How to Deal With -- and Get Rid of -- Mice

Amanda Waas — 2011-03-28T10:00:00 00:00

Finding mice in your house is not only disgusting -- it's stressful! Here's how to deal, from the first moment you spot the little guys...

You're in your house, minding your own business, and out of the corner of your eye, you see a tiny blur. You immediately know what the blur is. It's a mouse.

Photo: Clinton Hussey, Corbis

Not only is it disgusting and awful to see a mouse in your home, you know that there's never just one. There's a whole family of mice somewhere, and that is quite frankly terrifying. So, what do you do?

Calm down: Try not to scream and cry and jump on top of the kitchen table like a housewife in a "Tom & Jerry"cartoon. The idea of having a mouse in your house is upsetting, but try to see the realities at hand. There's a reason why they call it "Pest Control" and not "Pest Get Rid of Forever" -- you've just got to take the steps to keep them at bay.

Clean everything: Cute TV mice have brainwashed us into thinking that they're cute and capable of accomplishing things most humans can only dream off. All of this is untrue. Mice carry diseases. If you see a mouse, you're going to need to clean everything. Use bleach and water to wipe down all counters and tabletops, and make sure you clean surfaces that don't usually get the attention they deserve -- dish racks and stovetops are two big ones.

Understand the mouse: Face it -- mice laugh in the face of your pathetic attempts to catch them. You'll set a trap and they'll steal the bait and not get caught. You wonder, "How is it that I paid so much money to earn a Master's Degree when I can't even manage to outsmart a mouse?" Don't be too hard on yourself. Mice are tricky. If your mouse had a Twitter account, he'd be tweeting at you all day long: "It was really hilarious watching you try to set that trap for 15 minutes!" or "Thanks for the peanut butter, LOL!" or "You think I only stay in the kitchen but I definitely don't!" He's taunting you. Try not to let them make you turn into Nathan Lane in "Mouse Hunt". There are worse things in life than a mouse hanging around. Promise.

Explore your options: There are a ton of different products on the market to help you to catch mice. Wooden traps, clothespin traps, glue traps -- someone is getting rich off of rodent infestations. Cool job, guy. Bet you get a lot of women. Anyway, while the newer models may work, your best bet is to stick with the original. Old school wooden traps with peanut butter as bait usually do the trick -- or check out a humane way to get rid of mice.

Prepare for the future: Also, remember this: Mice don't have exoskeletons, so they can squeeze themselves into any tiny crack or hole. Deny them access -- fill holes with plaster where you can. And where you can't, shove in some steel wool. Your baseboards will look like they're growing arm pit hair, which is always really attractive.

Call an exterminator: If none of these home-spun preventative measures take care of the problem, you're going to need to call an exterminator. Make sure they do a thorough inspection of the whole house, especially the garage and basement.

Feel better? Yeah, neither do I. But don't let it drive you crazy. Don't spend all of your free time sitting on the couch in silence, listening for the pitter-patter of rodent feet (or, as they say in The Night Before Christmas, "stirring"). It's not healthy.

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What You Need in Your First Tool Kit (and Why You Need It)

Amanda Waas — 2011-03-23T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Tools, Essential Skills, Know-How

Buying a pre-packaged tool set can lead to wasted money and unneeded tools. Instead, follow our writer's lead as she breaks down her first tool kit.

The tool kit, in all its glory. What's inside? Read on... Photo: Amanda Waas.

Some of you already have tool kits that could put Bob Vila to shame. Friends, this article does not apply to you -- but we do recommend you email it to any college students/new apartment dwellers/friends who aren't as naturally handy as you are. This is for those who keep their tool kits in the depths of the closet or in the Narnia known as underneath the kitchen sink. Even if it's not used every day, it should still contain everything you need! Here's a list of the essentials everyone should have in their arsenal, and why it matters.

Your first tool kit should have... a measuring tape.
So you ordered a new piece of furniture, but you didn't measure the space you were planning to put it in. Now it doesn't fit, and you have the awesome pleasure of bumping into it every morning on your way to the bathroom. This is a fate that could have been avoided had you overcome your laziness and pulled out the old tape measure before you bought the furniture. Lesson learned.

Your first tool kit should have... needle-nosed pliers: Electricians use these for cutting wires that are shoved in tight spaces. You can use them on teeny wires poking out of a lampshade or non-electrical accessories. And yes, to fix the broken clasp on the cheap necklaces you bought.

Your first tool kit should have... a box cutter: Put down the butterknife -- you need to stop dulling out your kitchen knives by opening your mail with them. The boxcutter is a great tool to keep handy. We promise: Your stress level will go down when you easily cut into your next package, instead of hacking at the mailing tape.

Your first tool kit should have... screwdrivers: You probably already know there are two types of screwdrivers: Phillips head and flat head. You should have both on-hand because you never know what type of screw you'll encounter. Whether you're going to tighten a loose door knob or attempt to put together a bookshelf, the screwdriver is probably going to be the item in your tool kit you'll get the most use out of.

Your first tool kit should have... a hammer and nails: You're probably not going to be doing much carpentry work, so the main use of the hammer and nails is going to come when you decide to buy something new to hang on your walls. Framed movie poster? Come on now. There are plenty of better options for wall art.

Your first tool kit should have... a level: Remember that time you hung up a painting and you got into a fight with your roommate/spouse about whether it was straight or not? You're perched on a second-rate step ladder and they're telling you things like, "A little higher on the left," and then, "Maybe a little higher on the right," followed by, "Um, maybe you should move it down?" The painting is either crooked or they are blind. You can avoid these Sunday afternoon arguments by picking up a level. It'll tell you how low or high the painting is and the bonus is that you don't have to have a conversation with your loved ones at all.

Your first tool kit should have... wire cutters: Since you can barely set the sleep timer on your TV, you're probably not going to be taking on any rewiring projects any time soon. But you should pick them up anyway. Why? Because you should approach your tool kit like you approach your love life: It's good to keep your options open.

Your first tool kit should have... a wrench: We promise, the first time you notice a loose nut and tweak it into place with your wrench, you'll feel infinitely proud -- and yes, embolded to take out that tool kit more often.

Now that you've assembled the perfect tool kit, you shouldn't have to pawn off all of your projects on assorted friends and loved ones. And if you're feeling ambitious, check out the must-have tools for 2011.

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DIY Life

How to Deal With -- and Get Rid of -- Mice

What You Need in Your First Tool Kit (and Why You Need It)