How to get rid of mice at home: seal the gaps, set traps and clean up safely

Traps alone rarely end a mouse problem, because new mice keep coming in through the same gaps. CDC's method has three parts: seal up, trap up and clean up. Do all three, in that order. The clean-up matters for your health: CDC gives a set method for urine, droppings and nests, and the main rule is never to sweep or vacuum them.

How to get rid of mice

1. Find where the mice are active.

   

   Newcastle City Council lists the signs: black, rod-shaped droppings 3 to 6 mm long, gnawing, footprints in dust, and scurrying noises, mainly at night. Nests are made of cloth, wool and paper, often under floors and in lofts.

   Look in the places CDC names: kitchen cupboards, behind the cooker and fridge, under the sink and washing machine, and where the floor meets the wall.

   You should see: a short list of spots with fresh signs. These are where the traps go in step 4.

2. Put every bit of food out of reach.

   

   CDC says to keep food in thick plastic, metal or glass containers with tight lids, clean up spills straight away and wash dishes soon after use. Put pet food away and don't leave food or water bowls out overnight. Keep indoor rubbish in a bin with a lid and empty it often.

   You should see: no open packets, crumbs or pet food anywhere a mouse can reach. This also makes your traps more tempting.

3. Careful: don't block air vents, boiler flues or the ventilation for gas appliances. Cover a vent with metal mesh rather than filling it, and ask a Gas Safe registered engineer about any gap around a flue or gas pipe.

   Seal every gap a pencil could fit through.

   

   CDC says a mouse can get through a hole the width of a pencil, about 6 mm. Newcastle City Council puts it at cracks as small as 5 mm. Pack small holes with steel wool and hold it in place with caulk or expanding foam. Use metal mesh, sheet metal or cement for bigger holes, cut to fit around pipes (CDC).

   Check around pipes and cables where they come through walls, under the sink, behind appliances, around doors and windows without draught strips, and where the outside wall meets the ground (CDC).

   You should see: no daylight or gaps around pipes, skirting boards and door bottoms.

4. Set snap traps against the wall, baited end touching it.

   

   Mice run along walls, so CDC says to put traps on the floor against the wall, with the baited end next to it so the trap makes a "T" shape. Put a small amount of chunky peanut butter on the bait pan. Set several traps in the spots from step 1, behind the cooker and fridge, and in cupboards.

   Don't use glue traps or live traps: CDC says they scare mice into urinating, which increases the risk of illness. In England, using glue traps on rodents is an offence for the public since 31 July 2024; only licensed pest controllers may use them (BVA, Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022).

   You should see: each trap set, square to the wall, somewhere children and pets can't reach.

5. Check the traps every day and keep going.

   

   CDC says to check traps daily, remove caught mice straight away and reset the traps. Check the bait weekly and leave baited traps out for at least 15 days, until you stop catching mice.

   You should see: catches falling off, then several days in a row with none and no new droppings.

6. Bag caught mice twice, wearing gloves.

   

   Wear rubber or plastic gloves. CDC says to put the mouse, and the trap if you are throwing it away, in a plastic bag, put that bag in a second bag, tie both and put them in a bin with a lid. Wash your gloved hands with soap and water before taking the gloves off, then wash your hands again with soap and warm water.

   You should see: a double-tied bag in a lidded bin, and clean hands.

7. Careful: don't sweep or vacuum droppings, urine or nests (CDC). And never mix bleach with other cleaners: Washington State Department of Health warns that bleach with ammonia gives off toxic chloramines, and bleach with acids such as vinegar gives off chlorine gas. Use one product only.

   Air the room, soak the droppings with disinfectant, then wipe them up.

   

   Open doors and windows for 30 minutes and leave the room while it airs (CDC). Put on gloves. Spray droppings, urine and nest material with a disinfectant, or a fresh mix of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water, and leave it to soak for 5 minutes or as long as the label says (CDC).

   Wipe it up with paper towels and put them in a lidded bin. Then mop or sponge the whole area, and clean worktops, cupboards and drawers. Wash any bedding or clothing the mice reached in hot water with detergent (CDC).

   You should see: clean, disinfected surfaces and no dust raised. Wash your hands as in step 6.

Where to look for gaps

Rules in the UK, Germany, the US and Pakistan

The Umweltbundesamt also says to check traps at least once a day, ideally every 12 hours.

If something goes wrong