How to Get Rid of Mice in Your Home Naturally

Mice can be a troublesome pest in homes. Not only can they damage property, but they also spread diseases. Getting rid of mice using natural methods can be an effective and safe way to keep your home free of these rodents. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to get rid of mice in your home naturally.

Understanding Mice Behavior and Habits

To get rid of mice naturally, you first need to understand their behavior and habits. This will help you identify effective solutions to keep them away or remove them from your home. Here are some key facts about house mice:

Entry Points – Mice can squeeze through very small openings, as small as a dime. Common entry points are cracks in foundations, gaps around pipes and wires, open windows or doors, and holes in walls. Sealing these gaps shuts down their access routes.
Nesting – Mice like to nest in warm, dark, and sheltered spots with access to food. Attics, garages, cluttered storage areas, and inside appliances are common nest sites. Clearing clutter reduces nesting spots.
Food – Mice forage for food constantly and only need tiny amounts to survive. Any crumbs or leftovers are enough. Storing human and pet food securely removes a key attraction.
Water – Mice need very little water, getting moisture from their food. But they will drink from sinks, toilets, pet bowls etc if available. Eliminating open water sources helps deter them.
Droppings – Mouse droppings are solid, pellet-like and pointed on the ends. They are visible signs of activity. Finding and removing droppings helps monitor infestations.

Knowing these habits allows you to make your home less inviting to mice and block their ability to nest and feed.

Signs of Mice Infestation

Watch for these common signs that mice may have infested your home:

Droppings in cupboards, drawers, attic etc
Chewed boxes, furniture, woodwork, drywall
Nesting materials like shredded paper or fabric
Musky “mouse urine” smell
Scurrying sounds, especially at night
Greasy rub marks along walls from their fur
Smudge marks from their body oils on surfaces
Nibbled food with tiny teeth marks

Spotting signs early allows intervention before mice multiply and infestations grow.

Natural Ways to Deter and Repel Mice

Here are some natural, non-lethal ways to make your home unappealing and discourage mice from entering:

Remove Food Sources

Mice forage constantly for food. The easiest way to deter them is to remove all possible food sources:

Store human and pet food in airtight plastic, glass, or metal containers.
Avoid keeping pet food bowls out overnight.
Clean up food spills and crumbs immediately.
Empty garbage frequently and use cans with tight lids.
Compost food waste in secure outdoor bins only.
Pick up fallen fruits from gardens and clear up vegetable debris.

Manage Waste and Clutter

Mice seek out hidden nesting spots amid clutter. Reduce their habitat by:

Getting rid of accumulated paper, boxes, bags, and household items.
Organizing storage areas and clearing out clutter in attics and basements.
Moving piles of firewood away from the home. Mice hide in the stacks.
Keeping pet bedding clean and enclosed.
Filling gaps in floors and walls where mice can nest in insulation.

Seal up Entry Points

Plugging holes that mice use to enter is crucial. Seal cracks and holes with:

Steel wool – Stuff it into openings to block access. Avoid loose clumps as mice can move these.
Caulk – Fill cracks and holes with waterproof silicone or latex caulk. Look along baseboards, under sinks, around pipes and wires.
Weather stripping – Install weather stripping under doors and windows to close gaps.
Screens – Add fine mesh screens to keep mice out of floor vents, attic vents, and crawl spaces.

Set up Natural Repellents

Strong scents and substances mice avoid can keep them away. Try these repellents:

Peppermint oil – Soak cotton balls and place along entry points. Mice dislike the smell. Reapply every few days.
Moth balls – Scatter mothballs around the outside foundation and potential entryways. Air them out periodically.
Ammonia – Place open jars of household ammonia in areas of mice activity. The strong odor repels them.
Chili powder and cayenne – Sprinkle these spices along baseboards, under cabinets, and near holes. Avoid inhaling the powders.
Onions and garlic – The pungent aromas of these discourage mice. Slice and place near nest spots.
Cat litter – Used litter from a cat’s litter box has an ammonia smell mice dislike. Scatter some around infested areas.

Rotate repellents periodically for best results. Certain natural oils can also help mask inviting food odors.

Bring in Predators

Natural mouse predators can deter an infestation without poisons. Try these techniques:

Adopt a mouser cat – Cats can be excellent mouse hunters but ensure they can access infested areas.
Place coyote or fox urine – The smell of predators frightens mice. Use cotton balls soaked in these urines.
Owl effigies – Fake owls with large eyes can scare mice. Place in infested rooms.
Protect hawks and snakes – Let beneficial predators like hawks and garter snakes thrive around your home.

