What Attracts Mice To Your Home? 9 Common Causes (And How To Stop Them)

Mice don’t move in by accident. In many South Carolina neighborhoods—including across the Pee Dee and Grand Strand—mice come into houses for the same three needs: food, water, and shelter. If your home provides any of those (even in small amounts), it can become a repeat stop.

If you’ve recently spotted activity, start with this blog post: If You See One mouse, Are There More? explains why a “single mouse” often isn’t the full story.

In today’s post, we’re identifying nine common things that attract mice to homes in our region, plus straightforward fixes most homeowners can tackle right away.

What Attracts Mice to Homes: A Quick Summary

​Mice are attracted to homes that offer easy food, moisture, warmth, and open entry points. In the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas, pet food, bird seed, crawlspaces, humidity, and small exterior gaps are some of the most common reasons mice move indoors. Reducing these attractants early can help prevent repeat mouse activity before it turns into an ongoing problem.

1) Easy Food: Crumbs, Pantry Spills, and Accessible Snacks

Mice can survive on surprisingly small amounts of food. A few crumbs under the toaster, cereal dust in the pantry, or a snack left in a backpack by the door can be enough to keep them coming back.

What homeowners can do

• Wipe counters and sweep kitchen floors nightly (especially around the stove and trash can).
• Store cereals, grains, and snacks in hard containers (plastic is better than paper; glass or metal is best).
• Clean under appliances and in the back corners of cabinets—mice love “quiet zones.”

If you’re dealing with roaches too (which often overlaps with food-access issues), apply these tips for a cockroach-free kitchen.

2) Pet Food and Pet Water Bowls

Pet food is one of the most common attractants we see in homes. The smell carries, the calories are high, and bowls are often left down for hours.

What homeowners can do

• Feed pets on a schedule and pick up bowls after mealtimes.
• Store pet food in a sealed container with a tight-fitting lid.
• Check laundry rooms and mudrooms for open kibble bags, treat containers, and spilled food.

3) Bird Seed, Backyard Feeding, and “Free Buffet” Yards

Bird feeders and scattered seed are a major mouse magnet. Even if you don’t see mice at the feeder, they can collect what birds drop on the ground.

What homeowners can do

• Use a catch tray (or move feeders farther from the home).
• Sweep spilled seed weekly (more often in winter or rainy periods).
• Store seed in sealed bins—not paper sacks.
• Avoid feeding birds on your property.

4) Grills, Grease, and Outdoor Cooking Areas

A grill that hasn’t been cleaned in a while can smell like a guaranteed meal. Grease drips, leftover food scraps, and crumbs around outdoor seating areas can attract mice (and other pests).

What homeowners can do

• Scrape and clean grill grates regularly.
• Keep a covered trash can near outdoor cooking areas (but only if you empty frequently).
• Don’t leave pet food outside on porches or patios.

5) Cardboard, Clutter, and Storage

Mice don’t just want food—they want cover. Clutter creates safe nesting spots. Cardboard also provides nesting material and is easy to chew.

What homeowners can do

• Replace long-term cardboard storage with sealed plastic totes.
• Keep storage off the floor when possible (especially in garages and utility rooms).
• Reduce undisturbed “stacked corners” in garages—mice love quiet piles.

If you’re trying to confirm activity, check out this article: Signs of Rodents (Mice and Rats).

6) Warmth and Shelter (Especially During Cold Snaps)

Cold weather doesn’t kill mice; it often pushes them indoors searching for a winter retreat. As temperatures drop, mice look for stable warmth: wall voids, attic insulation, and behind appliances.

If you notice a spike in activity when the weather swings, read: How Cold Snaps Affect Rodents in South Carolina homes.

What homeowners can do

• Focus on exclusion (sealing entry points).
• Check garage doors, door sweeps, and weatherstripping.

7) Moisture: Leaky Pipes, Condensation, and Damp Areas

Mice need water. That can come from obvious leaks—or subtle moisture like condensation under sinks, HVAC drain issues, or humid crawlspaces.

