And once they get in, the timeline moves fast:
- Mice shred paper, fabric, insulation, and anything soft to build nests.
- They leave droppings constantly — dozens per day.
- They chew walls, wires, corners, and anything they think they can use.
- And worst of all? They breed quickly.
A quiet house with no human noise?
A perfect nursery.
We unknowingly offered them two solid weeks of uninterrupted construction time.
What We Did the Moment the Shock Wore Off
Once the initial wave of disgust faded, instinct kicked in. This wasn’t just a mess; it was a potential health hazard. We needed to move fast.
1. We Vacuumed the Debris — Carefully
I put on gloves and a mask immediately. Disturbing mouse nests can release particles you do not want to breathe in.
We slowly vacuumed the insulation clump, the droppings, and the dust around the frame.
Even then, I felt like scrubbing my skin raw afterward.
2. We Inspected the Exterior of the House
This took less than ten minutes.
It was also the most important step.
Along the siding near that bedroom window, we found it — a tiny opening, less than an inch wide, enough for a mouse to shimmy through without hesitation.
It was practically invisible unless you were looking for it.
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3. We Set Traps Immediately
Inside the bedroom and inside the closet, we placed snap traps baited with peanut butter.
Within 48 hours, we caught two mice.
Two mice too many — but also a sign we caught the problem early.
4. We Sealed Every Entry Point We Could Find
This part felt oddly satisfying.
We used:
- Steel wool to fill the gaps (mice hate chewing through it)
- Caulk to seal the outside opening
- Expandable foam + mesh to cover suspicious interior gaps
We basically turned the room into a mouse fortress. No entrances allowed.
5. We Disinfected Everything
Every surface with even the possibility of contamination got cleaned with disinfectant. Gloves stayed on. Masks stayed on.
You can’t be too careful when dealing with mouse urine and droppings.
What This Experience Taught Us (The Hard Way)
If I had to sum up the lesson:
Mice don’t need permission. They only need opportunity.
Leave your home quiet long enough — even just two weeks — and they can:
- Chew through insulation
- Damage drywall
- Create nests inside your walls
- Leave droppings everywhere
- Even gnaw electrical wiring (a huge fire risk)
And what shocked me the most was that all of this can happen behind the scenes long before you ever see a single mouse run across the floor.
That wad of debris wasn’t just a nuisance.
It was a warning.
Continue reading on the next page 👇
