The Surprising Item That Is Enticing Mice Into Your Home

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Every home has its secrets. Some are charming... others are the kind that rustle behind walls at midnight. The reason isn't that your home is messy or because you left a crumb or two behind. Oftentimes, mice are drawn in by things you wouldn't even think twice about. Missy Henriksen, spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association, told Business Insider that roughly 21 million U.S. homes see rodent activity each winter. And it tracks. Winter is survival mode for them. When temperatures drop and outdoor food sources disappear, they start looking for warmth and anything that smells remotely edible. And this brings us to the part most people never expect. Your paper items, like cardboard boxes, mail, packaging, newspaper, and takeout containers, are basically rolling out a welcome mat for mice.

That empty taco box still smells like dinner, even after you've tossed it into a corner thinking you'll take it out "later." To a mouse, that's an invitation to snack. But there's a bigger reason cardboard and paper are mouse magnets. They're perfect nesting material. They shred it, stuff it, layer it, and build tiny homes inside your home. So if you stumble upon a chewed corner of a shoebox or find shredded paper tucked behind appliances, that's practically a signature. You're dealing with a mouse infestation, and it's not going anywhere unless you intervene.

We get it, cardboard boxes are practically free, and they seem like the perfect solution for stashing everything from old holiday decorations to seasonal clothes. But what's convenient for you is a nesting haven for mice. That's why swapping them out for plastic storage containers, like the Akro-Mils Clear Storage Box, helps. Unlike cardboard, plastic resists chewing and offers a secure environment that mice simply can't infiltrate.

Of course, you might have a few cardboard boxes you just can't part with. In that case, get strategic. Elevate them on shelves or place them in areas that are harder for mice to reach. Keep them away from climbable surfaces like curtains or cords, though, because mice are skilled climbers. The next crucial step to solve your mouse problem is decluttering. Go through your home and get rid of extra old mail, newspapers, or shipping packaging. Less clutter means fewer hiding spots and fewer invitations for unwanted guests.

To keep mice out of your home, seal potential entry points — like gaps around pipes and spaces under doors — ideally with steel wool. And to catch any mice already in your home, consider catch-and-release mouse traps like the blinc Humane Mouse Trap. Add a small piece of fruit as bait, catch them, and release them far from your home. With these steps, you'll be able to reclaim your home from the stealthy winter visitors.