Mice don’t leave on their own, and setting one trap under the sink won’t do it either. The only thing that works is the full run: find where they’re getting in, trap what’s already inside, seal the holes, and clean up what they left behind. Skip any of those and they come back. Still deciding whether to handle this yourself? My DIY vs. pro quiz asks five questions and gives you a straight answer.
Step 1: find where they are and how they’re getting in
Look for droppings, gnaw marks, and dark grease smears along walls where mice travel. Check kitchens, pantries, basements, attics, and garages, and behind appliances. Outside, check the foundation, roofline, and any gap around pipes or wires. A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil, so check small.
Step 2: trap them
Snap traps are still the most effective thing for mice. They’re curious, not shy like rats, so they’ll check out anything new. Set a bunch of traps along the walls, a couple feet apart, baited with a dab of peanut butter. Check them daily and get rid of what you catch. Glue traps are slow and cruel, so I skip them.
Step 3: seal the entry points
This is the step that actually ends the problem. Stuff copper mesh into gaps around pipes and wires, then foam over it. Seal foundation cracks. Add door sweeps and cover vents with fine hardware cloth. If you don’t seal, the ones you trap just get replaced.
Step 4: clean up safely
Mouse droppings can carry disease, so don’t vacuum or sweep them dry, that kicks the dust into the air. Spray them with a bleach solution, one part bleach to nine parts water, let it sit a few minutes, then wipe up with paper towels and bag it. Wear gloves and a mask.
Step 5: keep them out
Store food in sealed containers, keep garbage closed, and trim plants back from the house. Check your foundation and roofline a couple times a year for new gaps. Mice follow scent trails, so a good cleaning after removal also makes the place less inviting to the next one.
Frequently Asked Questions
With steady trapping and sealing, most infestations clear up in a week or two. Big ones take longer.
No. They have food, water, and shelter inside, and no reason to go. You have to remove them.
No droppings, no scratching, no new gnaw marks, and empty traps for a couple of weeks in a row.
Yes, if you leave gaps open. Sealing is the only permanent fix. The trapping just buys you time to seal.
They can chew wiring and spread disease through their droppings, so it’s worth dealing with them properly rather than living with them.
