Quick answer
The home remedies for mice that work best are storing food in sealed containers, filling gaps with wire wool and sealant, keeping the kitchen clean underneath appliances, and using a strong, long-lasting peppermint deterrent along their routes. Vinegar, onions, bay leaves and dryer sheets fade quickly and aren't reliable. Moth balls shouldn't be used in living areas.
Before reaching for poison or calling someone in, many people try what's already in the cupboard. Some home remedies genuinely help; others are internet myths. Here's an honest round-up.
Home remedies for mice: the quick verdict
Mice need food, shelter and a way in. The remedies that work tackle at least one of those. Remedies that only rely on a weak smell usually disappoint.
| Remedy | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed food storage | Works | Removes the main reason mice visit |
| Wire wool in gaps | Works | Mice don't like gnawing through it; combine with sealant |
| Cleaning under appliances | Works | Removes hidden crumbs |
| Strong peppermint | Helps | Best when long-lasting and on their routes |
| Vinegar | Unreliable | Smell fades within hours |
| Onions or garlic | Unreliable | Fades, rots and smells |
| Bay leaves, cloves | Unreliable | Too mild |
| Dryer sheets | Unreliable | Little evidence; fragrance fades |
| Moth balls | Avoid | Harmful chemicals; not for living areas or around pets |
Remedies worth doing
Sealed storage is the single most effective step. Move cereals, flour, rice, pet food and bird seed into hard containers with tight lids.
Wire wool packed into gaps around pipes, finished with sealant, blocks the way in. Expanding foam alone can be chewed through.
Pull out the cooker and fridge (safely) and clean underneath. Mice survive on crumbs most people never see.
- Sealed containers for all dry food
- Wire wool plus sealant in pipe gaps
- Brush strips on external doors
- Pet bowls lifted at night
- Bins with tight lids
Peppermint: the home remedy that needs a better format
Peppermint oil on cotton wool is the most popular mouse home remedy in the UK. Mice rely heavily on smell, and a strong mint scent along their routes makes those spaces less comfortable.
The problem is that oil on cotton wool fades within days, so it stops working unless you keep topping it up. MintGuard peppermint balls are made to release scent slowly for around 30 to 60 days per placement, with no poison and no power needed. Follow the pack instructions and keep out of reach of children and pets.
Remedies that don't really work
Vinegar, onions, garlic, bay leaves, cloves and dryer sheets appear on many lists, but their smell is weak or short-lived. Onions also rot. You're unlikely to see a lasting difference.
Instant mashed potato, baking soda and plaster-of-Paris mixes are sometimes suggested as homemade poisons. They're unreliable and can cause suffering, so avoid them.
What about getting a cat?
A cat may catch the occasional mouse and its presence can discourage some, but it won't stop new mice arriving through gaps, and cats can bring mice in from the garden. It's not a plan on its own.
A simple home-remedy plan
Combine the remedies that work for the best chance of success.
- Day 1: seal all food and clean under appliances
- Day 1: place a long-lasting peppermint deterrent along routes
- Days 2 to 7: find gaps and note fresh droppings
- Week 2: seal gaps with wire wool and sealant
- Every 30 to 60 days: replace deterrents
When home remedies aren't enough
Call a pest controller if you still find fresh droppings daily after two to three weeks, mice are in several rooms, or you see signs of rats.
Common questions
What is the best home remedy for mice?
Sealing food away and blocking gaps with wire wool and sealant, combined with a strong, long-lasting peppermint deterrent along their routes.
Does vinegar keep mice away?
Not reliably. The smell fades within hours.
Does peppermint oil get rid of mice?
It can make areas less attractive, but oil on cotton wool fades within days. Longer-lasting formats work better, alongside sealing gaps.
Do dryer sheets repel mice?
There's little evidence they do, and the fragrance fades quickly.
Will steel wool stop mice?
Wire wool packed tightly into gaps, finished with sealant, is one of the most effective DIY barriers.
Are moth balls good for mice?
No. They contain chemicals that are harmful to people and pets and shouldn't be used in living areas.
Looking for a product? See our mouse repellent page.
Sources and further reading
Written by the MintGuard UK team
Researched from trusted UK sources and checked under our editorial policy. Last reviewed 26 October 2026.
