There are three things that can attract mice to your house: food, water, and shelter. Your house can be squeaky clean, but as long as you have what they want, then your house would be highly coveted. Of course, it would be more attractive to them if you have food wastes on your floors and other surfaces.
There are two main things that can attract mice and rats to your house – food and shelter. If you don't tidy up properly and there's food waste on the floor or surfaces, rodents are going to love it! Rats and mice also need shelter, particularly during winter to avoid the worst of the cold.
A common misconception is that mice are only attracted to dirty places or areas with lots of trash, that is not the case. In fact, mice are explorers who go around looking for any source of food they can find. Just because your home is clean, doesn't mean you're protected from a mice infestation.
#2 Butter, Bacon, Meats, & Sweets
After cereal, mice go for high-fat, high-protein, high-sugar foods: Think lard, butter, bacon, grease, chocolate, dried fruit, and the like. The fix: When possible, store these foods in the fridge or freezer; otherwise, use airtight containers (we're looking at you, chocolate).
But what exactly do mice and rats hate to smell? Mice can be kept away by using the smells of peppermint oil, cinnamon, vinegar, citronella, ammonia, bleach, and mothballs.
Unfortunately, the light inside your house is not a very effective deterrent to mice. Once inside a house or a building, they can easily look for dark areas to hide until such time as all lights are turned off. Places they can hide include inside the walls, crawl spaces, attics, and ceilings.
Do Mice Climb on Beds? Though mice have the ability to climb on beds, it is rare that they actually do so. Mice are prey animals, so they tend to avoid large creatures that could be potential predators as much as possible. You may worry that while you are in bed sleeping, you may look less threatening to a mouse.
House mice prefer living in cool, dark places during the day. The most common areas they like to hide are in between walls, pantries, cupboards, sofas, old boxes, and other similar areas wherein they would not be disturbed inside your home.
When choosing an indoor nesting spot, mice hide in remote areas where there isn't much foot traffic. This usually includes wall voids, attics, crawlspace, and garages. They also hide in the warm cavities beneath appliances, in pantries or kitchen cabinets with easy access to food sources.
Rodents are attracted to filth, and if they find out your house is dirty, they will never have second thoughts of visiting your home. So, to keep those pests away, you should always mop and clean your floors. It is one of the places where they can find food crumbs, which is enough for them to survive.
Nightly removal of food trash and staying on top of dirty dishes go a long way to keeping these pests out. A clean home without access to food will keep mice away.
Inside a home, mice usually build their dens in undisturbed, enclosed spaces, including: Drawers - An unused sliding drawer filled with paper provides the perfect spot for a mouse nest. Wall voids - Mice will chew through drywall in order to get into these quiet, hidden areas. Voids under floor cabinets.
The dangers: why we control house mice
Although house mice are often considered to be cute by some people, they are a public health pest and can cause serious harm. Mice have been known to spread nasty diseases - such as Salmonella and Listeria - to humans through their urine, droppings and bedding.
It is rare for mice to get into a fridge but it can and does happen. Usually through the sealed door - so simply check to see if the seal is intact. Mice do often nest under the fridge or near the compressor. They like the warm and the dark.
Clutter. Because mice love to nest and burrow, they will often seek out cluttered areas to make themselves at home, and any place that provides warmth and a sufficient hiding place will fit the bill. And as clutter builds upon itself, it becomes more difficult to clean, which then further encourages rodents to burrow.
Spotting one elusive mouse typically means there are at least five or six hiding out in your walls, basement, or attic. This is particularly true if you see a mouse at night or in a low-traffic area of your home. For more proof of a full infestation, look for these indicators: Scratching noises in the evening.
A great way to bring mice out of hiding and steer them in the direction you want them to go is to sprinkle potent scents they find particularly unpleasant. Mice don't like the smell of garlic, onions, cayenne pepper, cloves, ammonia and alcohol.
Look at the Number of Droppings
A mouse can leave behind anywhere between 50 and 75 pellets per day as a single creature. You're not going to sit around and count them, though. You'll have to estimate the number of droppings, but if you see large mounds of them, then you know that it's not just a single mouse.
Mice actually prefer to avoid human contact and are rather shy creatures, so the chances of them snuggling up with you in bed is not likely.
Common Entry Points
A small, squishy mouse can get through gaps around exterior doors. Mice squeeze under doors and get past weatherstripping.
Under furniture or inside upholstered furniture voids. In secluded corners of cluttered rooms, garages or attics. Inside stored cardboard boxes. Voids in walls or ceilings, usually near heat sources.
Can Mice Climb on Beds? Mice are excellent climbers that can crawl up just about any surface. They can also leap one foot into the air, which is why climbing or jumping into the bed is an easy task for them. The bed frame is likely made of wood that's easy to climb.
Mice are nocturnal creatures, so they are most active between dusk and dawn. They don't usually like bright lights, but a mouse may sometimes be seen during the day, especially if its nest has been disturbed or it is seeking food.
Scratching – This may indicate rodents are climbing, crawling or digging. Gnawing – Mice and rats are constantly chewing. Scurrying – You're likely to hear this as the rodents move from one area in your home to another. Squeaking – Chirps and squeaks are just one way mice communicate with one another.