How to Mouse-Proof Your Home: A Checklist

Mice are persistent, and once they have found a way in, they rarely leave by choice. The most reliable way to avoid a problem is to make your home difficult to enter and unrewarding to stay in. This checklist works through the house from the outside in, so you can go room by room and tick things off.

Why mice are so hard to keep out

A mouse can flatten its body and pass through an opening not much wider than a pencil. They climb well, move along pipes and cables, and use the same routes repeatedly. Because they breed quickly, a single pair that settles in can become a much bigger issue in a short time. That is why prevention is worth the effort, especially as the weather turns colder and they look for warmth.

Outside the house

Begin with the outside walls and work around slowly, looking for anything that could act as a doorway.

• Fill cracks and holes in brickwork and render, particularly near ground level
• Check the gaps around pipes, cables and gas or water meters
• Fit brush strips or metal kick plates to the bottom of external doors
• Make sure air bricks and vents have intact covers with small openings
• Trim back climbing plants that give a route up to the roof or windows
• Keep firewood, rubbish and building materials away from the walls

Inside the kitchen and larder

The kitchen is where mice are most likely to settle, because food is within easy reach. Pull out the cooker and fridge occasionally and look at the gaps behind them, where pipes often enter through oversized holes. Check the back of cupboards under the sink too.

Store dry goods such as cereal, flour, rice and pet food in hard plastic or metal containers with tight lids, since mice chew through cardboard and thin bags with ease. Sweep up crumbs each evening and do not leave dirty dishes out overnight.

Lofts, garages and storage areas

Cluttered spaces give mice quiet places to nest. Cardboard boxes, old fabric and insulation make ideal bedding, so use plastic storage crates with lids where you can. Keep a clear gap between stored items and the walls so you can see signs early. In the loft, look for gaps around pipe runs and where the walls meet the roof.

A simple prevention routine

1. Walk around the outside and seal any visible gaps with durable materials, not just foam or paper.
2. Move behind the main appliances and check the pipe holes.
3. Put food in sealed containers and take rubbish out daily.
4. Tidy the garage, shed and loft and use lidded plastic storage.
5. Look for fresh droppings, gnaw marks or smears once a month and act at the first sign.

What not to rely on

Peppermint oil, ultrasonic plug-ins and similar gadgets are often sold as deterrents, but they are unreliable and do not stop a mouse that has found food and warmth. We would also advise against putting down poison yourself. It can be dangerous for children, pets and wildlife, and mice that die inside walls or under floors cause smells that are hard to deal with.

When to call a professional

If you can hear scratching, find droppings or see damage, it is better to act quickly than hope it goes away. Our mice control treatment is £240 for a flat or £280 for a house, with a 3-month guarantee on the treatment. Mouse proofing, which seals the entry points so they do not return, is priced the same. Booking the treatment and proofing together costs £380 for a flat or £460 for a house, saving £100 compared with booking them separately.

To talk it over, call 01245 830842. We are based in Chelmsford and cover Essex, with fully insured technicians and fixed prices.

Frequently asked questions