Here’s How to Evict Mice from Your Kitchen

I think we can all agree that having a mouse in the house is only good news if you’re visiting Disney World. Sure, there are lots of ways to get rid of the rodents, but do you know how to get rid of mice in your home safely? It’s especially important if you have children or pets. You want to keep them safe while you keep rodents at bay.

Luckily, we found some safer remedies that will keep mice away.

5 Ways to Get Rid of Mice

1. Peppermint oil

Mice hate the smell of peppermint oil. Add a few drops to a cotton ball and wipe it on the baseboards in your kitchen and pantry. Add a little more oil to the cotton balls and leave them in the corners of cabinets or shelves where food is stored.

See what else you can do with the magic of peppermint.

2. Camphor

Most people prefer the smell of peppermint to camphor, so you’ll want to keep this out of the kitchen and other living areas. But an old sock filled with mothballs placed near the vents or windows of the attic, basement or shed discourages mice from moving in. Hang the socks to keep them out of reach of children.

3. Kitty litter

It’s definitely not an indoor solution, but the smell of used kitty litter tells mice there’s a cat in the area. Again, an old sock full of the stuff will keep mice at bay. If you don’t have a feline of your own, ask a friend with a cat to donate a bit of litter to the cause.

4. Instant mashed potatoes

Nope, we’re not kidding. Put a small container of the flakes where you see evidence of mice. After the mice eat the potatoes, the flakes will expand in their stomachs and wreak havoc before they’re fully digested. Skip this one if you have pets.

5. Rodent bait station

Some might consider this an absolute last resort because these kill mice rather than discourage them. Bait stations, however, are safe for pets and children because they make sure that the poison or “bait” remains inside the station—within the reach of rodents but away from curious cats, dogs and toddlers. These are best placed at the foundations of a property, but can also be zip-tied to a roof or fence if the mice travel that route.

If you have a mouse in the house, it might also be time to reorganize your pantry. You’ll want to put any food in boxes or bags into airtight storage containers. Here are more easy pantry organization tips from the pros!

Next Up: We found a homemade fruit fly trap that actually works.