The Long-lasting, Cheap and Simple Non-Toxic Fix Homeowners Can Use to Keep Mice Out in Winter and Beyond

With temperatures outdoors dropping and food sources getting scarcer, mice start looking for warmth indoors. While traps and deterrent sprays can be messy, toxic, and ineffective, there is one simple household staple that provides an instant barrier that lasts all season long: Steel wool will stop mice from entering your home.

This non-toxic item found in most cleaning cabinets can be used to quickly and easily block up the small cracks and gaps mice love to exploit. Best of all, it only costs a few dollars and provides tough, lasting protection.

Here's how a pest pro uses this quick, non-toxic pest control tactic over the hectic holiday period for pest protection in a pinch.

Using Steel Wool to Stop Mice

When you are juggling holiday plans and hosting guests, the last thing you want to be dealing with is getting rid of mice. However, you don't want to let them have free range inside your home, either.

The quickest solution may already be in your cleaning cabinet: Steel wool. These highly abrasive pads can be used to quickly block access points and prevent mice from getting into your house in the first place.

Unlike usual filler and insulation padding, steel wool's rough texture is far from pleasant to chew through, preventing these pesky rodents from breaking through again and making themselves at home under your roof.

Better yet, this steel wool trick works even in exposed areas, assures Garrett Thrasher, co-owner and general manager at Thrasher Termite & Pest Control of So Cal , Inc. He explains, 'It's great for sealing up spots exposed to moisture, and you want to avoid rust stains on the surrounding area.'

The trick to making this natural pest control method work is to secure the steel wool in place, Garrett continues, as mice have been known to push it out of the way with a bit of determination.

'Stuff it and secure it,' he urges. 'We've seen rodents pop a steel wool plug out of a hole. Fit the steel wool tightly into the hole or gap, and then use construction adhesive or caulk [such as Loctite poly concrete and masonry sealant from Lowe's] to bind the steel wool to the adjacent area. Mice and rats easily chew through adhesive, but when used in combination with steel wool, it sure slows them down.'

If you are in a real hurry, some Gorrilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Tape, also from Lowe's, could hold the wool in place in a pinch, or if you cannot damage the surrounding area.

It is worth noting that this quick fix is exactly that, a quick fix. For long-term pest prevention, Garrett urges you to replace the steel wool barricade with a more resistant, permanent solution as soon as you have the time or funds, focusing specific attention on the hidden places in the home where pests love to hide their young.

Using steel wool to stop mice is a great preventative strategy. However, if you have seen mice inside of your home already, they may already be hiding indoors, Garrett reminds us.

He warns, 'By the time you see a mouse in your kitchen, it's already moved in. Sealing holes will keep out their friends, but you'll still have a mouse problem inside. Make sure to set traps after you've sealed the holes.'

We suggest using humane mouse traps from Walmart to trap mice and let them out safely in nature. Use attractive bait to lure them in, and focus on removing the surprising things that attract pests to your home to dissuade them from venturing further into your home.

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Meet the Expert

Garrett Thrasher

Garrett is co-owner and general manager of Thrasher Termite & Pest Control, located in San Diego, California. After growing up in a family-owned pest control business and then graduating from UC Irvine, Garrett relocated to San Diego. Garrett and his wife, Lauren Thrasher, opened Thrasher Termite & Pest Control of So Cal, Inc. in May of 2009.

Mice are not the only common winter pest infestation you need to keep an eye out for over the holiday period. Silverfish, spiders, and roaches can all seek out cozy hiding spots in your home, too.