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How to Catch a Mouse

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catch a mouse

How to Catch a Mouse

I am told this is very common in old homes, but people can be too embarrassed to talk about it. If you think you have a problem, just get on and deal with it quickly!

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Step 1 of 13
Eeeek! You have mice. Take a moment to freak out, feel you have failed as a homeowner, woman, whatever. Call a friend. Cry.

Eeeek! You have mice. Take a moment to freak out, feel you have failed as a homeowner, woman, whatever. Call a friend. Cry.

Step 2 of 13
Buy as many traps as you can. Mice like to entertain. Buy "live traps" too and hope they use them, but don't release them outside...they'll just come back in. Also, get rubber gloves.

Buy as many traps as you can. Mice like to entertain. Buy "live traps" too and hope they use them, but don't release them outside...they'll just come back in. Also, get rubber gloves.

Step 3 of 13
Pour yourself a generous scotch. You need to calm those nerves.

Pour yourself a generous scotch. You need to calm those nerves.

Step 4 of 13
Get your bait. I used peanut butter substitute due to an allergy in the house. And why not make the last dinner a feast? Cereal, cheese, sunflower seeds, even a chocolate chip!

Get your bait. I used peanut butter substitute due to an allergy in the house. And why not make the last dinner a feast? Cereal, cheese, sunflower seeds, even a chocolate chip!

Step 5 of 13
Bait your trap. Don't make my first mistake...It should be a small bait. Mousey can nibble on the bait, set it off. Thought the big ball of cheese was a decapitation. Not kidding. Back to step 3.

Bait your trap. Don't make my first mistake...It should be a small bait. Mousey can nibble on the bait, set it off. Thought the big ball of cheese was a decapitation. Not kidding. Back to step 3.

Step 6 of 13

Set the trap. Sorry my hand is in the way, I almost lost my thumb the first time and was just concentrating on the task. Set the bait BEFORE you set the trap.

Step 7 of 13
Clean like mad. Use bleach. Throw out everything! Find the path where they are coming in or hang out - the spot with the most poo - to place the traps..(shudder). Location is the key to success.

Clean like mad. Use bleach. Throw out everything! Find the path where they are coming in or hang out - the spot with the most poo - to place the traps..(shudder). Location is the key to success.

Step 8 of 13
Mice can chew through boxes and bags. Put all your pasta, flour, sugar, everything in glass or well sealed hard plastic. Honestly though, I threw everything below 4' storage out.

Mice can chew through boxes and bags. Put all your pasta, flour, sugar, everything in glass or well sealed hard plastic. Honestly though, I threw everything below 4' storage out.

Step 9 of 13
Ridiculous sonic mouse repellants. Irritating buzzing noise, but it makes the kids feel safe. Update: Actually, she couldn't sleep with the noise.

Ridiculous sonic mouse repellants. Irritating buzzing noise, but it makes the kids feel safe. Update: Actually, she couldn't sleep with the noise.

Step 10 of 13
Wash everything the mouse could have possibly touched on nuclear heat. Twice. Gross.

Wash everything the mouse could have possibly touched on nuclear heat. Twice. Gross.

Step 11 of 13

OMG the trap snapped! You are brave. You can do it. Back to step 3, then open the cupboard. Gloves on.

Step 12 of 13
I know this is horrible, but this mouse did not suffer-it was gone in a snap, pardon the pun. Put another trap in the same spot, just in case there are more. The old fashioned kind worked in an hour.

I know this is horrible, but this mouse did not suffer-it was gone in a snap, pardon the pun. Put another trap in the same spot, just in case there are more. The old fashioned kind worked in an hour.

Step 13 of 13

Go to bed. This is not a fun task, but so important to be diligent.

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!
Toronto
Unilever marketer by day; Mom, amateur chef and passionate foodie by night. Experimenting in the kitchen with our food.

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Start Over

24
13 Comments
Supplies
Embed

Mouse traps

Cleaning supplies

Garbage bags

Rubber gloves

Scotch

Nerves

Margaret McKellar

:) Amira!

(author) 5 months ago

Margaret McKellar

Nick, you're right....though I have to say I tried four live traps and the mice just didn't go in!

(author) 5 months ago

Amira K

😱 I can't catch an ant! Very brave. Thank you 😱

Amira K 6 months ago

Nick Ostrovsky

This should've been called "How to kill a mouse"

Nick Ostrovsky 7 months ago

Margaret McKellar

Thanks Karen! I'm going to add your tinfoil advice to the guide!

(author) 8 months ago

Karen Larard

Glad to know a rat problem is not an easy fix. And by the way a mouse or a rat in your house is no failure as a mom, they will try to get in now winter is coming.

Karen Larard 8 months ago

Karen Larard

Sorry for my bad English if you don't understand ask again and I'll help you if I can. Locate entry point is the most important step ANY crack hole or open window will be used by them. If you find a hole and think it is too small for them to get thru think again. Use tinfoil for an here and now solution and then repair more solid later.

Karen Larard 8 months ago

Karen Larard

If you find several foot prints(not food prints) call an exterminator, rats are smart animals and they learn fast how to avoid traps.

Karen Larard 8 months ago

Karen Larard

Dear Margaret yes I mean the baseboards that is where they will be most likely to travel round your house. Using the flour will give you an idea of how many you got because they will leave food prints in the flour. You may have caught the only one but to be sure try this.

Karen Larard 8 months ago

Margaret McKellar

After extensive research and a call with a very friendly exterminator, and a wildlife biologist, I am happy to confirm this was indeed a mouse. It was a small size (2 inch length body) and small pointed head. Rats are much larger with longer tails and have 6 pairs of nipples (if you ever want to get that close).

(author) 8 months ago

Margaret McKellar

Ok, just got your very helpful comments, and trying (unsuccessfully) not to freak out. Karen - do you mean the baseboards? How do you know how many you have?

(author) 8 months ago

Ingrid Crook

I love it.

Ingrid Crook 8 months ago

Karen Larard

Very helpful guide. Wrong rodent. Find the entry point. Any hole or crack that you can see. Stuff them with tinfoil rats and mouses don't like to bit in tinfoil. Get bigger traps designed for rats. Use wheat flour, dust along side your panels, if you see foot steps you know you did not get them all. Rats and mouses run along side the walls. I had rats in the summerhouse one year and boy were I scared. Thank you for sharing. Let me know how it goes.

Karen Larard 8 months ago

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Goi Haru

LoL!

Goi Haru 8 months ago

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Karen Larard

My dear Margaret this is not a mouse this is a rat. When I saw the picture of the droppings I was almost sure. Mouse droppings are smaller and look like black rice grains. You got a bigger problem.

Karen Larard 8 months ago

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