Top 10 Entry Points for Mice to Get Into Your Home

Mice may be small, but they’re highly resourceful when it comes to sneaking into your home. Plus, they can fit through holes as small as ¼ inch. That’s the width of a pencil! Preventing an infestation starts with understanding how they get in. Here are the top 10 common entry points for mice and tips on how to keep them out.

1. Breaks in Walls: Even small cracks or holes in your walls can provide easy access for mice, especially in basements or garages.

Prevention Tip: Inspect walls regularly for any cracks or damage. Use a combination of steel wool and caulk to seal small holes, and for larger gaps, patch with metal or cement.

2. Gaps Around Vents and Pipes: Mice can squeeze through gaps left around vents, gas lines, or water pipes that lead into your home.

Prevention Tip: Seal any gaps around vents and pipes with steel wool, caulk, or expandable foam to ensure there’s no room for mice to slip through. Use Grandpa Gus’s Rodent Repellent Spray as an additional barrier.

3. Foundation Cracks: Cracks in the foundation are a common entry point for mice as they can easily slip into these crevices.

Prevention Tip: Check your foundation regularly for cracks or signs of wear. Repair any cracks with masonry repair products to keep rodents from getting in. Sprinkle Grandpa Gus’s Rodent Repellent Powder around your foundation regularly to further deter mice from looking for entry into your home.

4. Gaps Around Window Frames: Over time, the seal around window frames can degrade, creating small spaces that mice can use to enter.

Prevention Tip: Apply caulk or weather stripping around all window frames to close any gaps. This will also help improve energy efficiency in your home.

5. Gas Fireplaces: Mice can use the flue of a gas fireplace as a pathway into your home if it's not properly sealed.

Prevention Tip: Install a proper chimney cap or flue cover to prevent mice from climbing into the fireplace while allowing smoke to escape safely.

6. Chimneys: Like gas fireplaces, chimneys are another potential entry point, especially if they’re unused or uncapped.

Prevention Tip: Make sure your chimney is capped with a screen or wire mesh to keep mice out while allowing proper ventilation.

7. Openings Around Entry or Garage Doors:The gaps around entry doors, garage doors, or poorly sealed door frames provide mice with easy access.

Prevention Tip: Install weather stripping or door sweeps to close off gaps at the bottom of doors. Make sure garage doors close securely without leaving space.

8. Sewer Lines and Toilets: Believe it or not, mice can enter homes through sewer lines and toilets, particularly if your plumbing has cracks or leaks.

Prevention Tip: Ensure your sewer lines are properly maintained and fix any leaks. Install a backflow valve in your plumbing system to prevent rodents from making their way up through toilets.

9. Crawl Spaces: Crawl spaces provide dark, sheltered areas for mice to nest, and they can find their way inside through openings in the space.

Prevention Tip: Seal off crawl spaces with mesh screens, and regularly inspect the area for any holes or cracks. Make sure the space is properly ventilated but sealed tightly against rodents.

10. Gutters: Clogged or damaged gutters can attract rodents and give them a pathway into your attic or roof.

Prevention Tip: Clean your gutters regularly and check for any damage. Make sure there are no openings where gutters meet the roof and use gutter guards to keep them clear.

Stay Proactive by identifying and sealing off these top 10 entry points, you’ll be taking crucial steps to prevent mice from invading your home. Regular inspections and home maintenance will go a long way in keeping your home safe, clean, and rodent-free. Amp up the security by placing Grandpa Gus's Mouse Repellent Pouches in unfrequently used places like garages, attics, basements, and crawl spaces to repel mice where they're most likely to nest.