DIY
Getting rid of mice in your stove
Learn how to tackle mice in your stove and keep your kitchen rodent-free.
Mice are drawn to kitchens for food and warmth, making stoves and ovens ideal nesting spots. However, mice in stoves can damage appliances and contaminate food, posing serious health risks. Spotting a mice nest in your oven is a problem that requires quick action to prevent further issues.
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Safely removing mice from your stove
How to help keep mice out of your home
Signs of mice in your oven
Mice are sneaky and resourceful, so spotting them in your oven or kitchen requires knowing what to look for. Here are the signs of mice in your oven and kitchen area:
Droppings: Small, dark pellets near the stove, inside cabinets, or on countertops.
Gnaw marks: Damage to food packaging, wiring, or the edges of the oven itself.
Nesting materials: Shredded paper, fabric, or insulation that indicates a mice nest in the oven or nearby.
Unpleasant odors: A strong, musky smell near the stove or in the kitchen area, which can be a sign of active mice.
Tracks and smudges: Grease marks or footprints along baseboards or appliances.
Mice in ovens often find their way into the stove’s insulation, where the warmth provides an ideal nesting spot. Once inside, they can contaminate the insulation with droppings and urine, posing both health and appliance safety risks. Mice can also build nests in hidden cavities within the stove, near the motor, or in spaces behind the oven. If you notice these signs of mice in the kitchen, acting quickly is crucial to remove them and prevent further damage or contamination.
Safely removing mice from your stove
Mice can go undetected for some time since mice activity tends to be discrete. Sometimes, the only sign of mice you’ll see is a quick glimpse of a shadow scurrying across your kitchen. If you suspect there are mice living in your kitchen, it’s time to cook up a plan for exclusion and/or removal. While your best bet is contacting a Terminix professional, here are a few simple steps to help start the eviction process:
Clean in and around your stove: Mice can survive on food crumbs they find in your kitchen appliances or other areas of the kitchen. Seal any potential food sources, including kitchen garbage cans. Scrub the inside of your stove and, after unplugging it and turning off the gas supply if applicable, pull it away from the wall so you can clean behind it, as well. Pull out the lower storage drawer and clean inside the unit. Check behind the stove and seal any openings in walls that may provide access to mice.
Inspect your home for any potential entry points: The entire house should be examined to find any spaces where mice could be going in and out. Track the areas that mice frequent to identify potential entry points. This can be done by looking for droppings or marks where mice may have gnawed on wood or other material. Check behind kitchen sinks and near pipes for small openings and seal these areas with caulk or wire mesh.
Set traps: Once you have sealed off any potential entry points and removed food sources, trapping can be carried out to catch any remaining mice. Snap traps can be an effective way to catch mice. Place several snap traps along the walls and the spaces mice frequent, baited with attractants such as peanut butter or cheese. If mice are favoring your stove, place the traps along the wall behind the stove and under the lower storage drawer, where they may be traveling in and out for food. Check traps regularly, dispose of any mice you catch, and reset/re-bait the trap. Keep traps out of reach of children and pets to avoid potential injury.
The CDC recommends wearing gloves when handling materials contaminated by mice to avoid direct contact with harmful pathogens. Spray affected areas with a bleach solution or an EPA-registered disinfectant, allowing it to sit for at least five minutes before wiping clean. Contaminated materials should be securely sealed in plastic bags and disposed of in a covered garbage can.
If mice have been in your oven, do not use it until it has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, as contamination poses serious health risks. Running a self-cleaning cycle can help kill off bacteria within the oven itself and would likely drive out any mice hiding in the oven walls. While these steps can help address the issue, professional services remain the most reliable solution. Terminix experts ensure the complete removal of mice, provide thorough sanitation, and implement preventive measures, giving you peace of mind and a safe, rodent-free home.
How to help keep mice out of your home
Preventing mice from entering your home begins with understanding how they find their way inside and what keeps them coming back. By addressing potential entry points and eliminating food sources, you can make your home far less inviting to these unwelcome guests.
Start by inspecting your home for gaps or holes along walls, floors, and around utility pipes, especially in the kitchen. Seal these entry points using materials like caulk or steel wool, which mice can’t chew through. Keep the kitchen clean by sweeping up crumbs, wiping down surfaces, and storing food in airtight containers. Mice in the kitchen are often drawn to appliances like stoves and ovens, so it’s crucial to maintain these areas. A clean stove and properly sealed garbage cans can go a long way in deterring rodents.
Be vigilant about checking spaces where mice might nest, such as behind appliances or in warm areas near your stove. Mice nests in ovens are not only unsanitary but can lead to significant appliance damage. Decluttering storage areas and sealing cracks around windows and doors adds another layer of protection.
Call the mouse professionals
When it comes to effective mouse control, professional services are your best option. Terminix experts use advanced tools and proven methods to identify entry points, remove mice, and prevent future infestations. Whether you’re dealing with mice in the kitchen, stove, or elsewhere in your home, a customized plan from Terminix ensures thorough and lasting protection. For peace of mind and a rodent-free home, schedule a free inspection today.
