9+ ingenious tips to keeping mice out of your home and garage

Got a rodent issue? When it comes to mice, the best attack is to prevent an infestation from happening in the first place. Winter, especially, is a prime time for mice to find new cozy places to call home. Not only do mice carry disease and illness but they can leave a trail of serious havoc in your home by chewing up what’s in sight. If you find them in the garage, they can even cause damage to your car!
How do you know if you have a mice problem? Follow the droppings. They look like dark grains of rice. More importantly, keep your home well maintained and follow the tips below to ensure you are prepared before disaster strikes.
1. Seal off entryways and cracks
If you’ve got a mice problem, the first place to start is to make sure there’s no way in. Sealing off entryways into the house (and especially to the garage) is a good place to start. Knowing all the entryways also lets you set better trap locations.
2. Don’t forget to check these common neglected areas
A few common areas that are often neglected such as windows, doors, or attics. For windows and doors, look for damaged weather stripping. In the attic, check for shredded pipe insulation. Externally, look for cracks that are low or near waste pipes. Be sure to check for small holes as mice can fit through holes as small as 1/2 inch wide.
3. Perform inspections at regular intervals
Regardless of whether you rent or own your home, it’s easy to let things slip and forget to perform regular home maintenance. Setting a calendar reminder on your smartphone to remind you to do these regular home inspections is particularly helpful.
If you think mice are in your garage, be sure to check underneath the car. Often times they like to hide underneath a warm car engine. Once they get to the car, mice can do serious damage, so you’ll want to inspect this early on.
4. Use a live steel trap
There are different mouse trap options out there including humane ones, but a tried-and-true trap with a bit of peanut butter is just as effective. Be sure to dispose of dead mice quickly as the scent can attract other mice. Putting two traps side-by-side can also be more effective than just having one.