Are you struggling with a mouse infestation and need the best mouse traps to tackle the problem? Here’s where you want to start. These are the top 5 mouse traps for 2023, carefully selected based on their performance and user reviews and recommendations from pest experts we’ve worked with. Our guide covers different trap types you’ll want, details on what you’re getting, and proper setup tips to help you start addressing your house problem.
While this isn’t a substitute for proper, professional pest control (we can provide local recommendations!), you can try these on your own to get started.
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Step 1: Exterior Solutions for the Best Mouse Control + Best Places to Put Mouse Traps
The most effective way to control pests in the home is to prevent them from coming-in in the first place. You’ll see these around commercial areas, and they’re commonly used by professional pest companies: exterior bait traps! This should be more than plenty to get started.
#1. Tomcat Bait Station – Set of 6 Outpost Rat Bait Stations, Complete Rodent Control Solution
Keep in mind that this doesn’t come with bait. Given our four-season climate here in the DC Metro Area, you’ll want to go for something like these Tomcat All Weather Bait Chunx, 4 Lb
If your house has brick, you also probably have weep holes which look like regular holes in the brick mortar. Believe it or not, mice can squeeze through those suckers! While you can get nice, pricey solutions like Rid-O-Mice – 2.75 Inch Stainless Steel Weep Hole Cover (25 Pieces) Stops and Keeps Out Mice, Wasps, Bees, Lizards, Snakes, Scorpions and Many Insects, you can also just stuff it with a bit of steel wool like this Homax 10120000 Steel Wool, 12 pad, Grade #0000, Rhodes American, Final Finish since mice hate the feeling of steel wool.
You’ll also want to seal any exterior penetrations like hose bibs, AC coolant lines, and any massive holes drilled by your home security company or Internet provider. It’s always handy to have some caulk (like this DAP 801 Caulk, 10.1 oz, White) and a caulk gun (Bates- Caulking Gun, Silicone Gun, 10:1 Thrust Ratio, Hand Caulking Guns, Caulk Gun, Caulk Gun for Silicone, No Drip Caulk Gun, Gun Caulk, Sealant Gun, Caulk Gun, Caulking Gun).
Step 2: Low-Traffic Areas
Sorry, you’re not going to like this part. Time to head to the basement! Why? Mice don’t like people, so they’ll typically head to areas where they’re less likely to be found. Basements which typically have unfinished sections in our area, also provide the common access points behind walls. However, don’t think that just because you have a fully finished basement that you’re immune to mice, rodents, and pests!
One of the most effective mouse traps are the cheap, simple mouse traps that you remember seeing on Saturday morning cartoons:
#2. Victor M205-6 Easy Set Plastic Pedal Sustainably Sourced FSC Wood Humane Snap Rat Trap – 6 Wooden Traps
Oh no! Why snap traps? I don’t want to deal with seeing a dead mouse! Isn’t it cruel? Aren’t there kill-free traps (yes, we’ll get to that in a moment)? Do these even work?
I’ve been there, but multiple pest professionals assured me that these are the best mouse traps you can get, and our clients + ourselves personally, have caught more mice with these things than any other trap. Plus, they’re extremely cheap and could be your one-stop solution. Just be sure to wear disposable silicone gloves when you clean-up.
Snap traps are much more humane than glue traps (which we don’t feature on this list because of the cruelty factor, but they are effective) because the kill is instant. Even with the humane traps, if you’re not checking them on a regular basis, you could just end up starving the mouse over a long period of time which seems far less humane.
But where do you put them?
If you see droppings, put it nearby against a wall. Put them in corners where you can see behind drywall. If the mice might be dropping-in from somewhere, put some on landing points. Use a lot of them and check them often. You’ll start finding out what areas are the most effective.
For bait, use peanut butter or Fluff.
You’ll only want to use these for low-traffic areas because these things will snap you if you step on them or worse, if a pet or child grabs/licks one. That’s why, we move to …
Step 3: High-Traffic Areas
When it comes to your living space, you don’t want to use open snap traps. Instead, you can get child and pet-safe traps like the
#3. d-CON Reusable Ultra Set Covered Mouse Snap Trap, 2 Traps, 2 Count (Pack of 1):
You’ll want to get a bunch of these and put them along walls, cabinets, under sinks, behind the fridge, behind the dish warmer of your stove (you know, the thing you use to store your pots and pans, never for actually warming dishes), and in the pantry. Same deal as before when it comes to bait: our pest pros recommend peanut butter or Fluff.
If you prefer a catch-and-release approach, there are no-kill traps available too like this
#4. Mouse Traps, Humane Mouse Trap, Easy to Set, Mouse Catcher Quick Effective Reusable and Safe for Families -2 Pack:
However, I don’t personally have experience with these, and you’ll want to release the mouse far away from home so they don’t come back.
Step 4: Rescue a Cat
Who are we kidding, you’re not reading this article. Look at these adorable, available, adoptable pets: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption/cats.html
We’ve rescued multiple animals through the Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center and had nothing but positive experiences. Cats can be extremely effective mouse traps/deterrents, and they’re the most cuddly solution we’ve put on this list! (Our pest pros tell us that snakes are also extremely effective, but most people aren’t willing to just let snakes loose in the house, especially if you are Samuel L Jackson.)
If you have a large outdoor space but don’t want an indoor pet, there’s a lesser-known, free, barn cat program that lets you re-home cats that cannot be put into indoor environments but are ready to be put to work: https://www.montgomeryhumane.com/working-cat-program/#:~:text=The%20Montgomery%20Humane%20Society’s%20Working,who%20prefer%20to%20be%20outdoors.
Step 5: Hire a Pro
When I was getting into real estate, I never thought that I’d be blogging about trapping mice, and yet, here I am!
When I say hire a pro, I don’t mean us, at least, not for pest control!
But you can reach out to us, tell us a bit about your situation, and we’d be happy to point you in the right direction for great contractors who know their stuff without costing you an arm and a leg.
That said, for all of your real estate needs, we’re always here for you! If you think this was useful, imagine how much we know about homes and the market! Put us to work. We’re ready. : )