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Mouse how-to guide
How to Get Rid of Mice: Seal, Clean Up, Trap Safely and Know When to Call
UC IPM calls exclusion the most successful and permanent form of house mouse control, and UGA Extension recommends traps rather than poison baits inside the house. This plan covers sealing, sanitation, safe trapping, CDC cleanup precautions and when to bring in a professional.
Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Step 1
Confirm you are dealing with mice
UGA says mouse droppings are about the size of rice grains, rat droppings about the size of raisins, and that a musty, urine-like odor usually means mice. If you are not sure, check the House Mouse guide or Rat vs Mouse first, because rats need larger traps and different sealing.
Step 2
Seal the way in first
- Size of the gap: UC IPM says house mice can squeeze under gaps 1/4 inch tall and through openings 3/8 inch wide; UGA says mice and rats can use openings as small as a dime.
- What to use: UGA advises stuffing small holes and cracks with steel wool and caulking over them, cementing or caulking around pipes and wires, sealing openings under doors, screening windows, and using 1/4-inch mesh hardware wire.
- Dryer vents: cover them while keeping adequate airflow, and clean out lint (UGA).
- What not to use: UC IPM lists plastic screening, rubber, vinyl, expanding foam and wood as ineffective, because mice chew through them.
Step 3
Take away food and shelter
UGA recommends tightly covered garbage cans, feeding pets in a dish and removing leftovers, clearing brush, rock piles and clutter, keeping wood from being piled against the house, and storing firewood at least a foot off the ground. UC IPM adds that sanitation alone will seldom fully control house mice, so it works alongside sealing and trapping, not instead of them.
Step 4
Trap safely
- Traps, not poison, indoors: UGA says to use traps inside the house because poisoned rodents often die in walls or behind appliances.
- Placement: set traps against walls with the bait treadle at a right angle to the wall; UGA says a mouse should not have to travel more than 5 to 10 feet to reach one. UC IPM suggests behind objects, in dark corners and where you see activity.
- Bait: UGA suggests peanut butter, bacon or cooked chicken; cheese is not necessary.
- Children and pets: put traps where children, pets and other animals are unlikely to reach them, and do not use glue boards where they could contact them (UC IPM). UGA says to check sticky traps at least once a day.
- Protection: UGA advises a dust mask and gloves when handling rodents or traps.
- Give it time: UGA says to leave traps out for a few weeks while you seal every entry point.
Step 5
Clean up droppings and nests safely
- Open doors and windows for 30 minutes before cleaning, and leave the area during that time (CDC).
- Put on rubber or plastic gloves. Do not vacuum or sweep urine, droppings or nesting material (CDC).
- Spray with a bleach solution (1.5 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water) or an EPA-registered disinfectant until very wet, and let it soak for 5 minutes or as the label directs (CDC).
- Wipe up with paper towels, throw them in a covered garbage can, then mop or sponge the area with disinfectant (CDC).
- For a dead mouse, spray it and the area, let it soak, and seal it in a plastic bag inside a second bag with any used trap. Wash your hands after removing gloves (CDC).
When professional help makes sense
Call if you are still catching mice after a few weeks of trapping and sealing, if you cannot find or reach the entry points (rooflines, attics and wall voids are common trouble spots), or if there is a smell that suggests a mouse died out of reach. UGA notes that fumigants are only for licensed pest control operators and never for use inside occupied buildings. See Mouse Control, Rodent Exclusion or Dead Animal Removal.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Should I use poison bait inside the house?
No. UGA recommends traps rather than poison baits indoors, because poisoned rodents often die in walls or behind appliances, where they cause odor.
How long does it take to get rid of mice?
Plan on a few weeks. UGA advises leaving traps out for a few weeks while you seal all entry points, and UC IPM says to use enough traps to keep the trapping period short.
Can a mouse really get through a hole the size of a dime?
Yes. UGA says mice and rats can enter openings as small as a dime, and UC IPM gives 1/4 inch tall or 3/8 inch wide for house mice.
Where this information comes from
Sources
Facts about identification, biology and safety come from the sources below, retrieved on October 19, 2026. Publication or review dates are given where the source shows one.
- Rats and Mice: Get Them Out of Your House and Yard (Circular 970), UGA Extension — by Michel Kohl and Michael T. Mengak; republished with minor revisions November 5, 2025
- Pest Notes: House Mouse (Publication 7483), UC Statewide IPM Program, University of California — by N.M. Quinn and M. Frye; updated July 2025
- How to Clean Up After Rodents, CDC — dated April 8, 2024
Mice still getting in?
Call Pest Control Atlanta and describe what you are seeing and where.
Call Pest Control Atlanta (404) 647-6677Licensed & Insured company. Serving Atlanta and surrounding areas. Available 24/7 for calls, bookings and on-site service.
