Key Points Seal off any possible entry points with steel wool and caulk before the first hard freeze.

Keep your kitchen clean and clutter-free. Don’t leave out dishes, crumbs, trash, or food overnight.

Applying peppermint oil around your baseboards is also an effective way to deter mice.

Home kitchens are cozy places in the winter. We often find ourselves cooking more this time of year in preparation for the holidays, which generates warmth and delicious aromas.

Unfortunately, mice also take pleasure in these two things.

“Once winter comes, rodents start looking for food, warmth, and shelter, and your kitchen ticks all these boxes since it’s one of the warmest spaces in your house,” says licensed exterminator Allan Bossel. “It’s where they can find steady sources of food, water, and shelter.”

Taking a proactive approach is the best way to ensure there are no mice crashing your Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings. Here are seven natural ways to make your kitchen seem much less appealing to mice this winter.

Meet the Expert Jason Napolski is the owner of A-Tex Pest Management.

is the owner of A-Tex Pest Management. Allan Bossel is an operations expert and licensed exterminator with Bed Bug Exterminator.

Seal Any Holes

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Bossel’s number one tip for keeping mice out of your kitchen naturally is to seal off any possible entry points.

“Go around your home before the first hard freeze and look for spots where you can see daylight and seal them,” he says.

“This is usually around dryer vents, plumbing, and electrical conduits. Insert steel wool or copper mesh in those open areas before sealing them with mortar or caulk to ensure rodents won’t be able to chew through them.”

Another spot to pay extra attention to is the bottom seal of your garage door. Bossel notes that a worn-out rubber strip is one of the most common mouse entry points he finds in homes.

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Keep Your Kitchen Clean and Crumb-Free

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According to Bossell, even a few fallen crumbs under your stove or a cereal box you left open is enough to keep mice around for weeks.

Each night before bed, implement a closing routine for your kitchen. Take out the trash, sweep the floors, wipe the counters, and ensure your sink is free of food debris and dishes.

Keeping your kitchen clean overnight is important, since these rodents are extra active during these hours.

Declutter Your Kitchen

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A tidy kitchen with clean surfaces is much less appealing to mice than one with clutter, because clutter makes for great shelter.

“The clutter we usually overlook, like the grocery bags, cardboard boxes, or storage bins, serves as the perfect nesting place for mice, and they can stay hidden here during the day,” Bossel says.

As soon as the seasons start to shift, it’s a good idea to purge and organize your kitchen so you can get it down to just the essentials.

Seal Up Your Food

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As it turns out, decanting your dry goods and snacks into sealed containers isn’t just for looks. Both Napolski and Bossel stress the importance of storing food in heavy-duty plastic containers to keep mice away.

But it’s not just cardboard cereal boxes and open sugar bags that you should take care of. Napolski also warns against leaving out baked goods or fruit that’s extra ripe.

He suggests investing in a bread box and eating or disposing of fruit before it becomes too ripe (the strong smell may motivate mice to go after it).

Put Away Your Pet Food

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It’s not just human food that mice find appealing. Pet food can be a major magnet for mice, and water bowls are a great water source for them, too.

That’s why Bossel suggests putting away your pet food bowls every evening (bonus points if you wash them). Make sure you are storing your pet food in an air-tight container as well.

Apply Some Peppermint Oil

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Peppermint oil is a surprisingly effective mouse deterrent, and it’s safe to use around pets and babies. Napolski recommends dripping some along your baseboards to make your kitchen disorienting for mice.

“This works because mice excrete urine as they travel to create a scent trail that they can follow back to their nest, and peppermint oil has a strong odor that can disorient them,” he shares. “As a result, mice might be more inclined to leave and avoid an area that they can’t easily navigate.”