As the temperature dips and soup season rolls in, there’s one uninvited guest that tends to make itself at home too: the mouse.
Tiny, sneaky and surprisingly determined, these winter wanderers are usually after the same thing you are – warmth and a well-stocked pantry.
The good news? A few simple changes now can help keep your shelves crumb-free and critter-free all season.
Start with the snack stash
Mice have an excellent nose for food, especially dry goods left in paper or flimsy plastic packaging. Flour, cereal, rice and pet food are all fair game. Decant pantry staples into sturdy airtight containers – glass jars and sealed tubs work best. It instantly cuts off the buffet.
A quick sweep of crumbs matters too. The forgotten biscuit dust at the back of the shelf? Gourmet, according to a mouse.
Give your pantry a proper clear-out
Winter is a good excuse for a pantry reset. Toss expired packets, flatten old cardboard boxes and recycle paper bags. Clutter creates the perfect hiding spots, and mice love a dark, undisturbed corner where they can nest unnoticed.
A tidy pantry makes it far easier to spot signs of trouble early.
Check the gaps you’ve ignored
Mice don’t need much space to squeeze through – even tiny cracks around skirting boards, pipes or cupboards can become an entry point. Check around plumbing, under sinks and behind appliances for any suspicious openings. Seal what you can before the cold sets in.
Don’t forget outside: gaps in walls, roof edges and around doors often lead directly to the kitchen.
Keep the outside as tidy as the inside
Piles of firewood, stacked pots and overgrown shrubs near the house create easy shelter. Clearing these away reduces the chances of mice settling close enough to scout indoors.
Leaking outdoor taps and standing water can attract them too, so a quick once-over outside is worth it.
The tell-tale signs
If a mouse has already moved in, it usually leaves clues. Tiny droppings in cupboards, gnaw marks on packaging, scratching in the walls at night or a pet suddenly fixating on one cupboard door all deserve attention.
The trick is catching the signs before the nibbling reaches your pasta stash. A little prep now means your pantry stays exactly what it should be this winter: full of comfort food, not tiny footprints.
ALSO SEE: 10 FOODS YOU SHOULD NEVER STORE IN THE PANTRY
