How To Get Rid Of Mice Under Kitchen Sink

Not only can these rodents make you sick, but they can also cause a lot of problems with cleanliness.

If you’ve seen signs of mice in your kitchen, you need to act fast to get rid of them. Let’s look at ways to do that, as well as some tips to stop them from coming back and how to clean up after them.

Why Do Mice Love My Kitchen Sink?

Before we look at how to solve the problem, let’s figure out why mice like to go to your kitchen sink. Here are a couple of the main reasons:

1. Availability of Food: Mice will come to your kitchen, if there is always food for them. If you leave crumbs or bits of food lying around, you’re basically asking them to come in. That’s why it’s important to keep things clean and tidy and clean up right after you cook or eat.

2. Nice and Warm Shelter: The spaces under cabinets, like the one under your kitchen sink, are warm and cozy for mice. It’s like the snug spots you see in cartoons where mice live. If your kitchen is on the first floor, mice are more likely to come in. But even if you’re on a higher floor, they can still find their way up.

Now, let’s look at three effective methods to get rid of mice under your kitchen sink.

How To Get Rid Of Mice Under Kitchen Sink

1. Install Snap Traps

Snap traps are the most popular and proven way to catch mice. Here’s how to set one up:

1. Put something like tissue or newspaper under the snap trap to make it easier to clean
2. Use bait that mice like, such as fruit, pet food, soft cheese, or peanut butter.
3. Put the snap trap under your kitchen sink and make sure it’s steady.
4. Wear gloves when you handle the trap so you don’t leave your scent, which mice usually stay away from.
5. Check the traps often, at least once a day, to take out any mice that are caught.

Snap traps are effective at catching one mouse at a time. For better results, consider placing multiple traps at a distance from each other. Remember to dispose of the trapped mice properly and sanitize the area afterward.

2. You can Use Humane Cage-Type Traps

If you prefer a more humane approach to dealing with mice, you can use cage traps. These traps catch mice without hurting them, so you can let them go outside. Here’s how to use cage traps well:

1. Put bait like peanut butter or bits of food in the trap.
2. Put the trap under your kitchen sink and make sure it’s in place.
3. Check the traps often, at least every hour, so the mouse doesn’t stay trapped for too long.

4. When you catch a mouse, let it go in a good outdoor spot away from your home.

   • If you live in the countryside, let the mouse go in a field or wooded area.
   • If you’re in a city or town, let the mouse go within about 100 yards (91 meters) from where you caught it.

Remember that mice that grew up in cities might not know how to survive in the wild. Use your best judgment when deciding where to let them go.

Read also: How To Get Rid Of Musty Smell In Crawl Space

3. Set Up a Poison Bait Station

Using a poison bait station can get rid of mice well, but it needs careful thought and safety measures. Here’s how to set one up safely:

1. Buy a poison bait made for mice.
2. Wear gloves when you handle the bait station so it doesn’t smell like humans.
3. Put the bait station under your kitchen sink or where mice go often.
4. Check the bait station often and put more bait in when you need to.

Using poison baits can get rid of mice, but they have downsides. When mice eat the bait, they might die in places that are hard to get to, which can cause bad smells and cleanliness problems. If you have pets or kids, be careful to keep them from eating the poison by accident.

Tips for Prevention and Clean-Up

Once you’ve successfully removed the mice from under your kitchen sink, make sure to take preventive measures and clean up any potential mess. Here are some steps to follow:

• Seal Entry Points: Check your home for holes where mice could get in. Use things like wire mesh or caulk to close up any gaps around pipes, wires, or water lines.

• Maintain Cleanliness: Keep your kitchen clean and without food crumbs. Put food in strong, closed containers that mice can’t get into.

• Disinfect Affected Areas: Clean areas where mice have been with a disinfectant. This gets rid of smells and stops diseases from spreading.

Read also: How We Chose the Top 5 Best Rat Glue Traps

Other Methods of Fighting Mice

Although the techniques mentioned earlier are known to work, there are also some widely debated methods that are worth examining. Let’s look at three of these methods in more detail:

• Glue Traps

Glue traps, also called glue boards, are another kind of trap that catches mice alive. However, using these traps is strongly discouraged because they’re very cruel.

Mice caught in glue traps can suffer for a long time trying to get free. It’s best not to use these traps at all.

• Ultrasonic Repellents

Ultrasonic repellents produce sounds meant to keep mice away. But research has found that mice can get used to these sounds and not be bothered by them.

Even though the idea seems good, ultrasonic repellents sold in stores haven’t been shown to work well in getting rid of mice.

• Getting a Cat

Getting a cat might seem like a simple solution, but it’s not right for everyone. Cats can be good at catching mice and scaring them away.

But having a cat means you need to be committed and responsible. Think about things like allergies, how much time you have to take care of a pet, and if it’s safe for the cat and other pets before you decide to use this method.

Read also: Rat in the House: Possible Causes and How to Get Rid

More on How To Get Rid Of Mice Under Kitchen Sink

This video explains how you can get rid of mice under your kitchen sink

Conclusion

Dealing with mice under your kitchen sink can be quite challenging. But if you use these good methods listed in this article, you can get rid of mice and stop them from coming back.

Pick the method that works best for you while considering how safe the option is for your family and pets. You can take these steps to keep your kitchen free from mice. Keep an eye out and act fast if you see signs of mice coming back.