One of the most common (and annoying) problems garage owners often encounter is mice finding their way inside their space. Not only are these pests a nuisance, but with an average mouse litter consisting of around 12 mice, they are also a nuisance that can escalate quickly.
To find out how to prevent mice from getting in your garage, take a look at the handy guide we’ve put together below.
Mice are surprisingly nimble creatures. You might be surprised to learn that a typical house mouse can squeeze through openings as small as ¼ of an inch (roughly the width of a pencil). If their heads can fit, the rest of their body will follow, regardless of how unlikely it may seem.
While commonly associated with winter, rodent problems can happen at any time of the year. Warmer months often drive mice to search for cooler, shaded spaces like garages and sheds, especially during heatwaves or droughts. Also, heat makes the smell of rubbish bins stronger and more attractive to rodents.
You might think that as long as your garage door is shut, you shouldn’t encounter any issues. However, small openings caused by worn out weatherstripping or an uneven floor can still serve as entry points, as can gaps around utility lines, plumbing pipes, electrical vents, or even drainage holes. Keep reading to find out how to stop mice from getting in garage spaces.
Take a look below at our top 7 tips on how to prevent mice from getting in your garage:
Leaving dog or cat food out in the open or where it’s easily accessible is probably one of the quickest ways to attract mice to your garage. Even storing it in cardboard boxes or plastic bags isn’t usually sufficient as rodents can easily chew through those. If you do store food, make sure it’s in tightly sealed containers. Metal and hard plastic work best.
Keep an eye out for spillages, too. Even the smallest amounts can act as bait.
If you’ve already noticed mouse activity in your garage, using humane traps to catch and release the rodents can help prevent a larger infestation. These traps are typically placed along walls, corners and suspected entry points and allow you to capture mice without harming them.
Once you’ve caught a mouse, release it far away from your home, but make sure it’s not in another residential area (where it’s going to become someone else’s problem). It’s best to release the rodent in a wooded area or field.
Not only food attracts mice, water can do it too. During warmer months or draughts, mice are likely to be attracted to any spillages or leaks in your garage. Keep an eye out for:
- Leaking hoses
- Condensation from appliances
- Pooled water near the garage door
- Spills from watering cans
- Standing water in plant trays or pot plants
The main idea with this is to make your garage as uninviting to mice as possible to discourage them from taking up residence.
Peppermint is a popular natural deterrent. Try soaking cotton balls in peppermint oil and placing them near suspected entry points, or planting peppermint near doors or vents. Mice have an incredibly strong sense of smell so when confronted with the sharp, zesty aroma of peppermint, this can help scare them away.
Make sure to regularly replace the cotton balls with freshly soaked ones as the scent can wear off rather quickly. Another option is to make your own peppermint spray or use a diffuser. Bonus effect: peppermint can also help reduce the number of ants, spiders, and other bugs in your home.
A cluttered garage provides plenty of hiding spots and nesting materials which can be attractive to mice and help them stay undetected. To keep them away, give the space a good clean and use plenty of shelving units, wall hooks and storage cabinets to reduce clutter.
Something you may not think about when planning on how to prevent mice from getting in your garage is to maintain the area around your garage. Mice are surprisingly good at jumping and climbing. To reduce access points, make sure to trim back trees and bushes and avoid stacking anything like bins or garden tools against the exterior walls.
Sealing potential entry points is one of the most important steps when it comes to preventing mice from getting in your garage. Carefully check around any doors, vents, windows and pipes for openings. Remember, even a gap the size of a pencil can be large enough for a mouse, so don’t underestimate smaller openings.
If you do find any gaps, you can use caulk, steel wool, or rodent-proof mesh to close them off. Once that’s done, it can be a good idea to do seasonal inspections to catch any new cracks early on.
The garage door is the most common place where mice squeeze through, especially if the door is not properly sealed to the garage floor. That’s why the best way to prevent mice from getting in your garage is to use a quality garage door bottom seal.
Even if you have already installed one, keep in mind rubber seals can crack or lose their shape over time, especially in extreme temperatures. That’s why it can be a good idea to inspect the seal once every few months and replace it as needed.
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If you’re looking for one single best tip on how to prevent mice from entering your garage, it would be to invest in a quality garage door seal. Many garage floors are uneven, which means even when you close the door, there can be gaps at the bottom. The right garage door bottom seal to keep mice out of your space will depend on the size of this gap, as well as the type of garage door you have.
We at StormStop offer garage door seals in various sizes to help you find the right product for your needs:
- 15mm Garage Door Bottom Seal
- 20mm Garage Door Bottom Seal
- 25mm Garage Door Bottom Seal
- 30mm Garage Door Bottom Seal
- 35mm Garage Door Bottom Seal
- 40mm Garage Door Bottom Seal
- 50mm Garage Door Bottom Seal
- 75mm Garage Door Bottom Seal
To find the right size garage door bottom seal to keep mice out, measure the gaps at the bottom of your garage door first. This will help you make sure the solution you choose prevents any openings. If you need any help with the installation process, you can have a look at our handy step-by-step fitting guides.
While a mouse may not seem like a big deal, a rodent infestation can spiral out of control quite easily. Mice can chew through insulation, wires, storage boxes and many other materials, causing damage to vehicles and belongings. What’s more, they carry numerous health risks, spreading bacteria and disease, something especially concerning if you tend to store food, clothing or pet supplies in your garage.
In fact, property owners in the UK have a legal responsibility to manage rodent issues. To learn more, you can have a look at the government’s guidance on pest control.
If you need any additional advice on how to prevent mice from getting in your garage, please don’t hesitate to contact the StormStop team. Our experts will be happy to discuss your circumstances and recommend the best product for your needs.
Alternatively, feel free to fill out our convenient contact form below and we’ll be in touch shortly!
