Sometimes unexpected guests appear in the house, whose presence can cause a lot of trouble and inconvenience. How to get rid of mice in an apartment? It may seem that it is very difficult to remove mice on your own and all methods of getting rid of rodents involve violence. However, we hasten to reassure you: there are many humane folk methods that will help eliminate pests from your home without harming them.
These cute furry animals can pose a real danger to your home.
Where do mice come from in an apartment?
Among the 100 species of rodents common in Russia, the most famous are the field, house and forest mice. Accordingly, during the “hungry and cold” season - which is from early September to November - they break into people’s homes, causing considerable discomfort to its residents. In addition to damaging furniture and other interior items, eating everything they meet on their way - from wallpaper to clothing, these rodents instill primitive fear in some. In addition, if mice have lived in a room for quite a long time, a characteristic sourish unpleasant odor appears in it, which is quite difficult to get rid of.
Elimination of unpleasant odor
There is an unpleasant odor from rodents in the house, permeating through clothes, shoes, and all household items. This is a trace of excrement containing a lot of caustic ammonia. It is easily absorbed into surrounding structures, and getting rid of it is extremely difficult. There are some effective tips:
- After completely getting rid of rodents, do a thorough cleaning, looking into every hard-to-reach corner. There should be no litter left anywhere;
- Treat surfaces with water and vinegar. You will need at least 6 tbsp. l. for 5 liters of liquid;
- purchase antibacterial air fresheners that can absorb the characteristic unpleasant odor;
- additionally treat the dry surface with hydrogen peroxide.
All potential burrows must be carefully examined to ensure that no dead rodents are left behind. Corpse poison has a negative effect on the human body.
Why are mice dangerous?
In general, “neighborhood” with rodents can even result in severe infections for humans - these are sources of rabies, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, parasitic diseases, hemorrhagic fever, tularemia, plague, typhoid, cholera and other infectious diseases that, if not diagnosed in time, can be fatal . In addition, mice can become a source of fleas and infect your pets.
They carry this infection on their paws, while being a reservoir, the mice themselves do not suffer from these infections. Infection is possible through contact - bites, contact with a corpse, inhalation of air and dust in a room where there is a high number of rodents - they contain particles of hair and mouse droppings, which can cause not only infection, but also allergic reactions.
There is also a high risk of contracting an infection when drinking water containing mouse feces. The alimentary route (through the mouth) can also occur when eating food that has been walked on by rodents - this is how they will bring an infection to their paws.
Physical means
Electric Trap Rat Killer
Conventionally, they are divided into exterminators and repellents. The former are needed to destroy rodents, the latter - to scare away. Conventionally, exterminators are divided into traps and traps. In the first case, the destruction of the rodent occurs at the moment it touches the bait, in the second - after capture. Sometimes traps are intended only to catch a rodent, and the owner will decide for himself what to do with it next.
Traps
Classic mouse trap
Plastic mousetrap
Traps A standard mousetrap can be made in different ways. The basis of the mechanism is a spring kept in a cocked state. When the rodent takes the bait, the spring straightens and the impact mechanism is activated.
The impact mechanism is not necessarily made of metal. It only takes a little force to kill a mouse, which is why plastic traps have become popular lately. After removing the rodent's corpse, the trap can be cocked again and repeated many times.
This is a simple, convenient and very effective tool. The intelligence of mice does not allow them to understand the danger of such structures, so the use of such mousetraps is very effective.
The disadvantage of such designs is that you will have to deal with numerous corpses of mice , some of which (if the staple successfully hits the rodent's head) will have a very unattractive appearance.
Traps
Sticky traps
Electronic mousetrap Victor
Universal Rat Zapper Trap by Victor
Traps come in a variety of types, from homemade structures made from plastic bottles to small electronic chambers or holes that electrocute rodents. This group also includes sticky traps coated with especially adhesive compounds, both containing poison and not containing it.
Recently, devices from Victor, which are boxes with a high-voltage source powered by ordinary batteries, have gained great popularity. The mouse is attracted by the smell of the bait, crawls inside and receives an electric shock.