Trapping Mice Humanely

If mice persist after natural deterrents, humane trapping lets you remove them alive without killing. Here are effective trapping methods:

Bucket Traps

Simple DIY bucket traps catch mice without harming them. Here’s how:

Take a 5 gallon bucket and make a ramp leading up to the rim using a stick or piece of wood.
Bait the ramp with peanut butter, cheese or bread.
Fill the bucket 2-3 inches deep with water.
As mice climb up for the bait, they fall into the water.
The sloped sides prevent them from escaping.
Check the traps frequently to release caught mice.

Set these along walls or nest sites. The water traps mice unharmed until you release them.

Live Cage Traps

These metal mesh traps with spring loaded doors catch mice when entered but don’t kill them. Bait with peanut butter, fruits, nuts or bacon. Place along walls or active areas.

Check live traps daily and release mice several miles away in wooded areas. Wear gloves to avoid bites when releasing. Clean traps between uses.

Glue Boards

Glue boards or glue traps consist of a non-drying sticky glue surface that traps mice attempting to cross them. Place them along walls or active pathways.

Check glue boards often before mice expire. To release, pour vegetable oil on trapped mice and gently pry them off. Release outdoors far from home.

Avoid using glue boards around children and pets. The sticky surface can inadvertently trap them too.

Electronic Traps

Battery powered electronic traps kill mice humanely using an electric shock. Bait them similarly to other traps.

Check electronic traps frequently to dispose of bodies. Be sure to turn them off before cleaning.

Natural Predators

Certain animals prey on mice for food and can help control infestations:

Domestic Cats

Cats are excellent natural mouse hunters. Letting cats patrol indoors and in attics/garages where mice hide can effectively reduce numbers.

Ensure cats can access all areas and provide food as motivation. Hungry cats are most eager hunters. Bell collars prevent them from hunting wildlife.

Cats don’t always kill mice but may injure and release them. A mouser cat well fed on cat food is your best bet.

Snakes

Non-venomous garter snakes and rat snakes hunt mice and may frequent barns and gardens. Avoid disturbing these beneficial predators.

You can purchase captive bred garter snakes but research laws first. They require proper care and caging.

Raptors

Birds of prey like hawks, eagles, and owls hunt mice outdoors. Installing a raptor nesting box can help provide roosting spots to attract them.

Avoid poisoning mice outdoors where raptors may ingest tainted carcasses.

Foxes

Foxes prey heavily on mice outdoors. Avoid deterrents that may scare foxes away from your property.

Foxes rarely transmit rabies to humans but don’t approach or handle them.

Voles vs Mice

It’s important to distinguish voles from house mice. Similar rodents, voles cause similar damage by burrowing outdoors and indoors.

But effective vole control involves different strategies like habitat modification and flood irrigation. Verify you have voles rather than mice before applying control tactics.

Natural Mouse Deterrents

Here are some common household products that can deter mice naturally:

Peppermint Oil

The strong scent of peppermint oil repels mice. Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them along baseboards, entry points, and potential nest sites. Re-soak every 2-3 days as the scent fades.

Vinegar

Vinegar’s pungent acidity drives mice away. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray down mice activity areas and entry points. Reapply every few days. Avoid long term use which could damage surfaces.

Cayenne Pepper

Sprinkle ground cayenne pepper along baseboards, under cabinets, and near potential entryways. The spice’s heat aggravates mice’s respiratory tracts. Reapply after sweeping or mopping. Avoid inhaling the dust.

Onion and Garlic

Dice onions and garlic and place the pieces around known mice shelter and feeding areas. The strong scent repels mice. Replace them every few days.

Castor Oil

This non-toxic vegetable oil has an unpleasant taste and smell to mice. Apply a cotton ball soaked in castor oil inside openings where mice may enter. Re-soak the cotton daily.

Ammonia

The powerful odor of ammonia repels mice. Place bowls of ammonia in infested areas away from children and pets. Replenish opened ammonia bottles daily. Never mix ammonia with bleach due to toxic gas risk.

Moth Balls

Mice dislike the phenol and naphthalene vapors emitted from moth balls. Scatter moth balls around the outer foundation and attic. Replenish moth balls every few weeks as the scent fades. Follow label precautions to avoid inhalation.

