Getting rid of mice takes three actions at the same time: trap the mice already inside, remove their food and water, and seal every entry opening. Cleanup must be handled carefully—CDC specifically warns not to sweep or vacuum dry droppings because that can put contaminated particles into the air.

The short answer

1. Put away food, pet food and water; clean crumbs and grease.
2. Inspect the entire interior and exterior for openings, especially around pipes, doors, vents and the foundation.
3. Set multiple snap traps along walls where droppings or gnaw marks appear, with the trigger end facing the wall.
4. Check traps daily and keep them inaccessible to children and pets.
5. Seal small openings with durable rodent-resistant material; repair larger holes with metal, hardware cloth or another building-appropriate patch.
6. Clean droppings by wetting them thoroughly with disinfectant—not by sweeping or vacuuming.

Signs you have mice

• Dark, rice-shaped droppings in drawers, cabinets, under sinks or along walls.
• Gnaw marks on food packaging, wiring, wood or plastic.
• Shredded paper, fabric or insulation used as nesting material.
• Scratching or movement in walls and ceilings, especially at night.
• Greasy rub marks along repeated travel routes.
• A stale or musky odor in enclosed spaces.

Step 1: remove food, water and shelter

• Transfer cereal, flour, snacks, rice and pet food into hard containers with tight lids.
• Do not leave pet food or water out overnight while controlling an infestation.
• Clean beneath the refrigerator, stove, toaster and pantry shelving.
• Use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid and remove waste regularly.
• Fix dripping faucets and leaking pipes.
• Reduce cardboard, paper bags and fabric clutter that can shelter nests.
• Keep birdseed, grass seed and animal feed in rodent-resistant containers.

Step 2: find every entry point

Use a flashlight and inspect where different materials meet. Check behind appliances and cabinets, around plumbing and utility lines, beneath doors, at foundation vents, roof and siding intersections, garage corners, crawl-space openings and damaged screens. Look for rub marks, gnawing or droppings near a gap.

Step 3: seal holes so mice cannot return

For a small gap, tightly pack copper mesh or steel wool into the opening and secure it with caulk or another building-appropriate sealant. Foam alone is easy to chew. Repair larger openings with metal flashing, cement, hardware cloth or a professionally fitted patch. Protect vents without blocking required airflow, and never seal an active gas-appliance vent or other safety opening.

Install door sweeps where daylight shows beneath exterior doors. Repair gaps at garage-door corners and torn screens. Outside, trim vegetation away from the structure, move stacked firewood away from walls and reduce deep debris that provides cover.

Step 4: use snap traps correctly

EPA lists lethal snap traps as an established option for household mice. Use enough traps to cover active routes instead of relying on one. Place each trap on the floor perpendicular to the wall with the baited trigger end touching the wall, forming a “T.” Mice tend to run with their bodies close to edges.

• Use a pea-sized amount of peanut butter or another attractive bait—too much can be stolen without firing the trap.
• Place traps behind appliances, inside closed cabinets, along wall edges and near droppings.
• Keep traps out of reach or inside secured trap boxes where required for safety.
• Check every trap each morning.
• Continue until no mouse is caught and no new signs appear for at least a week.

A practical trap-placement chart

Evidence	Placement	Next action
Droppings behind stove	Along both wall edges behind appliance	Clean safely; inspect utility gaps
Gnawed pantry package	Against cabinet wall near travel route	Move food into sealed containers
Noise in attic	Accessible runways only	Inspect eaves, vents and roof gaps
Garage sightings	Wall edges near door corners	Repair door seal and store feed securely

What about live traps and glue traps?

Live traps require frequent checks, safe handling and a legal, suitable release or euthanasia plan; released house mice may return or fail to survive. Glue traps can leave live animals struggling and increase contact with urine and saliva. CDC guidance generally favors traditional snap traps around the home. If you cannot manage traps safely, hire a licensed professional.

When rodent poison is considered

Start with exclusion, sanitation and traps. Rodenticide can poison children, pets and wildlife, and rodents may die in inaccessible walls. If poison is necessary, EPA says consumer products must be used in the ready-to-use tamper-resistant bait station supplied with the product. Follow every label direction, keep stations inaccessible, and promptly remove carcasses to reduce secondary poisoning.

Never scatter loose bait, transfer it to a homemade container or place it beside food or pet supplies. A licensed professional is the safer choice for a large infestation, a multi-unit building, or a home where children or animals can reach treatment areas.

How to clean mouse droppings safely

Do not sweep or vacuum dry urine, droppings or nesting material. CDC warns that this can put contaminated particles into the air.

1. Ventilate the area before cleaning when practical and keep other people and pets out.
2. Put on rubber or plastic gloves.
3. Spray droppings and urine until very wet with an EPA-registered disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
4. Let it soak for five minutes, or for the contact time on the disinfectant label.
5. Wipe up with paper towels and place the waste in a covered trash can.
6. Mop or sponge the surrounding hard surface with disinfectant.
7. Wash gloved hands before removing gloves, then wash bare hands with soap and warm water.

Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, acids or other cleaners. Heavy infestations, enclosed spaces and HVAC contamination require additional protective measures described by CDC and may warrant professional remediation.

How to dispose of a dead mouse and trap

1. Wear rubber or plastic gloves.
2. Spray the rodent, trap and surrounding area with disinfectant until wet.
3. Wait five minutes or the label’s contact time.
4. Place the rodent and disposable trap in a plastic bag, seal it, then place it in a second sealed bag.
5. Put the double bag in a covered trash can that is emptied regularly.
6. Disinfect reusable traps according to CDC instructions, then wash hands as described above.

When to call a professional

• Droppings are widespread or appear in HVAC ducts.
• You hear extensive activity in walls, ceilings or multiple floors.
• Wiring or gas-appliance components may be damaged.
• Mice remain active after one to two weeks of correctly placed traps and exclusion.
• The building is a multifamily property with shared walls.
• You cannot place traps or bait stations safely around children, pets or a medically vulnerable person.

For more household pest prevention, see how to get rid of ants and how to get rid of fleas.

Sources

• CDC: safe cleanup of rodent urine, droppings, nests and dead rodents
• EPA: identify and prevent rodent infestations
• EPA: traps, exclusion and rodent-control options
• EPA: safe use of rodent bait stations