At the same time, unlike traps, there is no mechanical damage to the mouse’s body and there is no need to wipe the floor stained with entrails: the corpses of mice are removed from the trap without physical contact with them. The power of traps can be very different, and they exist in various modifications: not only for mice, but also for rats.
Signs of mice in the house
The main ways from which uninvited guests can enter your home are the basement, sewers, ventilation pipes, and garbage chutes. There are direct signs that mice have entered your home:
- Holes in walls and floors are passages that rodents need to move freely around the apartment;
- Mouse droppings are small black oblong feces;
- The smell is sour and musty, easily recognizable;
- Sounds – if during the day mice can make a slight rustling noise when moving, then at night, especially if there are large concentrations of them, quite loud sounds can occur under the floor and behind the walls, accompanied by a characteristic mouse high-pitched squeak;
- Wary behavior of a cat - if the pet constantly sniffs and looks for something, freezes in one place for a long time - perhaps he is hunting for mice, the presence of which you do not even suspect.
How to scare rats out of the house using ultrasound?
Ultrasound is an excellent means of repelling rats and mice, but is absolutely safe for humans. A special device produces high-frequency sounds that our ears cannot detect. But for rodents, these frequencies are very annoying and knock them out of their usual rhythm of life. The parasites have no choice but to flee.
If you are wondering how to repel rats, then definitely try ultrasound. The secret of success is the device's ability to change the frequencies of sound waves. This feature does not allow parasites to adapt to the conditions and ensures the high efficiency of the method.
Ultrasound is a very humane way to solve the problem of rodent infestation. After using the device, not individual individuals, but the entire family of parasites will leave the house. Subsequent use of ultrasound will protect residents from new rodent attacks.
For dogs and cats, as well as for humans, ultrasonic waves are not dangerous. The device exclusively affects the auditory system of rodents, so it can be used without any fear. But don't forget about guinea pigs and decorative rats. These pets must be isolated from the premises while ultrasound is being used.
What are mice afraid of?
This question has not left people for many centuries - mice and rats have always stayed close to human settlements, causing damage to property and spreading deadly diseases. However, in the meantime, methods of fighting rodents have also evolved - people have gradually learned to eliminate uninvited guests, and with them the troubles that they can cause.
It was already mentioned above that mice become the most active in the fall, when their mass migration is observed closer to villages and cities in search of food and shelter. To prevent mice from staying in your home for a long time, it is important to carefully observe hygiene rules. Where there is no food left on the tables, no crumbs on the floor, and all food is sealed in bags or hidden in the refrigerator, mice do not stay long. In addition, it is necessary to take care of the dishes that remain after the meal - they should be washed immediately, and not left overnight or longer in the sink. There are also natural factors and conditions that become unfavorable for rodents. Among them:
- Lack of water . Water is a must for rodents to live. If for one reason there is no access to water, the rodents die within 4-5 days;
- Lack of food - the number of colonies decreases over a longer period than from dehydration - rodents die within a month in the absence of food;
- Cold . This factor has little effect on the animals themselves. But for the reproduction cycle - directly. In a human home, rodents are able to reproduce 10 times a year, whereas in natural living conditions - only 2-3 times;
- Cat - capable of eliminating up to 1-3 mice in one night. It is known that mice are afraid even of cat smell (urine), so they try to avoid such houses.
What sounds are unpleasant for pests?
How to identify the sound that home parasites are afraid of? It's not at all difficult to do this. It should be remembered that mice, like any other pests, are very afraid of all kinds of sharp and loud sounds. They can be scared away by too loud music from a stereo system, a washing machine operating at high speeds, the sound of a hammer drill, and much more.
To remove pests from your apartment, you need to make sure that such sounds are constantly present in the house, otherwise they simply will not give the desired effect. As for the duration of such noise, it can be short. To drive away mice, 15-20 minutes of noise or loud music a day is enough. It is desirable that these noises appear not only during the day, but also at night - then pests will not be able to feel safe.
Important: do not use the presented method if you have cats or dogs at home. Constant noise can be very harmful to their psyche. Also, do not use it under any circumstances if you have small children. In such cases, it is better to use equally effective, but much less noisy means to combat rodents.
