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How to Get Rid of Mice in Your House Humanely
Mice cause more home damage than termites (chewed wiring is a fire risk). Snap traps are the most effective humane option — instant kill, no suffering. Glue traps and poisons are slow and cruel. Plus: seal entry points or they keep coming back.
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0 of 6 steps completedStep-by-Step Instructions
1 Step 1: Find entry points (the long-term fix)
Step 1: Find entry points (the long-term fix)
Mice fit through any hole bigger than a #2 pencil (~6mm). Common entries: garage doors, under sinks, dryer vents, attic vents, foundation cracks. Sealing these is the only permanent solution.
Inspect with a flashlight along baseboards + utilities
Look behind appliances, in pantries, under sinks, in attic. Mice droppings mark high-traffic paths.
Stuff steel wool into gaps
Mice can't chew through it. Pack into gaps around pipes, vents, foundation cracks. ~$8 for a pack.
Spray foam around steel wool
DAP DryDex or Great Stuff. Seals the gap permanently after steel wool. ~$5 per can.
2 Step 2: Set snap traps (humane = instant)
Step 2: Set snap traps (humane = instant)
Standard snap traps kill instantly when set up correctly. Bait with peanut butter (more attractive than cheese). Place along walls — mice run along baseboards. Set 5-10 traps for any active infestation.
Victor M156 wooden snap traps (classic)
Cheapest effective trap. Sensitive trigger, instant kill. ~$8 for 4.
Tomcat snap traps with bait cup
Plastic, easier to set than wooden. Bait cup holds peanut butter better. ~$10 for 4.
JT Eaton Top Loader (heavy duty)
Spring-loaded, the most reliable trap. Used by exterminators. ~$15 for 6.
Skip glue traps and poison
Glue traps kill slowly (mice chew off legs to escape). Poisons travel up the food chain killing predators (owls, cats). Snap traps are humane.
3 Step 3: Bait correctly — peanut butter, not cheese
Step 3: Bait correctly — peanut butter, not cheese
Peanut butter sticks to the trigger so mice can't grab and run. A dab the size of a pea is enough. Refresh weekly.
Peanut butter (classic)
Smell is irresistible to mice. Spread a pea-sized dab on the trigger. ~$3-5.
Chocolate-hazelnut spread (Nutella)
Some mice prefer it. Try if peanut butter isn't catching.
Dental floss tied to a slice of bacon
Bait that requires gnawing — mouse has to pull, triggering trap. Pro trick.
4 Step 4: Place traps along walls (mouse runways)
Step 4: Place traps along walls (mouse runways)
Mice don't cross open spaces — they hug walls. Place traps perpendicular to the wall with the trigger end TOUCHING the wall. Pairs of traps within 6 inches catch more.
Perpendicular to wall, trigger end touching
Mice run along walls. They hit the trigger before they see the trap.
Set 5-10 traps minimum
Mice are wary of new objects. More traps = higher catch rate. Don't go cheap on quantity.
Pairs within 6 inches
If a mouse jumps over one trap, it lands on the second. Doubles catch rate.
5 Step 5: Eliminate food sources
Step 5: Eliminate food sources
Even one open bag of dog food keeps mice coming back. Move all dry goods into glass or hard plastic containers. Take out trash daily. Clean crumbs daily.
Glass storage containers (Pyrex, OXO POP)
Mice can chew through plastic Ziploc bags but not glass or hard plastic. ~$40 for a set.
Sealed pet food containers
Pet food bags are open invitations. Store in airtight bins. ~$25.
Empty kitchen trash daily
Especially food scraps. Compost goes in outdoor sealed bin.
6 Step 6: Monitor and re-bait weekly
Step 6: Monitor and re-bait weekly
Check traps daily. Re-bait if untouched after 3-5 days. Dispose of catches with gloves. After 2 weeks of zero catches with active bait, you're clear.
Check daily, dispose with gloves
Wear nitrile gloves. Pinch trigger, lift mouse off, dispose in sealed bag in outdoor trash.
Re-bait every 3-5 days if untouched
Stale peanut butter loses smell. Fresh bait keeps traps attractive.
Two weeks of zero activity = clear
After successful trapping, set traps with bait for 2 more weeks. If nothing, you got them all.
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