---
title: "How do I get rid of mice in my house?"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/be8e3f0b-f8b5-4254-9ad6-3b36008129fa
source_url: "https://www.orkin.com/ask-orkin/get-rid-of-mice-in-house"
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summary: "This guide provides a comprehensive strategy for eliminating mice from homes through effective trapping, smart prevention, and professional pest control options. It covers trap types and placement, baiting techniques, prevention methods like sealing entry points, and when to call professional exterminators."
tags: "mice-control, pest-prevention, home-maintenance, trapping-guide, rodent-removal, diy-solutions"
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# How do I get rid of mice in my house?

Skip to Content GET A QUOTE How do I get rid of mice in the house? Key Takeaways Act fast. Mice breed quickly, so a "single mouse" today can become a full infestation in weeks. Trapping works best in numbers. Skip the one-trap approach—place 6 to 12 traps to see real results. Prevention is the long game. Seal entry points as small as a dime and cut off food sources to keep mice from coming back. Bait smart. Peanut butter and chocolate beat cheese every time. Call in the pros when DIY stalls. Daytime sightings or weeks of no progress mean it's time for professional help. Few things make your heart skip quite like spotting a tiny gray blur darting across your kitchen floor. Mice are more than an unwelcome houseguest, they contaminate food, gnaw through wiring, and multiply fast. Getting mice out of your home requires a strategic approach combining effective trapping, smart prevention, and knowing when to call in an exterminator. Here's your complete game plan: How to Trap Mice in Your Home When it comes to addressing a mouse problem, trapping is a primary method. Various traps offer different benefits, and successful results depend on strategic placement and baiting. Snap Traps: Don't fall for the "one mouse, one trap" myth; use 6-12 traps in your home for quick results. Place traps perpendicular to walls, with the trigger facing the baseboard, as mice travel along these paths. Electric Traps: A good option for those uncomfortable with traditional snap traps because they may be cleaner and less messy. Live Traps: These offer a humane catch-and-release solution. Once the mouse is captured, you must relocate them far from your home to prevent their return. Bait: Mice are more attracted to high-value baits like peanut butter, chocolate, dried fruit, or hazelnut spread rather than traditional cheese. For the best results, replace the bait every two days and adjust the trap's location if it's not working effectively. Place Your Mice Traps Strategically Where you put your traps matters just as much as how many you use. Mice tend to scurry along walls rather than out in the open, so: Position traps perpendicular to walls, with the trigger end facing the baseboard. Set traps anywhere you've spotted mice, droppings, or greasy "rub marks" along walls. If a trap isn't working after a couple of days, move it to a new location. How to Prevent Future Mice Infestations By making your home less appealing and harder to get into, you’ll significantly reduce the chances of another mice infestation. Seal entry points: Mice can squeeze through openings as small as a dime. Inspect your foundation, walls , and gaps around pipes and vents. Fill these gaps with steel wool, then seal them with caulk or cement. Avoid spray foam, as mice can chew through it. Improve food storage: Store dry goods and pet food in airtight containers made of glass, metal, or durable plastic. Keep them in elevated locations. Clean up crumbs and spills immediately. Reduce clutter: Declutter storage areas. Remove debris from your yard and trim plants at least 18 inches from your foundation. Store firewood away from the house and ensure garbage cans are tightly sealed. Manage your yard: Remove fallen fruit promptly. Maintain compost piles properly. If you use bird feeders, place them away from the house to avoid attracting rodents with spilled seeds. When to Call Professional Pest Control If DIY efforts fail after a few weeks, or if you observe rodents during the day, it's time to seek help. Professional exterminators bring advanced tools, expertise in identifying entry points you might miss, and integrated pest management solutions that address the root cause, not just the symptoms. Professional exterminators offer what store-bought traps can't: Advanced tools and treatments The trained eye to find entry points you'd likely miss Integrated pest management that targets the root cause, not just the symptoms Call your local Orkin branch to schedule a. thorough rodent inspection. Upon an assessment of the situation, your Orkin Pro will design and implement a customized treatment to help get rid of mice and any other pests that may be found. Additional Information Understanding Common Household Rodents Knowing what you're dealing with makes control easier and faster. Here's a quick look at the most common culprits. Rodent control Rodents contaminate food, damage property, and spread disease through droppings and bites. Their rapid reproduction makes early detection and control critical. House mouse House mice are small but destructive pests that contaminate food and surfaces with droppings and urine. Deer mice control Deer mice are known carriers of hantavirus and often nest in secluded indoor areas. Their presence can pose serious health risks if not properly addressed. Frequently Asked Questions About Mice Orkin used the information above to also answer the following questions submitted by Orkin.com users: Question: How do I get rid of mice in my basement? Basements are prime real estate for mice, thanks to their dark corners and low foot traffic. Start by decluttering and sealing any foundation cracks or gaps around pipes. Then set snap traps perpendicular to the walls where you've noticed activity. If mice keep returning, a professional inspection can pinpoint hidden entry points. Question: How do you get rid of mice? What is the process this company does? and what types of chemicals/poison do you use? Orkin uses an integrated approach to mouse control. An Orkin Pro will inspect your home to identify mouse activity, entry points, and conditions attracting mice, then develop a treatment plan that may include sealing entry points, sanitation recommendations, traps, monitoring devices, and, when appropriate, rodent bait. If chemical control is needed, Orkin Pros may use rodent baits (rodenticides) placed according to the product label, typically in tamper-resistant bait stations to help protect people and non-target animals. The specific products used depend on the situation and the treatment plan for your home. Question: What is the best solution for eradicating mice? There's no single silver bullet. The most effective approach combines trapping, prevention, and—when needed—professional pest control. Traps handle the mice already inside, while sealing entry points and removing food sources keep new ones from moving in. Are traps really the only option? Not at all. While traps are a common and effective tool, professional pest control offers a more complete approach—combining exclusion (sealing entry points), sanitation guidance, and targeted treatments to address the entire problem, not just individual mice. We keep seeing mice but can't find how they're getting in. What can we do? Mice are experts at finding hidden entryways. Until your appointment, set traps along walls where you've seen activity, store all food in airtight containers, and clean up crumbs immediately. A professional inspection will identify the exact entry points and help seal them for good. Question: Is there any type of spray or poison that a pest control specialist can put down to kill mice (Other than just using the normal traps/poison pellets)? I'm wondering if a type of spray or something can be put down and when the mouse touches it—that it will be killed? Any recommendations—we have a mouse in our home, and trying to get it has been somewhat of a chore—any help you can provide would be appreciated. There's no contact spray that instantly kills mice, and DIY poisons come with real risks to children, pets, and other wildlife. For a safer, more reliable solution, a professional can recommend and apply the right treatment for your situation. Question: In two consecutive days, we have found two mice in our house. There are no droppings, and we don't know how they are coming in. What can we do to protect our home until our scheduled appointment? Finding two mice in two days may indicate an entry point that hasn't been identified yet. Until your appointment, inspect your home for gaps around doors, windows, pipes, vents, and the foundation, and temporarily seal small openings with steel wool or another rodent-resistant material. Keep food and pet food in sealed containers, clean up crumbs and spills, and reduce clutter where mice could hide. 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