Seal gaps bigger than about 1/4 inch (mice fit through a hole the width of a pencil), put food in sealed containers and set snap traps along walls. Call a pro if you keep catching mice or see signs in several rooms.
When nights get cold in Indianapolis, mice go looking for warmth and food, and a garage, basement or kitchen is perfect. The good news: most mouse problems are solved by doing three things in the right order, which is how the CDC puts it too: seal up, trap up, clean up.
Signs you have mice
- Small dark droppings in drawers, cabinets or along walls
- Chewed food packaging
- Scratching sounds in walls or ceilings at night
- Shredded paper or fabric in a hidden corner
1. Seal up
The CDC says to seal gaps bigger than about 1/4 inch, since mice can squeeze through a hole the width of a pencil. Walk the outside of the house and the garage and fill gaps:
- Stuff small holes with steel wool and caulk around it to hold it in place, especially around pipes, vents and wires where they enter the house
- Add door sweeps and check the garage door seal
- Close gaps around the dryer vent and utility lines
- Don’t forget the garage: it’s often the easiest way in
2. Remove the food
- Keep pantry food, pet food and bird seed in sealed hard containers
- Don’t leave pet bowls out overnight
- Store grass seed and bird seed in the garage in metal or thick plastic bins
3. Trap up
Snap traps work well. Set them along walls where you’ve seen droppings, with the bait end facing the wall. A small dab of peanut butter is a common bait. Check traps daily. Inside living spaces, many homeowners avoid poison baits, since a poisoned mouse can die inside a wall and pets or kids can get into bait.
4. Clean up safely
Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings, which can stir up dust. The CDC recommends wearing gloves, spraying droppings and urine until soaked with a disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water), letting it soak about five minutes, then wiping up with paper towels and throwing them away.
When to call an exterminator
- You keep catching mice week after week
- You see signs in several rooms or on more than one floor
- You hear activity inside walls or ceilings
- You can’t find how they’re getting in
Indianapolis pest control companies: want your business to be the local expert behind this guide? Get featured.
Sources: CDC: Controlling Wild Rodent Infestations; CDC: How to Clean Up After Rodents. Checked November 2026.
