If you’ve spotted a mouse in your home, you might be looking for quick solutions. Maybe someone told you that mothballs can keep mice away. It sounds easy enough, right? Just toss some mothballs around and watch the mice run away.
Unfortunately, this common advice is both wrong and dangerous.
Mothballs Don’t Work for Mice Control
Here’s the bottom line: mothballs don’t work for keeping mice away. In fact, using mothballs to control mice is actually illegal according to EPA rules. The law says mothballs can only be used to protect clothes from moths in closed containers.
Pest control experts agree that mothballs are a waste of time and money when it comes to mice. Even worse, they can put your family and pets at risk.
How Mothballs Are Supposed to Work
Mothballs are small white balls or flakes that contain chemicals like naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These chemicals slowly turn into vapors that kill moths and protect stored clothing. They’re meant to be used in sealed containers like storage boxes or garment bags.
The idea behind using them for mice is that the strong smell would bother a mouse’s sensitive nose and make them go somewhere else. While this sounds logical, it doesn’t work in real life.
Three Reasons Why Mothballs Fail Against Mice
There are several reasons why mothballs fail as mouse repellents:
Not Strong Enough: The amount of chemicals in mothballs is way too small to bother mice. You’d need much higher amounts to have any effect. Plus, when mothballs are left in open areas, the smell disappears quickly.
Mice Are Smart: Mice are clever animals that can get used to new smells, especially when there’s food, warmth, or shelter nearby. Studies show that mice might avoid mothballs at first, but they come back after a few days.
Wrong Usage: Mothballs work best in closed spaces, but mice usually travel through open areas where the smell can’t build up.
Mothballs Can Make Your Family Sick
Using mothballs around your home can make people and pets sick. Common symptoms include headaches, upset stomach, eye irritation, coughing, and trouble breathing.
Naphthalene, the main chemical in many mothballs, can cause a serious blood condition called hemolytic anemia and is considered a possible cancer-causing substance. Long-term exposure can damage your kidneys and liver.
Children are especially at risk because mothballs can look like candy to young kids. Pets can also get sick if they eat mothballs or breathe in too much of the vapor.
Using Mothballs for Mice Is Actually Illegal
The EPA treats mothballs as pesticides, which means you can only use them exactly as the label says. Using them to control mice or other animals is against federal law.
Some mothballs sold in stores might even be illegal imports that haven’t been properly tested for safety. Breaking these rules can lead to fines and other legal problems.
Mothballs Poison the Environment
If you put mothballs outside, the toxic chemicals can get into soil, plants, and water. Rain can wash these chemicals into groundwater, and wind can spread them to areas far from where you placed them. This contamination can hurt wildlife and damage the environment for a long time.
Mouse Control Methods That Actually Work
Instead of wasting time with mothballs, here are proven methods that actually work:
Seal Entry Points: The best way to keep mice out is to block all the ways they can get in. Mice can squeeze through holes as small as a quarter inch, so check for cracks around pipes, vents, doors, and windows. Use steel wool mixed with caulk, metal, or concrete to seal these openings.
Use Proper Traps: Snap traps are the most effective way to catch mice that are already in your home. Place them along walls where you’ve seen mouse droppings or other signs of activity.
Keep Things Clean: Store food in containers with tight lids, clean up crumbs right away, and get rid of clutter where mice can hide.
Natural Alternatives That Are Actually Safe
While not as reliable as sealing holes and trapping, some natural methods may provide temporary help:
Essential Oils: Peppermint oil and clove oil can sometimes keep mice away for short periods, but you need to reapply them often. These are much safer than mothballs but don’t expect long-term results.
Plant-Based Repellents: Some commercial repellents use botanical ingredients like balsam fir oil, which are safer for families and pets.
Aluminum Foil: Some people report success with aluminum foil, as mice don’t like the sound or texture.
Remember, most natural repellents and ultrasonic devices have limited success because mice quickly get used to them.
Should You Call a Pro or Handle It Yourself
When to Call Professionals: Professional pest control companies do thorough inspections, set traps in the right places, seal entry points properly, and monitor the situation over time. They know exactly where to look for entry points and which treatment methods work best for different situations.
DIY Limitations: While you can catch some mice with store-bought traps, DIY methods often miss the big picture and may not solve the problem completely. Even one or two mice left behind can quickly turn into a full infestation again.
How to Keep Mice Out for Good
Home Maintenance: Install door sweeps, fix damaged screens, and seal cracks with the right materials. Trim bushes and tree branches away from your house so mice can’t use them as highways to your roof.
Food Storage: Put all food, including pet food, in containers that mice can’t chew through. Glass jars and heavy plastic containers with tight lids work well.
Remove Attractants: If you feed birds, use spill-proof feeders or stop feeding temporarily if you have mouse problems. Keep firewood away from the house and eliminate water sources like leaky pipes.
Signs You Need to Call the Experts
Call a professional if you’ve tried DIY methods without success, if you keep seeing new signs of mice, or if you want a comprehensive prevention plan. Pest control experts can tell you exactly how big your mouse problem is and whether you need basic trapping or more intensive treatment.
Professional services often include ongoing monitoring and prevention plans that give you better long-term protection than trying to handle everything yourself.
