how do i keep mice away??

[Snacks]

Ooooh, they are tough buggers to get rid of!
I have no idea. Our last place we lived in had a vacant block next door and they just came over from there. We set up traps, but they only get one at a time, of course. Chocolate was good for the traps.
I'd also recommend putting all food in containers, and preferably in the fridge. They used to get at my fruit bowl until I started storing the fruit in the fridge.

ETA: Goodness, Curly! I'd never have thought of that one!!!

[briggsy's girl]

peanut butter is fantastic on traps too - it doesnt come off at all

jelly beans were a winner at mum's place....

[Pandora]

we use peanut butter or melted chocolate that then sets and they cant get it off.

depending on where you live, having mice can attract snakes, so there another vote for getting a cat

[Curly]

Okay I went and had a look at the Spotless book. If you are thinking about the snake poo option, apparently it is a small pellet that doesn't smell and it should last about 12 months. You scatter it under the house or in the ceiling, it says.

There is also a mention of naphthalene flakes used to deter a rat...I believe this is the same stuff mothballs are made out of... but to counteract the smell it says you can sprinkle some lemon thyme along with the naphthalene.

[DoubleK]

thanks girls, ill give some of these ideas a go!!

getting a cat isn't an option unfortunately.. dp HATES them, i actualy have a cat, but she lives with mum!

[alioops]

Rach are you allowed pets on your lease? We have a cat for keeping mice at bay and now we have a dog for keeping Cane Toads at bay (he doesnt touch them, they just don't like dogs!!) If you can get a cat then do so, if you can't then do put everything in containers and use the steel wool at the same time. If you have a box air conditioner they do get in through them too. Try a combination of all the suggestions peole have posted, and they should disappear.

ETA: Rach if you can have pets on your lease, ask DP what he prefers, a cat or mice

[ShootingStar]

We had some last year. FIL suggested to put rat bates in the garage and it worked. The rat bates are just little boxes pellets they eat. Havent had a mouse since Make sure you get the rat ones and not the mice ones. Mice ones kill them and youll be left with stinky bodies somewhere, whereas the rat ones make them thirsty and they leave looking for water.

[Snacks]

Hmmm, just thinking with the baits and the napthalene - you'll want to be careful when you've got kids crawling about. Probably not a good idea to have poisons around crawling babies