How to get rid of mice in the house
Mice are beatable in 1–3 weeks with snap traps, peanut butter, and serious attention to sealing entry points. The single biggest mistake is trapping without sealing — new mice replace the trapped ones indefinitely.
Tools
- ✓For finding entry points along the foundation and inside cabinets.
- ✓For handling traps and cleaning droppings safely.
- ✓Frees both hands for sealing work.
Materials
- +Cheapest, most effective. Buy 8–12 — more traps catch faster.
- +Cleaner kill, reusable. Worth it if traps in cabinets disturb you.
- +The bait that works. Smear a small dab on the trigger — don't load it up.
- +Stuff into entry holes before sealing. Mice can't chew through it.
- +Caps the steel wool. Use the pest-block formulation.
- +Use outside or in garages only — never where pets or kids can access.
Steps
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1
Find every entry point
Mice get through any hole the diameter of a pencil. Check around pipes, dryer vents, garage door corners, gaps under exterior doors, attic vents. A flashlight in a dark room shining at the foundation reveals daylight gaps.
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2
Seal entry points with steel wool + foam
Pack steel wool tightly into each hole, then cover with expanding foam. Mice will chew right through foam alone — the steel wool is the actual barrier.
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3
Set snap traps along walls
Mice run along baseboards, not across open floors. Place 2–3 traps per room, perpendicular to the wall, with the trigger end touching the wall. Set them along the cabinet kickplate, behind the fridge, under the sink.
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4
Bait with a tiny dab of peanut butter
Less is more — a pea-sized amount makes the mouse work for it. Big globs let them lick around the trigger.
Tip: Wear gloves when setting traps. Mice avoid traps that smell like humans. -
5
Check daily and reset
Empty caught traps into a sealed bag and rebait. Expect activity to peak in the first 3–4 nights, then drop sharply. If you're still catching after 14 days, you missed an entry point — re-walk the foundation.
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6
Use bait stations outside only
If activity comes from the yard or garage, lock Tomcat stations along the exterior perimeter. Never use loose poison or unlocked stations indoors with pets or kids.