Mice are likely at the top of the list of most unwanted roommates. The pesky little rodents love to seek haven inside apartments when it’s extremely hot or cold, so it’s important to know how to keep mice out.
Mice are real pests
The main reason to know how to keep mice out of your apartment is that they’re pests in every sense of the word. They can contaminate what you eat along with the surfaces where you prepare food. They can also help spread disease and bacteria.
In addition to all that, they damage property. These rodents make holes in walls and chew on wiring. The holes can make it easy for other pests to infest your apartment, and exposed wiring can cause a short and lead to a fire inside the walls. While these issues aren’t your responsibility to fix, a fire can destroy your own property, and who wants to live somewhere operating as a hotel for pests?
How to keep mice out
“Each winter, mice and other rodents invade an estimated 21 million homes in the United States,” according to PestWorld. Their favorite times to visit are between October and February, so it’s important to have a preemptive game plan for keeping them away before the weather turns cold.
These are six of the best ways to keep mice away.
1. Deny access
If you notice any holes in the walls of your apartment, you’ve got a ready access point for mice. However, patching a wall with more drywall doesn’t always keep pests away. They can actually chew through almost anything, including walls. The only materials they can’t chew through are steel wool and caulk.
Have your property manager address even the smallest of cracks in your apartment by filling them with caulk or steel wool will make it more difficult for mice to enter.
You also want to check your screens, if you have them on your windows. One small tear in a screen is plenty of space for a mouse to crawl through, especially when you leave your window open for some fresh air. If you notice anything, ask your property manager to repair it.
2. Keep it clean
A mouse won’t linger if it doesn’t have anywhere to hide. Keep mice away by keeping your apartment clean. Avoid clutter, especially piles of clothes or shoes on the floor.
You also want to make sure your kitchen countertops and floors stay clean. Crumbs can end up anywhere, and mice want to eat them. Wiping down counters after every meal, and doing a quick vacuum around your kitchen floor can make a big difference.
3. Do your chores
Mice like to eat, and the smell of your old food is a major attractor. We’re not talking about cooking smells, but the odor of old food, as it decomposes. To remedy this, don’t forget to take out the trash and do your dishes.
Consider getting a garbage can with a lid for the kitchen. This immediately blocks mice from getting into your trash. Then, take out the garbage often so there’s no chance of overflow.
Make sure dirty dishes don’t pile up in the sink either. Just like with your trash can, a full sink of dishes looks like a buffet to mice. If you’re unable to load dirty dishes into the dishwasher (or hand wash them) right after you’re done eating, at least rinse them clean of food particles.
4. Seal the food in your pantry
We sometimes forget that certain foods have an odor even before we cook them. And, this smell can entice a mouse. Compounded with their ability to eat through almost anything, they could make a happy home in your pantry cabinet.
Things like coffee, rice and even crackers belong in airtight containers to keep them off a rodent’s radar. Cardboard isn’t going to protect your food, since it’s also a potential food source for mice, so take that cereal out of the box, as well.
5. Put down a natural repellant
There are actually a few ways to naturally repel mice. Perhaps the best is peppermint oil. Mice don’t like the strong scent, so it’s great at keeping them away. Simply place 3-5 drops of pure peppermint oil on a few cotton balls, and place them near doors and windows or anywhere a mouse may find their way into your apartment. They’ll move on to the next place without a second thought.
A few other natural odors known to repel mice include that of cayenne pepper, cloves, ammonia and mothballs. Ammonia actually mimics the odor of predators’ urine to mice, so does a great job of keeping them away.
6. Get some help
If you’re a cat person, not only do they make the perfect companion, but they’ll chip in to ensure mice pass over your apartment. Cats and mice are mortal enemies. At least that’s what cartoons like Tom and Jerry tell us. Not only will they try to catch mice once they come in, but they’ll serve as an obvious sign that it’s best to stay away.
Certain cat breeds are better at dealing with mice than others. If you want an expert mouser/mouse deterrent, consider getting a:
- Maine Coon
- Siberian
- Siamese
- Chartreux
- Burmese
If a pure breed sounds like too big of an expense, then you’re in luck. The best cat breed for catching mice is none other than an American Shorthair, the most common breed of cat at local U.S. shelters. Just be sure you don’t leave cat food out for your pet to graze. A mouse will also see that as their free meal.
What happens if I see a mouse?
First, resist the urge to scream and jump up onto a chair. Don’t become a cliché. Mice very rarely bite, unless you pick them up. Next, watch where the mouse runs off to in its attempt to get away. Then, handle your mouse problem like anyone else, by calling your property manager.
Chances are if you’ve seen a mouse, there’s another tenant having the same problem. Your property manager might already be on top of the issue, whether that involves hiring an exterminator or setting some traps. Just make sure they seal up the crack your mouse ran into first.
You’ve got it covered
Knowing how to keep mice out of your apartment lets you breathe a huge sigh of relief that you most likely won’t encounter one, ever. Less common than other yucky pests like roaches, you have a bigger window to repel mice since they don’t always want into your home.
Make sure to avoid enticing them with the smells of trash, crumbs and open containers of food in your pantry. Prevent them from getting cozy by keeping your home clean and filling in all cracks and holes. You’ve got this.
