to get rid of a rat, which requires similar but slightly different steps, be sure to check out those instructions too.
Why do I have mice in my house all of a sudden?
Entry Points
Whether you live in a studio or standalone dwelling, Carrillo notes that every residence has small structural openings, which contractors typically make to accommodate your water, gas, electrical, and data lines. Mice, from either the dirt or sewer, can actually travel through these lines into wall and floor cavities and pop out into your house. Believe it or not, they're capable of squeezing into spaces as small as a quarter of an inch (yikes).
Lack of sanitation
This point is pivotal—any old trash or unsealed food can quickly beckon rodents. "Even if you keep your kitchen spotless, if you have last night’s dinner in your garbage can, that’s still generally an accessible food source for a mouse," warns Carrillo. To that note, he also adds that the furry critters favor dry goods, like breads, pastas, crackers, and junk food. You'll need to get to work cleaning up any messes, crumbs, or spills as soon as they happen.
Relocation
If your neighbor managed to permanently chase the mice out of their house or apartment unit, that unfortunately means they might migrate to yours. "Sometimes, it’s just a matter of relocation more than attraction," says Carrillo.
What's the best way to get rid of mice?
If you caught the problem early, Carrillo says trapping is the most tried-and-true method. But know that if you've caught one mouse, there's a high chance it's not alone, and you probably haven't solved the issue fully. "Mice do tend to travel with their entire family, as well as with their best friends," says Carrillo. "Even if you think you’re seeing the same mouse over and over again—they do look really similar—you could have upward of 20 mice living in the wall cavity."
Quick Ways to Battle Your Mouse Problem
Trazon Humane Mouse Traps
How do you get rid of mice in the walls?
Speaking of wall cavities, Carrillo's company specializes in installing small panels with a door into your wall. A trap is placed just inside the door, and once an animal gets caught, you can easily extract it. Carrillo advises against using bait: You run the risk of a mouse consuming the poison, dying, and getting stuck too far in your wall to remove, leaving you with a horrible smell.
How do you catch a mouse fast?
The fastest, most permanent fix, according to Carrillo? Structurally repairing (aka pest-proofing) your home to block off entry points. This usually starts with an assessment from a pest specialist, who will come up with a game plan for your specific residence. "It’s basically closing off all those holes in the walls and the floor that are leading to the building envelope—the area where most pests are traveling and sleeping," adds Carrillo.
From there, the team uses a combination of construction-grade materials, like fast-drying cement, heat-resistant expanding polymer foam, a steel wall, or quarter-inch construction steel mesh to seal the gaps, followed by paintable, water-resistant silicone caulk and plaster to finish.
The whole process could take about a day, at most, and ultimately sees the best long-term results. "With baiting and trapping, it's not a quick solve," says Carrillo. "The only thing that’s really a quick solution is the structural repair. We basically tell people you go from having mice one night to not having them the next morning because they can no longer gain entrance to your apartment or your house."
How do you catch a mouse without killing it?
It's totally understandable if you want to steer clear of harmful chemicals or find a more humane way to shoo out the little guys. Structural repair stands firm as the most all-natural, nonchemical solution, but Carrillo notes another hack that's proven successful on farms. For this DIY mouse trap, you'll need to find a 5-gallon bucket and put a metal wire across the top (like from a dry cleaning hanger). Then, cut a small hole in one side of a soda can, run the wire through it, and smear peanut butter on the can. Mice will climb up and walk across the wire to get the bait, but the can will spin and they'll fall into the bucket. Voilà!
How do you get rid of mice naturally?
In addition to the bucket trick, there are some natural remedies you can use to prevent or deter mice. There are several scents that are said to keep mice at bay since they have a strong sense of smell.
You can try dousing cotton balls with peppermint oil and leave them near spots you think mice are getting in. Or, fill cheesecloth sachets with cayenne pepper, cloves, and mint—other aromas they dislike—and scatter these about as well. Ammonia has also been said to work, which you can leave out in capfuls by problem areas.
How do you know when all the mice are gone?
There are some obvious signs that mice have finally vacated the property, including a lack of droppings and no more scratching or scurrying noises. Generally, once a week has passed without a sighting of droppings, you should be in the clear. You can spread flour or talc in the areas where you saw mice to test if they're gone (note: you must use odorless talc, because mice will avoid the smell). If there's no evidence of tiny footprints, you should be rodent-free.
What gets rid of mice permanently?
Once you have gotten rid of the mice in your home, you want to keep them out! Follow these steps to keep make sure the pests are gone for good.
Pest-Proof Your Home ASAP
Beat the problem head-on by having your residence structurally repaired. This way, you'll eliminate potential mouse entry points before they start to become an issue.
Put Sweeps on All Exterior Entries
This rubber trim prevents rodents (and bugs!) from sliding beneath your door.
Make Food as Inaccessible as Possible
Empty your trash regularly and always keep food tucked away. (Check out these pantry organization tips to keep your food tucked away).
Avoid Clutter
"The more cluttered areas you have, the more likely you are to have mice decide that it looks like a pretty cozy space for them to start living," says Carrillo. Be especially wary of closets, and try some closet organization ideas for a neat and tidy space.
Kevin Carrillo is a pest control specialist with more than a decade of experience helping homeowners rid their properties of mice, flies, bed bugs, and other intruders. He is currently a field inspector and senior project manager at M&M Pest Control based in Long Island City, New York.