Natural Mouse Poisons

When infestations persist, natural poisons offer lethal control more safely than chemical rodenticides:

Boric Acid

This mineral powder is a natural stomach poison. Mice ingest it while grooming. Mix boric acid with flour or sugar and place it in infested rooms. Wear gloves and keep boric acid away from children and pets. Limit indoor use, as it can be toxic to humans in large amounts.

Diatomaceous Earth

This chalky powder abrades mice’s exoskeletons, causing dehydration. Sprinkle food grade diatomaceous earth along walls and nest spots. Wear a mask when applying to avoid inhaling it. Food grade powder is less dangerous to mammals and pets.

Calcified Seaweed

This natural mineral supplement hardens mice’s intestinal tracts when ingested, stopping food absorption. Mix with bait and place near mice activity.

Corn Gluten Meal

This organic herbicide inhibits mice’s digestive systems on ingestion. Blend it with flour or peanut butter as bait. Avoid breathing it in or spreading it on lawns and gardens.

Dispose of any uneaten bait carefully. Combine poisons with exclusion and sanitation methods for best control. Monitor for ongoing activity.

When to Call a Professional

In some circumstances, it may be advisable to contact a pest control professional to handle a mice problem. Consider professional help if:

Infestations persist after thorough at-home treatment and exclusion efforts.
You are unable to identify or reach all nest locations.
There is extensive structural damage from mice.
You have a phobia or inability to humanely trap mice.
Mice threaten food safety such as in restaurants and food processing facilities.

Licensed exterminators have specialized training, methods, and stronger chemicals to eliminate stubborn mouse infestations. However they can be expensive. Get at least 3 quotes before hiring.

Ask about integrated pest management plans using multiple tactics such as trapping, exclusion, and biocontrols instead of relying solely on poisons. Review all chemical risks.

With diligence, time, and patience, natural methods can resolve many mouse problems without poisons or professionals. Implement them thoroughly and consistently for best results.

Common Questions about Getting Rid of Mice Naturally

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about controlling mice problems using natural, non-lethal methods:

What smells do mice hate?

Mice have a strong sense of smell and dislike certain strong scents:

Peppermint oil
Ammonia
Vinegar
Moth balls
Chili powder
Cayenne pepper
Onions
Garlic
Predator urine like coyotes and foxes

What natural repellent works best for mice?

Peppermint oil has shown the most effective and lasting results for repelling mice based on evidence. The menthol gives off a strong scent mice dislike.

Soak cotton balls in pure peppermint oil and place them along common mice routes and near entry points. Re-soak every 2-3 days.

Will moth balls keep mice away?

Moth balls can deter mice when used properly outdoors. The naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene vapors bother mice’s respiratory systems.

Scatter moth balls in infested outdoor areas around foundations, attics, garages, sheds etc. Avoid using them inside homes around pets and children.

What are mice afraid of?

Mice are prey animals and fear:

Predators like cats, dogs, snakes, hawks.
Unfamiliar open spaces.
New objects suddenly introduced into their environment.
Ultrasonic/high frequency sounds.
Strange or strong smells.

What scent will keep mice away?

Strong scents mice avoid include:

Peppermint oil – Menthol smell repels mice.
Vinegar – Smells unpleasantly acidic.
Chili powder and cayenne – Irritates nasal passages.
Ammonia – Pungent and toxic; mimics predator urine.
Moth balls – Smells like chemical pesticides.
Onions and garlic – Strong food smells mice avoid.

Use these scents as smell repellents to discourage mice from nesting or feeding.

What home remedy kills mice instantly?

No home remedies kill mice instantly. But these natural methods provide effective lethal control:

Boric acid powder – Stomach poison causing dehydration.
Diatomaceous earth – Causes dehydration when ingested.
Raw corn cob pieces – Kills through intestinal blockage when eaten over time.
Cod liver oil – Toxic but has slower effects. Yeast balls help attract mice.

These take several days to cause death but are safer than fast-acting chemical poisons around children and pets.

Conclusion

Controlling mice through non-lethal exclusion, sanitation, and natural home remedies has many benefits compared to chemical methods:

Prevents harming beneficial wild animals that eat poisoned mice.
Avoids toxic residues lingering indoors around children and pets.
Reduces risks of mice dying in hard to reach areas.
Eliminates contaminating gardens and orchards used for food.
Saves money previously spent on expensive pest control poisons and services.
Allows releasing mice safely away from homes without killing them.

With patience and diligence, these natural pest control tactics can keep homes mouse-free in an eco-friendly manner. Target entry points, nesting spots, and food sources for long term success. Combine multiple strategies like repellents, trapping, and predators for the most effective control.