How to Keep Mice Out of Your House

Co-authored by Kevin Carrillo and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: July 25, 2024 References

Nobody wants mice setting up shop in their home—but how do you get rid of these critters for good and make sure they never come back? Don’t worry. We've researched the best ways to prevent mice from coming indoors and we'll explain how to quickly and efficiently remove mice if they do get in. We'll also touch on recognizing early signs of rodent activity so you can nip the problem in the bud.

This article is based on an interview with our MMPC-certified pest control specialist, Kevin Carrillo. Check out the full interview here.

1

Watch for signs of rodent activity.

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Gnawed food packages and mouse droppings are common red flags. Check in your pantry, along with your kitchen cupboards and drawers—do you notice any gnawed bags or boxes of food? Take a close look near these food items, too. If mice are active around your home, you might see some small, brown mouse droppings next to their food sources. ^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
Go to source} While you’re at it, keep an eye out for:
- Small piles of torn paper, dried-up weeds/plants, and/or old fabric—mice use these piles to build their homes, or “nests”
- Gnawed openings along the base of the wall
- Keep in mind that mouse droppings are only around ¹ ⁄ ₈ to ¹ ⁄ ₄ in (0.32 to 0.64 cm) long. ^{[2]
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2

Block off any entry points to your home.

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Mice can fit through blueberry-sized openings in or around your home. ^{[3]
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Penn State Extension
Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities
Go to source} Sealing off these entry points, however small, is one of the most effective ways that you can permanently keep mice out of your home. ^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.} Scan both the inside and outside of your home for any gaps, holes, or other openings that seem wide enough for a mouse to squeeze through. Here are a few DIY solutions to get started: ^{[5]
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The Humane Society of the United States
National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare
Go to source}
- Cracks and small holes: Fill in these gaps with quick-drying cement. ^{[6]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  The Humane Society of the United States
  National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare
  Go to source} You can also seal these openings using steel wool that’s held in place with caulk. ^{[7]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- Holes without wiring: Stuff these holes with a piece of copper mesh pan scrubber. ^{[8]
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  The Humane Society of the United States
  National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare
  Go to source}
- Big holes and openings: Fill in these openings completely with cement, or seal them off with sections of lath screen, lath metal, metal sheeting, or hardware cloth. ^{[9]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- Doors and windows: Remove and replace any damaged weatherstripping.

3

Install metal door sweeps.

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Door sweeps help block any gaps beneath your doors. They come in different materials, but metal is the best option for keeping unwanted critters out of your home. Thankfully, these devices are cheap and easy to find online or at any home improvement store. ^{[10]
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- You can buy a metal door sweep for around $10.

4

Fix any plumbing leaks in your home.

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Remove any temptation by fixing up these leaks yourself, or calling a plumber to get the job done. Take a close look at any dripping appliance pipes, too—any water source, however small, could be a popular mouse hangout.

5

Clean up any food-related messes.

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Crumbs, birdseed, and other messes offer mice a free meal. Look around both the inside and outside of your home for some potential food sources. Clean up any messes that you find, like stale bread crumbs around your toaster or scads of birdseed scattered around your backyard. ^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
The Humane Society of the United States
National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare
Go to source} Mice may also be attracted to your:
- Outdoor grill
- Leftover dishes in the sink
- Compost piles

6

Store leftover food in airtight containers.

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Mice will sniff out and get into food that’s easy to access. Go through your pantry and cupboards and look for any ingredients/foods packaged in paper, cardboard, or another flimsy material. Transfer these foods to sturdy, air-tight containers that mice can’t nibble through.
- Mice won’t want to hang around a place with no free food.

7

Clean up any uneaten pet food.

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Mice will treat your leftover pet food as a free, all-you-can-eat buffet. Keep an eye on your pet’s food and water dishes throughout the day. If your furry friend doesn’t eat all of the food, toss it out or store it in a sturdy, airtight container.
- Try to get in the habit of immediately transferring your pet’s dry food to a sturdy container. This way, mice can’t gnaw their way through the bag for a free snack.

8

Take your trash out frequently.

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Dump out your trash frequently so the bags in your home aren’t overflowing. Then, securely close and place your outdoor trash cans at the very end of your driveway, so mice won’t be tempted to check out your house after a late night of dumpster diving.

9

Clean out any clutter in your yard.

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Mice love hunkering down in overgrown brush and piles of clutter. Circle around your yard and take a close look at any bushes, shrubs, mulch piles, and tall grass. Trim down any plants so mice aren’t tempted to take shelter there, and remove any weeds or piles of trash that the critters could use as a hiding spot. ^{[12]
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- If your shrubs and bushes are really close together, consider replanting them a little further apart. This way, mice won’t have a huge shelter at their disposal.

10

Set up humane or fast-acting traps.

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Traps are a great final line of defense in case any mice somehow sneak into your home. Pest control experts suggest using electronic or snap traps, which kill the mice almost instantly. There are also humane options, like catch-and-release traps. Set these traps near any potential entry points to catch any wandering mice.
- Don’t use glue traps to catch mice. These are very inhumane, and can also trap other unsuspecting animals.
- Steer clear of any rodenticides. These are lethal to all kinds of animals, including family pets.

11

Plug in ultrasonic mice repellers.

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Mice hate ultrasonic sounds and won’t want to be near them. With this in mind, pick up some plug-in, ultrasonic electronics. Simply plug these devices in around your home and let the ultrasonic sounds do the rest! Although these sounds won’t bother you, all nearby mice will definitely hear them! ^{[13]
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- These traps may not be foolproof—some persistent rodents might get used to the frequencies and choose to stick around your home.

12

Set up a barn owl nesting box in your yard.

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Barn owls prey on mice and will be a natural deterrent. Each barn owl actually eats up to 3,000 mice each year, making them a great addition to your yard. Mice definitely won’t want to stick and around and be a predator’s dinner!
- Hungry Owl Project and Barn Owl Box Company sell premade nesting boxes that you can set up in your yard.

13

Adopt a cat.

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At best, your cat scares off any unwanted intruders and helps keep your home mouse-free. At worst, you have a new feline friend to keep you company! ^{[14]
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How Do You Keep Mice Away?

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Check that there are no holes or tears in your window screens. Even a tiny opening could be enough for a mouse to squeeze through! ^{[15]
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Mice tend to migrate to multiple feeding locations instead of just hanging out in one spot. Blocking off the entry points in your home may convince mice to head to a different feeding location instead of sticking around your house. ^{[16]
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Kevin Carrillo
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Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.}

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Warnings

Some mice may sneak into your home through gaps in your home’s foundation. Deteriorated bricks and flooring joists are other possible entry points. ^{[17]
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Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.}

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Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

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How to Keep Mice Out of Your House

Steps

Watch for signs of rodent activity.

Block off any entry points to your home.

Install metal door sweeps.

Fix any plumbing leaks in your home.

Clean up any food-related messes.

Store leftover food in airtight containers.

Clean up any uneaten pet food.

Take your trash out frequently.

Clean out any clutter in your yard.

Set up humane or fast-acting traps.

Plug in ultrasonic mice repellers.

Set up a barn owl nesting box in your yard.

Adopt a cat.

How Do You Keep Mice Away?

Expert Q&A

Reader Videos

Tips

Warnings

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