Mice or rats in the house: seal, trap or call an exterminator?

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What is the right order for dealing with rodents?

Seal, then trap, then clean. The CDC's guidance comes in three steps, and it starts before the first trap: find out how they got inside and close the holes. Trapping without sealing leaves the door open for the next ones. The EPA agrees: prevention is always worth trying first, and rodents caught alive and released outside may simply come back unless the entry points are sealed.

How do mice and rats get in?

Through smaller gaps than most people expect. The CDC says a mouse can fit through a hole the width of a pencil, a quarter of an inch. Its list of places to check:

Inside: under and behind kitchen cabinets, closet floor corners, around the fireplace, behind appliances, around pipes under sinks and leading to water heaters and furnaces, around floor and dryer vents, floor drains, the attic, and the basement or crawl space.
Outside: the roof among rafters, gables, eaves and soffits; around windows and doors without weather stripping; between the foundation and the ground; around attic and crawl space vents; and around holes for electric, plumbing, cable and gas lines.

The CDC says to fill small holes with steel wool held in place by caulk or spray foam, and to fix larger ones with lath screen, metal, cement, hardware cloth or metal sheeting. Garages and sheds need sealing too.

Food and shelter matter as much as holes. The CDC advises keeping food and garbage in thick plastic, metal or glass containers with tight lids, not leaving pet food out overnight, keeping compost bins and woodpiles at least 100 feet from the house, raising woodpiles a foot off the ground, and keeping grass and shrubs near the house trimmed.

Which traps does the CDC recommend?

Traditional snap traps. The CDC says to set them where you have seen droppings, urine, gnaw marks or nesting material, against the wall with the baited end touching it, since rodents run along walls. It advises against glue traps and live traps, because frightened rodents urinate and that can increase the chance of getting sick. Check traps daily.

Rats are harder than mice. The CDC says rats fear new objects and may take several days to approach a trap, while mice are less cautious. If no rodents are caught for a week and no new signs appear, the infestation is over. If new droppings or gnawing continue after a week, it may be rats.

Can you buy rat poison?

Only in limited forms. The EPA says the rodenticides sold to consumers are ready-to-use bait stations with block or paste bait; pellets are no longer allowed in consumer products. The stronger second-generation anticoagulants are no longer registered for consumer products at all, only for commercial and structural pest control, because they pose greater risks to pets and wildlife that eat the bait or the poisoned rodents. Most rodent baits kill slowly, typically four days to two weeks after a rodent starts feeding.

The CDC reserves poison bait stations for infestations that persist after trapping. The EPA says to use only tamper-resistant bait stations and to place all traps and baits where children and pets cannot reach. Even professional products, it says, must go in tamper-resistant stations wherever children under six, pets or wildlife could reach them.

How do you clean up after rodents?

Carefully, and without a vacuum or broom. The CDC says diseases spread from rodents mainly when people breathe contaminated air, and that sweeping or vacuuming droppings can put tiny droplets containing viruses into the air. Its method:

Air out a closed space for 30 minutes before going in.
Put on rubber or plastic gloves.
Spray droppings and urine with a disinfectant or bleach solution until very wet and let it soak for 5 minutes.
Wipe up with paper towels and throw them in a covered garbage can.
Disinfect floors and counters, then wash your gloved hands, remove the gloves and wash again.

Heavy infestations need extra precautions. If rodents have reached heating and cooling ducts, the CDC says to contact a professional rodent exterminating service.

When should you hire a professional?

The CDC suggests it when trapping does not solve the problem, or when rodents have got into areas that cannot be reached to clean. A professional can also use products that the EPA no longer registers for consumer sale. The EPA's advice on choosing one is to ask to see the company's license and call the state pesticide agency with concerns.

HomeAdvisor puts mouse and rat control at $180 to $600, and HomeGuide at $150 to $600 for a one-time job. Ask whether the price includes sealing entry points, which is the part that keeps them out.

Can local government help?

Sometimes. In Philadelphia, the Health Department's Vector Control responds to complaints about rats in homes and parks at (215) 685-9000, though it does not provide a service for mice inside homes. In Bucks County, the Department of Health's rodent program acts on written complaints and can enforce rodent control on other properties. Other counties are covered in their own guides, starting with Philadelphia.

To see what a visit involves, read what to expect; for the safety rules around baits, see DIY or hire.

Sources

How to Seal Up to Prevent Rodents, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
How to Trap Up to Remove Rodents, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
How to Clean Up After Rodents, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Options for Dealing With Rodent Infestations, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Restrictions on Rodenticide Products, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Tips for Hiring a Rodent Control Professional, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Do you really need to use a pesticide?, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Reduce Your Child's Chances of Pesticide Poisoning, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
How Much Does Pest Control Cost in 2026?, HomeAdvisor
How Much Does Pest Control Cost?, HomeGuide
Report rats, City of Philadelphia
Rodent (Rat) Vector Control, Bucks County Department of Health