Rodents also cannot tolerate ultrasound of certain frequencies. This is exactly what is used in modern devices to repel small parasites. It affects their nervous system, which is why the pests quickly leave the room and never return. This method is considered one of the most humane and effective.
Important: if you decide to fight these parasites in your home using ultrasound, pay as much attention as possible to selecting a special device that repels them. Remember that some types of such equipment can harm your pets, including cats and dogs. Some of them are dangerous even for children. Take the time to ask whether the selected device option is safe for all your household members, and whether it has passed the appropriate certification at one time.
What smells repel mice?
Smells are one of the folk methods of fighting mice, which is also the most natural - plants can be used both fresh and dried. A few sprigs of mint or bay leaf are enough and the rodents will leave the home. A good preventative measure is plantings and mint bushes, which become a hedge for rodents.
They also dislike the odors that come from vinegar essence and ammonia - they are applied to cotton balls and placed in the suspected habitats of pests.
Which device model should I choose?
If you want to know how to repel mice, you need to understand the main models of ultrasonic devices. There are not many reliable manufacturers on the market, so making a choice will not be difficult.
The most popular device is the Tornado brand. The device is installed in close proximity to the rodent population. Otherwise, you should not expect an effective result, since the sound waves will not reach the animals.
If you are using a device in a two-story house, you must purchase several devices, otherwise you will only observe a migration process from one level to another. The instructions for using ultrasound will help answer the question of how to repel mice in the house. It is necessary to turn on two devices at the same time to eliminate the risk of animals moving around the house.
The LED lamp on the panel allows you to determine the performance of the device. Parasites leave the house a few weeks after you start using the device if you follow the manufacturer's operating instructions. Before use, study the recommendations in detail to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Several models are produced under the Tornado brand - 200, 300, 400. The number indicates the area of ultrasound action. Tornado 300 and 400 can be used in warehouses, large enterprises and workshops. The Tornado 200 is often used in garages as it is battery powered.
"Typhoon" is an excellent remedy for rodents. The device is capable of automatically switching sound frequencies so that rodents do not have time to adapt to new conditions. The device provides effective and quick results (10-30 days of use). The brand’s models are distinguished by power and performance – you can find Typhoon 600 and 800 on the market.
Plants against mice in the house can be a salvation from a small number of parasites or help prevent rodent infestations. If you want to understand what rats don't like, then don't focus only on scents.
Mice repellents have a wide variety of operating principles, so it is necessary to choose a method to solve the problem wisely. The best way to repel rats and mice is quite difficult to determine. Finding the right way out of the situation can only be done through trial and error.
How to get rid of mice in an apartment forever?
Doing this quickly is not always possible. Mice and rats are cunning and dexterous rodents, so you need to be patient to deal with them. In addition, the number of one colony sometimes reaches 120-150 individuals - coping with such a number of rodents quickly is quite a difficult task.
You can resort to traditional methods, which we will talk about later, or you can use modern methods - as they say, to your taste.
Ultrasonic repellers
This is something that is not audible to the human ear, but can cause severe anxiety for rodents - to the point that they leave the place where there is this kind of irritant. There is nowhere to hide from it - invisible waves fill the entire space, being a “headache” for mice, disrupting their life cycle and reproduction. For animals, this becomes a significant reason to leave the room to which they will never return - mice have long-term memory and are unlikely to want to live in a place where they were constantly disturbed by ultrasound in the future.
Models of devices are provided for both large rooms and smaller rooms - usually the manufacturer declares efficiency for the maximum area - in reality it can differ by 20%. To completely eliminate rodents, it is necessary for the device to operate continuously for about 7 days.
They can be used to expel rodents from the apartment and to prevent their unwanted appearance. Highlight:
• Ultrasonic;
• Electromagnetic;
• Combined.
Folk remedies
Among the folk methods of control there is gypsum, which is mixed with flour in equal parts and placed in different containers, which are then placed in places where rodents accumulate or near their burrows. It is necessary to leave water for the mice near these containers, since the eaten mixture of flour and alabaster will inevitably make the animals thirsty. Water will cause the plaster to harden, causing the death of the pest. The method has a great advantage over chemical mixtures - it will not cause poisoning by accidentally getting on food, and will not poison pets who may eat the mixture or a poisoned mouse.
