Most homeowners turn to mouse traps for addressing rodent infestation in their house, especially when the mice activity is still tolerable. Mouse traps are accessible, convenient, and cost-efficient. When done right, it also provides you with great results. Some homeowners would maximize mouse traps and use it more than once. It makes sense because the mouse trap is still in good shape, and it might be a waste to throw. However, there is debate if this practice actually helps or hinders the owners in trapping more mice.
So can you reuse mouse traps? A quick answer is yes, but there will still be risks depending on the type of mouse trap you use. You can reuse glue traps, but they may lose their efficiency as cleaning may wear the mouse trap. Some owners opt to use a reusable mouse trap for more long-term use, but you need to clean it thoroughly.
Can You Reuse Mouse or Rat Traps?
You may still reuse your mouse trap. However, you must know how much you think you can reuse a rat trap depending on its type. You can use rat traps that are reusable again. People choose these types of mouse traps for a more cost-effective option. However, reusable traps may also lose some of their efficacy if you didn’t use them right. Reusing rat traps, be it glue traps or other types, require intensive cleaning to avoid pathogens from contaminating your home.
Reusability of Mouse Traps
How often you can reuse mouse or rat traps depend on their types. Some of the types of mouse traps include electronic traps, catch traps, snap traps, and glue traps. The reusability of mouse traps typically varies from brand to brand but below are the estimates.
1) Electronic Traps
Electronic mouse traps can be quite pricey. Since electricity powers up this trap, you can also reuse this as many times as you need. Just be aware of your electric bills and the proper way of caring for them. You must keep this trap dry so it won’t break. This trap may not be reliable in areas with high moisture as it may cause a short circuit when the wirings start getting wet.
2) Catch Traps
Catch traps or live traps are perfect for those who are squeamish about killing mice or seeing dead mice. It’s also suitable for those who prefer reusing traps. Place nutty and sticky types of bait, and don’t put too much, A blob of peanut butter will work fine. Rodents have a keen sense of smell, so fresh bait with a meaty smell, like pet food will lure mice into your reusable trap.
3) Snap Traps
The classic snap traps are wooden snap traps that have 180 metal levers. This lever system snaps with a strong force that quickly kills mice. You can reuse snap traps, but you need to check them frequently. It is more convenient to use plastic snap traps than wooden ones because they will be easier to clean.
4) Glue Traps
You can reuse a glue board maybe once or twice, but they will lose their efficacy. It will be difficult to clean because the adhesion may melt, and the glue board may soften. Since you can’t clean it thoroughly, it may become a breeding ground for dangerous pathogens.
How to Clean Reusable Mouse Traps
You must always clean reusable traps. Cleaning your mouse traps also prevents the spread of bacteria and viruses from the dead mice. Here’s how to properly clean your mouse trap:
1) Prepare Materials
You need to wear gloves and other protective gear to protect yourself from pathogens. A mouse’s dead body contains lots of bacteria and viruses. Here are other things you need to prepare:
- shirt with long sleeves
- trash bag
- disposable sponge
- face mask
- enzyme cleaner
- disinfectant
You can make your disinfectant by mixing one part of vinegar with 10 parts of water.
2) Throw Dead Mouse
Wearing gloves, you must disinfect the entire area before picking up the dead mouse. Put it in a sealed trash bag. Follow policies in your city about disposing of dead animals.
3) Clean the Trap
Make sure that you are still wearing gloves. Wash the trap with water and scrub it well with soap using a disposable sponge. Wait to dry before you use it again.
4) Disinfect the Location
Don’t vacuum or sweep the place where the mouse was exterminated. This may cause pathogens to spread in the air. Use an enzyme cleaner to spray the entire space and remove the foul smell from the dead mouse. Let this sit for 15 minutes to let the cleaner break down the biological material present.
Use paper towels and disposable rugs in wiping the area. Clean the remaining body fluids or fur from the dead rodent. Spray more disinfectant to remove a more unpleasant smell.
Advantages of Reusing Mouse Traps
Reusing your mouse traps has its advantages, which is why some homeowners prefer doing it. Some benefits include their tried-and-tested results, cost-effectiveness, enticing scent, and eco-friendliness. If you think mouse traps work best for you, then go for them and purchase them from your nearest hardware store.
1) Tried-And-Tested
Since you may have proven the effectiveness of a mouse trap, using it again may give you the same successful results. Some people find reusing mouse traps better than trying out and buying a new one. Reusing the type of mouse trap you have helps save you the time to try others.
2) Cost-Effective
If the mouse trap still works fine, reusing it definitely gives you value for money. You save a lot of money by not buying a new trap while maximizing the use of the old one.
3) Enticing Scent
Mice may find the smell of old mouse traps to be enticing. They smell a familiar scent, which is why they will be more at ease in getting close to your trap. They will think that your device is safe because it has the smell of other mice.
4) Eco-Friendly
Reusing old mouse traps that work fine minimizes your waste. This is also a form of recycling that allows you to lessen by-products in your home.
Disadvantages of Reusing Mouse Traps
Of course, reusing mouse traps is not without disadvantages that cause it to lose effectiveness. Some drawbacks to getting mouse traps include messy cleanups, wearing and tearing of the traps themselves, and dirt and bacteria accumulation. If you figure that mouse traps aren’t for you, then it would be best to call the professionals: pest control services that can trace the root of the problem, exterminate the pests in your space, and even prevent the infestation from recurring.
1) Messy Cleanup
You may find cleaning up dead mice too disgusting for you to handle. Instead of just sliding it inside a trash bag, you will need to remove the dead mice and wash the trap thoroughly.
2) Wearing and Tearing
As you wash and reuse it, it will have more wear and tear. Mice would scratch their way out of the trap, too, so it would run down in time.
3) Dirt and Bacteria Accumulation
Rats and mice carry lots of bacteria and diseases, which is why you need to wash them well. If you do not wash it much, dirt, bacteria, and dangerous pathogens may build up.
Professional and Radical Pest Control at Midway Pest Management
Reusing different mouse traps has its pros and cons. If you choose to reuse your mouse trap, remember to do everything carefully and meticulously to avoid getting contaminated. But if you want a more certain and effective method of exterminating mice and rants, maybe what you need is a comprehensive pest control service.
Here at Midway Pest Management, we offer cost-effective and safe pest control services that will ensure you a pest-free home. We can also treat other pests, such as termites, cockroaches, bedbugs, and more. Go for radical pest control and contact us today for a free quote.
Learn More: The Best Glue Traps for Mice