1. Mouse Proof the Chimney by Installing a Cover
Did you know that a mouse can climb up practically any type of wall? If you have a brick or wood home, mice will be able to climb the walls to access your home through the top of the chimney. So, I suggest putting a simple wire screen over your chimney top to block that area of entry.

2. Mouse Proof Window Wells with a Cover
Check the condition of the window wells around your home. Take a look at them from above as well as from inside your basement. Sometimes holes or large cracks can form inside them allowing mice a way to get into your basement. Buy some inexpensive plastic window well covers to secure the area while you arrange to repair those holes and mouse proof it.

3. Check the Condition of Your Doors
The wood of a door can expand and contract in the heat of the summer. Also, a door can shift out of position as a home settles over the years. A door that has shifted out of position can be an entry way for mice. They can slip in under a door, over its top, etc. So, check to see if you need to reposition the door or perhaps install weatherstripping to mouse proof it and close up open areas.

4. Close Off Unused Pipes with Outdoor Access
Do you have an exhaust pipe that was hooked up to a clothes dryer or another appliance? Maybe you had the appliance removed and haven’t replaced it yet. If this is the case, this pipe can be an easy path for mice to enter your home. So, until you hook the pipe to another clothes dryer or appliance, buy an inexpensive cover for it to keep the mice from climbing through it to enter your home. According to Iowa State mice can fit through openings as small as 1/4 of an inch. Therefore this is an important access point to close off.

5. Install an Outdoor Vent Cover
Your clothes dryer has to send exhaust outdoors when it’s in operation. Mice can enter your home through that same pipe and make a nest inside it. An inexpensive plastic vent cover is an important mouse proofing tool that keeps the mice out of this exhaust pipe.

6. Check Your Roof Shingles
Roof shingles have been known to move out of place or even fall off. Mice can access an attic via missing or damaged roof shingles. So, it’s worth your time to mouse proof your roof by repairing or replacing shingles as soon as possible. Of course, it’s a smart move to hire someone to do this instead of making this a DIY project.

7. Check Your Gutters
When gutters come loose from your home, they can create enough space for a mouse to wiggle into your home beneath your roof. So, making sure your gutters are in place contributes to preventing mice from invading your home.

8. Seal Your Crawl Spaces
Mice can get into your home by the crawl space running beneath your floor. You may want to invest in a solid door made to block access to a crawl space to deter mice from entering your home this way. Mouse proofing a house always starts in the crawl space because the crawl space can be a breeding ground.

9. Put Lids on Your Garbage Cans
Putting your garbage cans outside without lids on them can attract mice to your area. They can pick up the scent of discarded food items from a long way away! When you put lids on the garbage cans before placing them outside for collection, it cuts down on the scent of foods. When mice gain access to your garbage cans, you can unwittingly take them into your garage when you put the cans back inside. This gives them access to your garage and it won’t be long before they figure out how to access your home. In other words making sure that mice are not attracted to your property helps mouse proofing your house because there will be fewer mice who could try to gain access.

10. Check the Condition of Your Skylights
The insulation and weatherstripping around your skylight can wear out over time. This gives mice an opportunity to access your house from the top and make their way down. So, keeping the mice out of your house is just one of the many reasons to make sure the insulation is intact around your skylight.

11. Check Your Patio Door Screen
Is the screen on your patio door in good condition? If it has rips or holes in it, it’s a good idea to replace it. Mice can get into a home through gaps in a sliding patio door. If the screen is damaged, it makes it especially easy for them to enter. They don’t have to do any chewing work!

12. Check the Insulation Around Pipes
Pipes that run from the outside to the inside of your home usually have a layer of fluffy insulation around them. This can keep the pipes from freezing and also keeps mice from entering your home through empty spaces around the pipe. Make sure your pipes have adequate insulation around them so you’re proactive in keeping the mice away.

13. Store Your Holiday Decorations in Plastic Containers
Did you know that many mice gain access to houses each year by hitching a ride on holiday decorations? A Christmas tree, wreaths, and evergreen vining can all be good hiding places for mice. So, put your holiday decorations in plastic containers with lids so these rodents can’t hide in them. If you have a Christmas tree that can’t be taken apart in sections, put a large garbage bag over it and secure it at the bottom to keep mice away from its branches.

14. Fix Cracks in the Wall
As a home settles, cracks can open up in a wall, especially in a basement. Mice only need a very small amount of space to slip into a home via a wall crack. So, mouse proof your house by getting those wall cracks repaired. This gives mice one less way to enter your house to cause trouble.

15. Close the Garage Door
This is one of the simpler ways to keep mice out of your home. If your garage door is open during the day or night, mice can wander in and out any time. But, if your garage door is closed and it has a solid layer of weatherstripping on the bottom to prevent gaps, then mice won’t find an entrance point.

16. Check the Insulation Around Windows
If you have an older home, the weatherstripping and insulation around windows may not be at its best. Mice can chew through weakened weatherstripping and insulation to let themselves into your home. It’s a good idea to replace insulation if it’s worn out.

17. Check Common Walls for Security
Living in a condominium or townhome means you probably share at least one wall with your neighbors. If they have a mouse issue, it can easily turn into your mouse issue as well. So, check common walls for cracks, holes, and other small places where a mouse could gain access to your home. Get them repaired so mice don’t feel welcome to expand their territory into your place!

Lastly, the goal is to prevent even ONE mouse from getting into your home. It’s no secret that after one mouse appears you know there’ll be many more are to follow. Try these 17 easy tips and keep mice outdoors where they belong.that standing water provides, so make sure you eliminate as much as you can.

Informative source: https://kapturepest.com/mouse-proof-your-house/