How to get rid of mice

MICE in your home are more than just a nuisance – they wreck walls, furniture and power cables as well as posing a major health risk to humans.

Almost all of us will suffer a mouse infestation at some stage of our lives, but luckily there’s a variety of clever ways of getting rid of the pesky critters.

How do I get rid of mice?

One way of getting rid of mice is simply to get a cat.

Even if your puss is more of a lap cat than a mouser, chances are mice will steer clear.

Scientists have discovered that a chemical signal in cat saliva triggers a fearful reaction in mice.

Be aware however, bringing a cat into your home could also see an increase in mice as cats often bring their prey inside to protect it from being nabbed by other moggies.

Mouse traps are also proved to be effective at killing the squeaky rodents.

Humane ones kill the mouse instantly inside a sealed box which can be disposed of in a bin.

A top tip is to place the traps along skirting boards – mice have bad eyesight and use the skirtings to navigate through your home.

There are poisons also available – however, they don’t kill the mouse straight away and when they do you could find they cause a stink if they are behind walls or under floorboards.

Will mice go away on their own?

The British Pest Control Association says it’s vital to get rid of mice quickly, as they are adaptable, highly mobile and breed rapidly.

The general rule is, where there’s one mouse, there’s loads. So no, they will not typically leave your home on their own.

It is important not to just sit back and hope for the best – particularly as mice spread disease which particularly put the young and elderly at risk.

How do I stop mice from coming back?

Mice come into homes for food and shelter – so removing open food containers and cleaning kitchen sides thoroughly will put them off helping themselves.

Blocking off entry points into your home can also stop them coming back.

Look for tell-tale signs of droppings and gnaw marks to see where they are coming in.

Invest in a bag of wire wool and stuff it into holes in skirting boards and in gaps behind fridges – mice hate the stuff as it gets caught in their teeth.

Also close bins and make sure compost heaps are covered.

Keep gardens clean and tidy and remove overgrown areas which mice love to shelter under.

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