What homeowners can do

• Fix dripping faucets and slow leaks ASAP.
• Dry out under-sink areas and address condensation.
• Use a dehumidifier in damp spaces where appropriate.

Moisture attracts lots of pests, not just rodents—this article on the role of moisture in attracting pests explains why damp homes tend to have recurring issues.

8) Crawlspaces, Attics, and “Quiet” Zones Homeowners Don’t Check Often

In the Pee Dee and Grand Strand, crawlspaces are a common entry and nesting zone. Once mice establish a nest in an undisturbed area, they can travel through wall voids and along plumbing lines.

What homeowners can do

• Inspect crawlspace vents, access doors, and small gaps around plumbing.
• Keep insulation and vapor barriers in good condition.
• Don’t store fabric, paper, or seasonal items directly on crawlspace/attic floors.

For practical “where they hide” guidance, see Top Rodent Hiding Spots in South Carolina Homes.

9) Unsealed Entry Points (The #1 Reason Mice Keep Returning)

Even if you remove food, mice will keep trying if entry points are open.

Common “missed” areas include:

• Unsealed gaps around plumbing under sinks
• Openings where AC or cable lines enter
• Garage door corners and worn weather stripping
• Tiny gaps around crawlspace doors
• Worn door sweeps

What homeowners can do

• Walk the outside of your home and look for holes or gaps along the foundation line.
• Seal small openings; use steel wool and other durable pest-proofing materials where needed.
• Don’t forget the garage—mice love garages because they provide cover and food storage.

When “Attractants” Aren’t The Whole Story

If you’ve addressed the attractants above and still see activity, you may already have:

• A nest inside walls, attics, or crawlspaces
• Multiple entry points
• Repeat pressure from nearby vegetation or local habitat

If you’re finding evidence indoors, it helps to confirm what you’re seeing. Here’s our local guide to Mouse Droppings in South Carolina (What They Look Like and What To Do).

And if you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with mice or rats, this comparison guide can help: Mice vs Rats: How to Tell the Difference.

When To Call Harris Pest Control

If you’ve already noticed signs of mice, it’s a good time to get help. Consider calling for professional rodent control if:

• You’re hearing scratching or movement in walls or ceilings
• You’ve seen droppings more than once, especially in different rooms
• You’ve caught one mouse, but activity or signs keep returning
• Your home has a crawlspace or attic that’s difficult to inspect safely

For many homeowners, this is also when they decide ongoing home pest control makes more sense than reacting to one mouse at a time. A professional inspection helps identify entry points and pressure areas and allows a home pest control plan to address both current activity and future prevention.

If you’re in the Pee Dee or Grand Strand, Harris Pest Control offers residential pest control plans designed to keep mice and other house-infesting pests from becoming a recurring problem. You can get started by reaching out through our contact page.

​Frequently Asked Questions About Mice

Do clean homes still get mice?

​Yes. Even very clean homes can attract mice if there are entry points, moisture issues, or quiet nesting areas like crawlspaces, attics, garages, or wall voids.

​How quickly can mice cause damage inside a home?

Mice can begin causing damage within days of entering a home. They chew wiring, insulation, and stored items almost immediately and can contaminate food and surfaces through droppings and urine.

​Is DIY mouse control effective long-term?

DIY traps can catch individual mice, but they often don’t address entry points, nesting areas, or ongoing pressure. Without exclusion and inspection, activity commonly returns.

​From Guessing to Getting Rid of Mice for Good

Mice problems often turn into trial-and-error—catching one mouse, cleaning up, then finding new droppings a week later. That happens because mice are usually nesting out of sight and entering through multiple hidden openings.

Harris Pest Control doesn’t just inspect for mice; we eliminate them and help prevent them from coming back.

Our approach combines a thorough inspection with targeted treatment and exclusion, so the focus isn’t just on the mouse you see, but on the activity you don’t. By identifying entry points, nesting areas, and pressure zones around the home, Harris addresses the full problem instead of offering a temporary fix.

Serving Florence, Myrtle Beach, and communities throughout the Pee Dee and Grand Strand since 1973, property owners can rely on our local pest pros to eliminate mice. Reach out today!