The best and most permanent way to stop mice in your home is "exclusion" or "building them out" -- eliminating any openings through which they can enter. It's especially important you mouse-proof any areas where you store, process or use food. Make sure that, in addition to looking for holes in your walls, you also check electrical and plumbing entrances, doors, gutters, vents and chimneys for rodent access. Seal any opening that is larger than one-quarter inch (0.6 centimeters). Although mice can't get through them, it might be a good idea to seal holes that are smaller than this, as well. Mice are known for chewing their way through things, so before long that small hole might just be big enough for a mouse to get through.
Don't use plastic sheeting, wood, rubber or a screen to close off an area because the mice can gnaw right through it. A mixture of steel wool and caulking compound makes a good plug to seal small openings. You can't use steel wool on its own because the mice will be able to pull it out or chew through it. The caulking compound makes the patch surface smooth so the mice can't get through it.
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You may want to try copper wool instead of steel wool for several reasons. Because of the way it's woven, copper wool is said to get stuck in rodents' teeth, making it difficult to move or chew through. This means you'll be able to skip the step of mixing the material with caulking compound before stuffing it into the holes. Also, while steel wool is known to rust, copper wool does not, which means you don't have to worry about rust stains on your brick, wood siding or internal walls.
Mice and rats crawl through tiny cracks and holes to penetrate your house, shed or office building. They make nests in unused corners and can even survive on a few single breadcrumbs or seed remains. You probably do not even realize that there are a few mice in your house, but if you do nothing about it you will soon suffer from a real mouse plague. Prevention is always better in this case.
The best and most permanent way to stop mice in your home is "exclusion" or "blocking them out", eliminating any openings through which they can enter. It's especially important you mouse-proof any areas where you store, process or use food. If you know where the mice or rats come from, you can close these passages with steel wool.
It is important to clean the places where mice like to make nests and to remove their food sources.
Seal cracks and holes with stainless steel wool
Use stainless steel wool grade MEDIUM so that mice, rats and other rodents do not make them larger. Make sure that, in addition to looking for holes in your walls, you also check electrical and plumbing entrances, doors, gutters, vents and chimneys for rodent access. Seal any opening that is larger than 6 milimeters (one-quarter inch). Although mice can't get through them, it might be a good idea to seal holes that are smaller than this, as well. Mice are known for chewing their way through things, so before long that small hole might just be big enough for a mouse to get through.
Stainless steel wool is very suitable for closing these gaps and holes. You can also use this steel wool around pipes and heating pipes. Stainless steel wool will not burn due to the heat of the tube. A tube is usually not hot enough for this.
An additional advantage is that the steel wool continues to ventilate. This can be important in some steel constructions where a seam or crack is necessary and it is nevertheless desired to seal it against vermin. Note that the air flow is minimal.
Mice & rats under tiles
Sometimes mice and rats enter the house through the space under the roof tiles. If the holes are not too big you can use the Mouse & Rat STOP under the tiles. If the holes are very large, it is wise to first use a bird scraper and apply the steel wool. An additional advantage is that wasps don't get through either.
Benefits of steel wool against mice, rats and other rodents
- Steel wool cannot be gnawed
- Easy to process and possibly remove again
- No dangerous chemicals or poison required
- Permanently ventilating
- Cost-saving solution. More affordable than Xcluder.
If there are certain strict requirements with regard to ventilation, steel wool may not be suitable and you should choose our Mouse & Rat STOP mesh. But in most cases the use of stainless steel wool against mice and other vermin is sufficient.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
They're not just for scrubbing! Here's how you can use steel wool pads to keep mice and other pests out of your house.
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Chances are you’ve got some steel wool in your cabinet of cleaning supplies. But did you know that the versatile scrubbing tool can also be used for pest control? When used correctly, steel wool can prevent rodents and other small pests from infiltrating your home through its nooks and crannies. Here’s how.
Why Use Steel Wool for Pests?
Steel wool is a great way to block the small holes pests use to enter your home.
First off, steel wool is tough but flexible; it can be pushed into all shapes and sizes of cracks and crevices. Pests like rats and mice hate chewing through steel wool, since the sharp edges hurt them the more they try to chew.
Steel wool is also non-toxic, unlike many pest control solutions, so you can place it around your house without worrying about one of your pets or children getting into it.
How to Keep Out Pests
First, identify the places pests might entering your home. Here are some area you should check for potential pest entry points:
- Around floor vents and dryer vents;.
- Along the walls inside your attic;
- In your basement and laundry room floor drains;
- Along the walls in your basement or crawl space;
- Around the corners inside closets;
- Around any fireplaces/chimneys;
- Between the floor and wall juncture;
- Around doors;
- Around the pipes under your sinks and washing machine;
- Inside, under and behind kitchen cabinets, refrigerators and stoves;
- Around the pipes leading to hot water heaters and furnaces.
Keep an eye out for telltale signs like rodent droppings, which can lead you to pest entry points. Once you find those points, plug them with as much steel wool as it takes to create a solid, impenetrable blockage. For good measure, apply some caulk to the exposed steel wool to seal it in place for good.
Best Steel Wool for Pest Control
If you do go with steel wool as a pest preventative, choose the right kind: medium grade. Lower grade steel wool is too soft and won’t provide enough of a challenge to deter pests, while higher grade is less malleable and harder to stuff into tight entry points. Medium grade offers just the right mix of flexible and rigid, providing a sturdy blockade.