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Fix mice in house

We'll help you confirm signs of mice, find entry points, set traps, remove food sources, and seal gaps—or when to call an exterminator.

Troubleshooting · Home care
30 min setup, 3–7 days for traps to work
What you'll need
  • Snap traps (or live traps)
  • Peanut butter (bait)
  • Steel wool and caulk
  • Gloves (for handling traps and dead mice)
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Steps

Goal: Confirm signs of mice, find entry points, set traps, remove food sources, and seal gaps.

  • Look for droppings (small, dark, rice-sized), gnaw marks on food packages or baseboards, and scratching sounds at night.
  • Good: You see signs. Proceed to Find entry points.
  • Bad: No clear signs—set a trap to confirm; if it catches, you have mice.

Find entry points

Goal: Locate where mice enter and travel.

  • Check around pipes, vents, foundation cracks, gaps under doors, and where utilities enter the wall. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. Look for grease marks along walls.
  • Good: You found likely entry points. Proceed to Trap path.
  • Bad: No obvious entry—set traps where you see the most activity; you can seal later.

Trap path

Goal: Set snap traps and reduce mouse activity.

  • Store pantry items in sealed containers. Wipe counters. Remove food sources.
  • Set snap traps with peanut butter. Place along walls with the trigger facing the wall. Check traps daily. Remove dead mice with gloves; dispose in a sealed bag. Reset traps.
  • Good: Mouse activity drops over 3–7 days. Proceed to Seal path.
  • Bad: Still many mice after a week—call an exterminator.

Seal path

Goal: Seal entry points after mice are reduced.

  • Pack steel wool into gaps, then seal with caulk. Check around pipes, vents, and foundation. Use weather stripping on doors.
  • Good: Entry points sealed. Monitor for return.
  • Bad: Mice return—check for new entry points or call an exterminator.

When to get help

Call an exterminator if:

  • You see many mice or they keep returning after trapping and sealing.
  • You suspect nesting in walls or attics.

Verification

  • Mouse activity is greatly reduced or gone.
  • Food is sealed and counters are clean.
  • Entry points are sealed with steel wool and caulk.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Confirm signs Look for droppings, gnaw marks, scratching sounds.
  2. Find entry and remove food Check pipes, vents, cracks; seal pantry, wipe counters.
  3. Set traps Snap traps with peanut butter along walls.
  4. Seal entry points Steel wool and caulk after mice are reduced.
  5. Call exterminator Large infestation or mice keep returning.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Entry point locations
  • Whether traps were used and where
  • Steps already tried

Do you see signs of mice (droppings, gnaw marks, scratching)?

Droppings are small, dark, rice-sized. Gnaw marks appear on food packages and baseboards.

Look for droppings, gnaw marks, and listen for scratching at night. Yes: find entry points and set traps. No: set a trap to confirm—if it catches, you have mice.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Set a trap to confirm

Place a snap trap with peanut butter along a wall.

Set one snap trap with peanut butter. Place along a wall. Check in 24–48 hours. If it catches, proceed to find entry points and set more traps.

Done

Have you found entry points?

Check around pipes, vents, foundation, doors.

Check around pipes, vents, foundation cracks, and gaps under doors. Mice leave grease marks along walls. Yes: set traps and remove food. No: set traps where you see the most activity; you can seal later.
Question

Have you found entry points?

Continue

You can change your answer later.

Is mouse activity decreasing?

Traps can take 3–7 days to reduce activity.

Set snap traps with peanut butter along walls. Remove food sources. Check traps daily. Good: activity drops—seal entry points. Bad: still many mice after a week—call exterminator.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Seal entry points

Prevent new mice from entering.

Pack steel wool into gaps, then seal with caulk. Check around pipes, vents, foundation. Weather-strip doors. Verify entry points are sealed.

Done

Call an exterminator

Call an exterminator if the infestation is large, mice keep returning after trapping and sealing, or you suspect nesting in walls or attics.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I have mice?
Look for droppings (small, dark, rice-sized), gnaw marks on food packages or wood, and scratching or scurrying sounds at night. Mice are most active after dark.
What is the best trap for mice?
Snap traps are effective and humane when placed correctly. Use peanut butter as bait. Place traps along walls with the trigger facing the wall—mice run along edges. Check traps daily.
When should I call an exterminator for mice?
Call an exterminator if you see many mice, they keep returning after trapping and sealing, or you suspect nesting in walls or attics. Professionals can find hidden entry points and nesting areas.

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