So many mice . .

beckstar1975

We noticed we had mice about 3 weeks ago just before we went on holiday for a week - sadly during this time they've got very cosy at home. Spent most of last night with more than one in our bedroom.

We've got plug in sonic repellers, and 10 snap traps (baited with peanut butter) plus poison down. They are just avoiding the traps and going their merry way.

We've been having building works which have finished but means there's piles of stuff around - have cleared under the stairs where they're coming in due to gaps around the gas pipes (live in a terrace with shared underfloor, backing onto a railway).

I've got more bait traps coming today, what's the best order to do things in? A thorough clear/purge of stuff or put things back under the stairs and hide traps amongst them? Use the steel wool I''ve bought to block up the gaps under the stairs or leave it clear so they can get in and out to access traps and poison?

It's actually driving us a bit demented, getting so little sleep as they are so noisy - less than 2ft from my pillow

Cressida100

I would suggest getting pest control in to sort this out. When I had a problem recently I found out that I had cover under my home emergency cover with Saga. Before I realised I had insurance cover I did check prices and the cost would have been £180 for 3 visits. The pest people use bait which you cannot purchase over the counter. It took 2 visits to get rid of my unwanted visitor. 

MouldyOldDough

You need a cat 
We had two cats for 20 years and never saw a mouse...... 

beckstar1975

Sadly two of the kids are allergic else I'd definitely get one, as we're the only house in our block without cats I think the mice have sussed us!

beckstar1975

I'll get pest control if no other choice but still not sure whether to crack on tidying or to leave the mess in situ to try and catch them better

Nobbie1967

I’ve used the little black bait boxes with the pink pasta bait and it was really effective. I gave up with snap traps as they were far too fiddly. I think you need to be careful not to get your scent on the bait boxes, so wear gloves when handling. If you think you know where they are getting in, it might be worth putting some bait boxes outside under some dry cover rather than enticing them inside with bait.

gwynlas

Sonic never worked for me. i used snap traps along their runs baited with M*rs bar that they had to tug on caught 35 in 2 weeks

Eldi_Dos

Try to deny the pests any foodsource, make sure any dry goods are in sealed container, biscuits, bread anything like that in biscuit tins,breadbins.
If the kids are in the habit of eating snacks in their bedroom try and discourage that as the crumbs will be attractive to pests.
Get rid of any building materials still around and have a general de-clutter.

You mention steel wool for blocking up entrance points,I have heard mixed reports about how effective it is, rodents do not like aluminium and will stop chewing if they come across it.What I would try is aluminium cooking foil rolled up then placed round any pipes or cable entry points and tamped into and filling gaps.

After that I would get the professionals in.

twopenny

This is,a long shot but it did work to stop my neighbours cats scent marking my front door and hall.

While you're waiting for the tough stuff try some essential oils.
A few drops neat or in a spray around entrances indoors.
https://www.purcorpest.com/blog/6-home-remedies-to-repel-mice-and-rats/
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/this-surprising-hack-will-keep-mice-away-for-good/

Lots more links under 'can you repel mice with essential oils'
Worked for me.
Spraying under the floorboards would be easier long term than trying to trap.

I wonder if mice are like ants and follow each others scent trails?
Carpet wash may help - but effort for the time it would last is questionable.

They are coming in because of the weather I suspect. 

FreeBear

MouldyOldDough said:

You need a cat 
We had two cats for 20 years and never saw a mouse...... 

When we moved in here <mumble><mumble> years ago, cat would just sit in the middle of the kitchen floor and watch the mice run around. Subsequent cats would catch a few mice, but never eradicated them completely. Finally got rid of them by doing two things - All food stored in mouse proof containers, so no bags of flour for example. Sealed all holes in the floor - Took a while to identify exactly where they were getting in. Had holes for cables, and also a tiny little gap hidden by architrave around a door.

As for traps - Mice will run along the edges of a room, so place snap traps at 90 degrees to the wall and you may not even need to bait them. A UV light may reveal where the main runs are (mice constantly pee, and UV light will illuminate the trails).

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

We use these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000LPA2KC

Touch wood none in the house for years but put a few traps in the shed in winter to keep their numbers down as the shed is pretty close to the house and I don't want them migrating.

I use ketchup as it's easy to squirt in the trap. 

Clearing any places they can hide in will help but if you are sure they are coming in from under the stairs lay the traps there and hopefully you'll start catching them.