Mice often invade homes searching for food, warmth, and shelter, reproducing rapidly and spreading diseases. They cause damage by chewing on wires, books, and food containers, and leave droppings that carry bacteria.
To prevent infestations, seal cracks as small as 1/4 inch and store food in chew-proof containers. If you already have mice, try methods like getting a cat, using peppermint oil, setting humane traps, or spraying hot pepper solutions.
You can also DIY live traps using cups, coins, and buckets or block entry points with steel wool and duct tape to keep these pests out for good.