Mouse Proof a Home
Ridding your house of mice may be one of the most difficult things a homeowner can encounter. After the initial shock and despair, however, there are steps that may be taken to remedy the problem.
Instructions
1. Your home dining life may have to be forever altered. Pristine habits must be adopted. You don’t want to leave a trail for mice that ends at one of your comfort zones (i.e., bed, sofa). Food should be consumed neatly in a designated space, like the kitchen.
2. Your food storage practices may have to change, too. Remove all food sources from a mouse's reach. If snacks, cereals, fruits and the like are typically stored on top of the fridge or on the counter, relocate them in the refrigerator. It’s the only place foods are truly safe from rodents.
3. Seal off all entryways. First, attach a door sweep to all of the doors that lead outside. Then, locate all holes throughout the apartment or house—in the floorboards and baseboards, in the walls, and around the piping. Cover the larger holes with sheet metal, cutting pieces down according to the size of the hole, and affix the sheet metal using a staple gun. For smaller holes (remember, a mouse only needs a hole the size of a pencil eraser to squeeze through), apply the silicone caulk generously.
4. Deter mice from returning. Fill one spray bottle with 1/8 cup of either peppermint or lavender oil (depending on your preference; mice don’t care for either) and water to dilute it. Go around the house spraying linens, furniture, rugs and any other items or areas you wish so as to deter mice from frequenting those areas.
5. Fill the other spray bottle with a 1/3 cup of either peppermint or lavender soap (again, choose based on your preference) and water to dilute it. Keep this mixture in the kitchen as your pet cleaner. Use it on countertops, appliances, floors and anywhere else that might be appropriate.
6. Now that you’ve sealed off all the entryways, set traps (old wooden snap traps are said to work best) in corners around the house, using peanut butter to bait the remaining mice. When the mouse is caught and killed, discard.
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