Pesky Mice Don't Stand A Chance Against One Item That's Stockpiled In Your Pantry

You believe there's a mouse in your pantry, but the thought of using a trap and having to touch or come close to it is bothersome to you. What can you do? Instead of toxic poison or traps, there are natural remedies for getting rid of mice, and one simple solution in your pantry could be the use of instant potatoes. Yes, the type of mashed potatoes you may have enjoyed as a kid could be all you need to get rid of that mouse.

How can something that people eat kill a mouse? When a mouse consumes instant, dry potatoes, they become thirsty, which leads them to find a water source. When they consume the water, the instant potatoes then rehydrate in their stomach, and within a short amount of time, they swell so much that it causes the mouse to die.

That doesn't sound like a fun way to die, but it is a non-toxic method for getting rid of these critters from your home without costing you a lot of money. If you have to pay an exterminator to fumigate your home, by contrast, you could be spending $1 to $4 per square foot of your home. That $5 box of instant potatoes is a far better solution for some.

How do potato flakes kill mice and other pests in your home? The main ingredient in most organic or natural instant potatoes is, in fact, potato. They do not typically contain chemicals that would cause obvious harm to the mouse, yet some believe that the potato flake ingredients are what does the mouse in, though the majority consensus is that the swelling of the flakes in the stomach is what ultimately causes their death.

In either case, using instant mashed potatoes could be a good option for getting rid of mice in your home. This remedy requires the mouse to consume the flakes, meaning that if you have more than one mouse, they all need to have some potatoes for dinner to see the results. Once you do this, the mice typically will die within a day as they seek out water right away. You will need to find the carcass and properly dispose of it while wearing protection to ensure that your home remains sanitary.

The key benefit to trying this method is that it doesn't involve the use of any type of powerful poison, which could end up making your dog or cat sick — or even be ingested by a small, curious child.

To use potato flakes to get rid of mice, you just need to set the stage. Start with making sure all of your other food sources are inaccessible, as you don't want the mouse to have an easy time choosing something else to eat. Then, place a couple of tablespoons of the flakes on a paper plate. To entice these sweet-loving creatures to munch on them, add a bit of sugar to the flakes. You can also leave tiny bits of cheese or peanut butter nearby — these scents will draw in the opportunity seekers. Once they find the potato flakes, they will start to munch on them.

There are other natural remedies for getting rid of mice. For example, you can also use baking soda to kill mice, as it will create carbon dioxide within the stomach and cause the mouse to die. You can also mix artificial sweetener and peanut butter together and place this near visible mouse activity. The mice will consume this concoction, and the artificial sweetener will poison them.

For those who want another alternative, it is possible to set up humane traps for mice. These allow you to capture the mouse in the trap so you can release it somewhere else, such as a park nearby — though make sure this is legal to do there beforehand.