Mice that get into your apartment can and will chew holes in boxes and eat your food, but they can also carry harmful diseases, which is why nobody no one wants them in their home. Ideally, you’d like to keep mice out of your Chicago apartment or Boston rental, but if one does get in, you need to know what to do. Here’s a look at how to get rid of mice in your apartment and how to keep them from coming back.
4 steps for getting rid of mice in your apartment
If a mouse has made its way into your apartment, you’ll want to get it out of dodge quickly and easily. Here are the best ways to get rid of mice.
1. Alert your landlord immediately
If you know there’s a mouse in your apartment, tell your landlord as soon as possible. They’ll want to address the problem as much as you do because they don’t want rodents on their property, either.
The landlord may call in a professional to help to address the issue. Whether the landlord calls in a professional pest control service or not, make the property manager aware that there is a mouse in your apartment.
2. Set a mousetrap
One of the most straightforward ways to get mice out of your apartment is to set a trap or put out bait. There are various options here — you can find most baits and traps in local stores, and there are lots of different types and brands of each. Whichever you choose, place it in areas of high activity or where you have found mouse droppings —usually in dark places like corners or under and behind furniture. Here are a few bait and trap options:
- Liquid bait mixes with water and is especially effective if there’s only a single source of water for the mouse to drink from.
- Block traps are easy; just set it out and wait for the mouse to get trapped.
- Pellets, like block traps, are commonly used because you set it out and wait for the mouse.
If you’re concerned about a pet or child getting into the mousetraps, you can contain them in a small bait station that has an entrance only big enough for the mouse.
Catching a mouse might take longer with a trap, but you’ll know when you catch it. If you don’t want to use a traditional snap trap, there are live catch traps, glue traps and even electric traps to choose from. All of them work well, so it’s up to you to pick what you want.
3. Check mousetraps and bait often
Check your traps and baits multiple times per day. Mice can carry diseases, so you want to get them out of your apartment as quickly as possible once you’ve caught it — especially when using glue or live catch traps.
A frightened mouse may urinate out of fear, which could spread diseases quickly. Keep watch for the mouse once you set the bait — once a mouse takes the bait, you’ll want to find it and get rid of it quickly or your home could start to smell when it starts decomposing.
4. Find out how the mouse got into your apartment
Be mindful of the common ways mice enter homes, like cracks in window sills and door frames or the iconic mouse hole in the wall. But also consider places you wouldn’t think of — like piping in your kitchen or bathrooms, or even walking right through an open door. Once you find out how the mouse got in, make sure you talk with your landlord about fixing the problem areas that are allowing mice to sneak in:
- Fill in or patch any cracks or holes in your walls
- Install screens on doors and windows
- Repair piping and drains
When you’ve identified the potential points of entry, make sure that more mice don’t enter your apartment.
How to keep mice out of your apartment
Once you get rid of a mouse in your apartment, you’ll probably want to make sure that you avoid a repeat occurrence. Here are some tips to keep your apartment mouse-free.
1. Keep your apartment clean
One of the best ways to keep mice out of your apartment is to keep it clean.
Don’t leave any dirty dishes lying around the house or even in the kitchen sink. Wipe down the kitchen counters often and make sure the trash doesn’t get too full. If you’re thoroughly cleaning your apartment, you’ll prevent mice from coming in and if you have a rodent problem, you’ll figure out where the mice are hiding as you’re cleaning up.
2. Store your food properly
Don’t let their size fool you — mice have incredibly strong teeth and are able to chew through lots of materials. One way to get rid of mice in an apartment is to store food properly.
Store all of your food items tightly sealed or in the refrigerator or freezer. Yes, this means no open bowls of fruit or bags of chips. If possible, try to put all food items that aren’t in the refrigerator or freezer into airtight plastic or glass containers, since mice can chew through bags and boxes.
3. Reduce potential hiding spots for mice
Where do mice hide? Mice are small creatures and hide in objects and items scattered throughout the house. To get rid of mice in your apartment, keep as many items off the floor as possible. Pick up clothes, shoes, bags, boxes, baskets, toys or anything else that doesn’t need to sit on the floor.
You should also sweep, mop and vacuum to keep crumbs and other food particles off of the floor. Move furniture away from the walls so a mouse can’t hide behind it.
If you see one mouse in your apartment, are there more?
According to Terminix, mice — both outdoor mice and house mice — have a tendency to live in groups. They are frequent breeders, giving birth up to 10 times a year, with six to eight babies delivered each time on average. So if you see one mouse, there’s a decent chance that more are lurking in your home.
Control your pests and get rid of mice in your apartment
No matter where you live, unfortunately, there will always be some kind of pest. Depending on the region, you may deal with bugs, roaches, rats or mice.
While it’s not fun to find a mouse in your apartment, it’s possible to part ways quickly and successfully. Follow the above steps regarding how to get rid of mice in an apartment to take control of the situation and live pest-free.
