A mouse can climb straight up a wall if the surface is rough.
Often, the first sign of a mouse problem is the nasty surprise of opening a cabinet or drawer to find mouse droppings. According to the University of Connecticut, in half a year, two mice can leave 18,000 droppings. Having to repeatedly clean cabinets gets frustrating. To remedy this problem, seal up holes and cracks where mice could enter the house and then pick up some snap traps. While you are working on eliminating mice from the house, try some safe and natural repellents in the cabinets and drawers, such as mint and bay leaves. Does this Spark an idea?
Mint
Mice dislike mint. Clean drawers thoroughly before putting repellents out. Put fresh mint leaves in the drawers and cabinets to repel the mice. Replace the mint frequently, as a fresh supply works best. Peppermint oil works as a deterrent as well. Soak some cotton balls in the oil and place them in the suspected entry to the cabinet. If you are not sure where the little sneaks get in, try sprinkling baby powder around and look for disturbed areas. You can also try spraying peppermint oil around where mice seem to congregate.
Common Household Items
Raid the pantry for some natural repellents. Put bay leaves in corners and nooks in the cabinets and drawers. Mice may also be repelled by the scent of onions. Store a few onions in a spot that you want mice to avoid. You can also leave small bowls of ammonia in storage areas to keep mice away. Just make sure these are out of reach of pets and children.
Common Repellant Myths
Advertisers often push devices that make some kind of sound to repel mice. Don't waste your money on these devices. While a new sound might startle a mouse, it will quickly adjust to any sound. Some try to repel mice with mothballs. Mothballs may seen benign, but they emit poisonous fumes and you don't want them just laying around in drawers and cabinets. The label on mothballs specifies use for moths. Using registered pesticides for pests not listed on the label is illegal.
Keep Mice Out of the House
To discourage mice from the house and your drawers, keep food in mouse-proof containers. This takes away food sources and ensures that they don't contaminate your supplies. Keep pet food in tightly sealed bins and clean up spills and leftovers; mice like pet food as much as your pet.
Mice only need an opening of about 1/4 inch to gain entry to your house. Seal holes around pipes and vents. Use steel wool or copper mesh to block holes in your foundation. Doors and windows should fit tightly; if not, caulk windows to eliminate any openings. Mice often enter the home when the weather cools in the fall.
Tags: repel mice, cabinets drawers, drawers cabinets, from house, Keep Mice
