Mice in the Kitchen: How to Get Rid of Them

Mice are small, quick and curious, and the kitchen is their ideal playground: food, water and many hiding places. They nibble packets, leave droppings in cupboards and can squeeze through gaps you would hardly notice.

This guide explains how to find and remove them, and how to stop them coming back.

The short answer

Mice enter kitchens through very small gaps, around pipes, under doors, behind cabinets and along cables, in search of food and shelter. Signs include small rod-shaped droppings, nibbled packaging, shredded nesting material, grease marks along edges and scratching at night. To get rid of them, remove food and water access, store food in sealed containers, set several traps along walls, seal gaps with steel wool and mesh with sealant, clean and disinfect, and call a professional if the problem persists. Because mice breed fast, act early.

Signs of mice

1. Small droppings, about the size of a grain of rice or smaller, in cupboards and along edges.
2. Nibbled packets, grains and soap.
3. Small nests of shredded paper or cloth.
4. Scratching or squeaking at night.
5. Faint grease marks along walls.
6. A musty, urine-like smell.

How they get in

• Gaps around pipes and cables, even a small one.
• Gaps under doors and around frames.
• Openings behind cabinets and appliances.
• Vents and drains.
• Carried in with groceries and boxes.

Getting rid of them

1. Remove food access: Use sealed metal, glass or thick plastic containers. Clear crumbs and spills.
2. Use traps: Set several snap or live traps along walls and behind appliances, with a small amount of bait such as peanut butter or a dab of something sticky. Check often.
3. Seal gaps: Stuff steel wool or mesh into gaps and seal with cement or sealant.
4. Clean up: Wear gloves, damp-wipe droppings and disinfect surfaces.
5. Dispose of food that may be contaminated.
6. Keep monitoring for new signs.

What to avoid

• Loose poison in kitchens with children or pets.
• Glue boards, which cause suffering and are hard to use safely.
• Relying on repellents or ultrasonic devices alone.

Prevention

• Take out waste daily and keep bins lidded.
• Keep the kitchen tidy and dry.
• Inspect new groceries and boxes.
• Fit door sweeps and seal gaps.

When to call a professional

If trapping does not clear them in a couple of weeks, or you see signs in several areas, call a professional.

Frequently asked questions

Do mice only come at night?

Mostly, but heavy infestations may be seen by day.

Is cheese good bait?

Not the best. See our guide on baits.

How many traps do I need?

Several, placed along walls where mice travel.

Are mice dangerous?

They can contaminate food and spread germs.

This guide is part of IPest's complete resource on rodent control. For identification help, prevention and treatment options, see our full rodent control guide for Bangalore.