3 Simple and Effective Ways to Keep Mice Out of Your Home — Everyone Should Know These Tricks

Catching mice with traps or keeping a cat in the house may help control them, but the most effective method is actually to drive them away for good — ideally sending them off to look for a new home somewhere else. After all, no one wants the unpleasant sight or smell of a dead mouse inside their own house.

If you’re tired of dealing with these sneaky little pests, try the following simple, safe, and highly effective natural remedies to get rid of mice without killing them.

1. Use Chili Powder or Chili Spray

Repelling mice with chili powder is one of the simplest yet most effective methods. Mice have a highly sensitive sense of smell, and the strong, spicy scent of chili irritates their noses and eyes, making them avoid any area treated with it.

Instead of killing them — which might attract more mice later on — the goal is to make your home so uncomfortable for them that they never want to come back.

Here’s how to do it:

• Sprinkle a small amount of chili powder around corners, behind furniture, under the sink, and along any paths where mice are often seen.

• For larger infestations, you can prepare a homemade chili spray. Mix water with two tablespoons of chili powder, add a bit of cooking oil and a few drops of dish soap to help the solution stick better.

• Spray it generously in problem areas, especially near doors, windows, and dark corners.

Within a few days, you’ll notice a significant difference — mice will quickly vacate the area.

2. Use Laundry Detergent Powder

Laundry detergent isn’t just for cleaning clothes — it can also help repel mice naturally. The strong scent of detergent combined with other ingredients can make mice flee instantly.

Try this simple trick:

• Mix detergent powder with ground Sichuan pepper (also known as “flower pepper” or tian jiao) and a small amount of leftover rice.

• Place this mixture in areas where mice often appear — behind cabinets, near the stove, or under furniture.

The strong, pungent smell drives mice away almost immediately. The bonus? Your home will also smell cleaner and fresher.

3. Cement and Vegetable Oil Mixture

This old-fashioned but effective method works surprisingly well to eliminate persistent mice.

Here’s how to make it:

• Mix cement with about 45% vegetable oil until it forms a thick paste.

• Spread this mixture on a small piece of plastic or cardboard (to prevent it from drying out too quickly).

• Place it in spots where mice frequently pass through.

When mice consume this mixture, the cement hardens inside their bodies after several hours, leading to their death within half a day.

⚠️ Caution: This method should be used only in areas where pets and children cannot reach the bait. Always handle cement carefully and clean up afterward.

Bonus Tips to Keep Mice Away Permanently

• Seal all cracks and holes around your home, especially near doors, windows, and plumbing lines.

• Store food properly in sealed containers to prevent attracting mice.

• Keep your kitchen and garbage areas clean, as food scraps are a major reason mice enter homes.

• Place natural repellents such as mint leaves, bay leaves, or cloves in corners and cupboards — their scents are unpleasant to rodents.

With these easy and inexpensive methods, you can finally enjoy a mouse-free home without resorting to toxic chemicals or messy traps. Consistency is key — apply these tricks regularly, and soon you’ll notice that the little intruders have completely disappeared.