Also an effective remedy for mice is ash - more precisely, the alkali it contains, which can cause inflammatory processes on the paws, and then in the mouth of the rodent. Broken glass also has a damaging effect - the main thing is that the fragments are small.
Traps and mousetraps
Mousetraps are a method that has long been popular. However, if there are too many rodents in the room, one such trap may not be enough, so it is better to install several mousetraps in different rooms. For better effectiveness, use pieces of food that emit odors that attract rodents - sausage, bread, lard. Today, electric mousetraps have been developed - the high-voltage discharge of which instantly kills the animal.
Chemical compositions are special substances that are placed along walls and in places where there are large concentrations of mice. Mixed with sugar or grains, it becomes an attractive place where animals find food and, subsequently, death. It is better if the poison changes periodically - this is necessary so that rodents do not develop immunity to the same substances over time. Otherwise, it will lose its effectiveness, and insects will continue to “live and thrive” in your home.
Glue - the essence of its work is to immobilize an animal that falls on cardboard or plywood with a composition applied to it. The glued animal cannot leave, and sometimes several rodents fall into this trap at once. A small drawback of such a fight is the squeaking and “fussing” that the animal can make in an attempt to come unglued and run away.
An example of such a trap is the Medilis glue trap (detailed characteristics and method of use can be found here). This is an effective rodent control product with a non-toxic sticky composition. The trap should be placed in a place where rodents constantly move and left for 1-2 days. In this case, the area of the premises should be taken into account - calculation - 1 trap per 10 sq. m. After a couple of days, the traps must be inspected - they may either have animals attached to them, or be contaminated with dust - in both cases they become unsuitable for further use. It is important that other pets do not fall into such a trap - it is better to temporarily transport the animal. Although the drug has low toxicity, it is important to ensure that it does not get into the eyes - if this happens, be sure to rinse the mucous membranes with plenty of running water.
Professional pest control
Today, the total extermination of rodents in premises can be carried out with the help of special services that use professional means that are most effective in controlling rodents and minimally toxic to humans.
Professional help is sought when other methods have not proven effective, or there is simply no way to deal with the issues of eliminating mice. The method is paid - in different regions the price can reach from 3 thousand for a small room. But most often it justifies itself - deratization is carried out by specially trained people who know exactly where and how to spray the composition. Deratization can be a preventive measure, or it can be a necessary measure. After such treatment, rodents are guaranteed to leave the premises for up to 1 year - only in 2% of cases is repeated treatment required.
The disadvantages of this treatment are high toxicity to other animals, the mandatory use of personal protective equipment, as well as the uncontrolled death of animals, whose corpses can cause strong odors in the treated premises.
How to prevent rodents
If you follow these tips, you can protect your home from pest infestations:
- As a rule, rodents live in cracks in walls and holes in the floor, so be careful to ensure that any resulting holes are always carefully sealed. Remember that a mouse can only fit through a very narrow gap, so take even the smallest holes seriously. As soon as you find a gap, immediately seal it with cement or place an iron barrier. It is much easier to prevent a rodent from entering the house by blocking all its passages than to then look for a means to combat it.
- Keep your home clean. Leftover food on the floor or under kitchen furniture can attract not only cockroaches, but also mice. Try not to leave dirty dishes in the sink for too long. Also remember that a cluttered room is an excellent habitat for rodents.
- Clean regularly by moving or rearranging furniture. Mice like to live in secluded places inaccessible to the eye, so it is important to thoroughly examine such areas for the presence of cracks or foreign objects.
- If you have a private house or cottage, before the onset of cold weather, we recommend that you carefully inspect the area and make sure that mouse holes and nests have not formed near your home. Pay special attention to shrubs and tree root areas. Remember that getting rid of mice in a private house is more difficult than in an apartment.
If it happens that rodents do get in, don’t panic. You can order a room deratization service. Experienced specialists will completely destroy rodents using chemicals. Often the procedure is guaranteed for 1 year. Also, a similar method can be used as a preventive measure.
Next, we’ll look at ways to eliminate rodents at home.
