Mice in the house? How to get rid of them permanently using safe, all-natural resources

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Mice can get into our homes all year round, but during the winter, they are more likely to be found indoors searching for  shelter and food. Incredibly fast breeders and carriers of disease, mice can be found infesting even those homes that are kept spotlessly clean. So, what can be done?

In the following guide, we provide information on the safest and most effective, all-natural methods you can use to permanently "ban" mice from your home.

1. Pay attention to your food

The most important action to take to keep mice at bay is to avoid leaving food out for them to feed on:

• always close/seal any opened packages of food properly;
• store your food in closed cabinets and avoiding leaving any leftovers out on tables and countertops;
• sweep your home throughly and frequently (preferably daily) - especially in the kitchen and areas where food is prepared and consumed to get rid of any crumbs and other "tasty" bits and pieces which may have dropped onto the floor.

Taking these precautions, mice will not be able to food in your home and will be forced to look elsewhere.

2. Steel wool as a barrier

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Another useful measure to stop mice entering your home is to carefully seal all cracks, gaps and crevices in and around your walls, flooring, ceiling, doors and window frames.

To do this, use steel wool: not only is steel wool difficult for mice to gnaw through, but it will also hurt them if they try to and, consequently, make your home much less "attractive" to them

3. Spices, aromatic herbs and strong scents

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Spices, aromatic herbs and other "heady" scents prevent mice from using their sense of smell to sniff out any dangers in the area. Using these products will not only make your home smell more pleasant, but will also keep mice at bay as they will not be able to smell out food and/or the presence of predators.

Peppermint essential oil is perhaps the most effective of these all-natural products you can use to deter mice: soak cotton wool balls in the oil and leave them in strategic areas. That said, you can also use other all-natural oils and products for the same purpose and in the same manner, namely:

• eucalyptus essential oil;
• camphor essential oil;
• citronella essential oil;
• additionally, you can place bay leaves inside cupboards and pantries and crumble dried bay leaves across windowsills and other open surfaces.

4. Get a "pet predator"

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Having a dog or cat in the house is undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to keep mice away; even the mere presence (and smell) of a cat's litter box is usually enough to dissuade mice from "hanging around".

You can also attract other natural predators that feed on mice to your garden - such as owls or foxes - which will help patrol the outdoor areas of your home.

5. Neat, tidy and clean - indoors and outside

Finally, remember that mice love dark, sheltered places where they can hide, so it is good practice to keep your home clean and tidy in order to deny them these conditions.

In the garden, try to keep your garden shed tidy, store firewood as far away as possible from the house and keep the perimeter of your property clear of weeds and accumulated leaf litter.

What other remedies do you know of to keep mice away from homes?