Getting rid of mice yourself

Do not use glue traps

Glue traps are banned for householders in England. Since 31 July 2024, using one is an offence without a Natural England licence, which is given only in exceptional public-health cases. Wales has banned them since 17 October 2023. In Scotland, use, supply and possession have been banned since 1 July 2026, with fines up to £40,000 or 12 months.

Choose a snap trap instead. It kills quickly, and it is legal for householders.

Snap traps that work

Set snap traps along walls where mice run, with the trigger end against the skirting. Mice follow edges, so a trap in the middle of a room does little. Use peanut butter as bait, in small amounts, and set several traps in a line rather than one.

Check traps every morning, and move any that catch nothing for several days to a spot where you see fresh droppings. Wear gloves, put a dead mouse in a bag, then in your household waste, and wash your hands. The rule on which spring traps are allowed, in section 8 of the Pests Act 1954, does not apply to traps for rats, mice or other small ground vermin.

Block the way in

Traps only treat the mice already there. To stop more, find the gaps. Mice get through about 6 mm, so look at pipe holes, air bricks, gaps under doors and where cables enter. Fill small gaps with wire wool and foam, and fit mesh to air bricks.

Then take away what attracts them. Store food in sealed tubs, clear crumbs, put pet food away overnight and declutter along the walls. Proofing is the single biggest factor in a lasting result.

Poison, repellents and gadgets

Consumer bait is on sale, but professional products need CRRU competence, and second-generation anticoagulants may not be used away from buildings. Mice that eat bait can die in walls, where they smell, so bait is a poor choice in a house. Never scatter loose poison outdoors.

Sonic and ultrasonic repellers are unproven. PestPro Index has a guide asking whether they work, so do not rely on them over traps and proofing.

When to call a professional

Call a professional after two weeks without success, if you hear mice in cavities or the roof, or if the property is a business or rental. A professional will find the entry points and proof them, which is what stops a return. Read what mouse control involves and what it costs. Check you have mice first with our identification guide. Droppings of 3 to 6 mm mean mice; bigger ones mean rats.

Your council may treat mice, so ask before you pay a private firm. If you rent, tell your landlord in writing.