Mice are small rodents that can find their way into homes and become a nuisance. They may crawl onto beds in search of food or nesting material. However, there are steps you can take to deter mice from coming onto beds.
Why do mice come on beds?
There are a few reasons why mice may come onto beds:
- Looking for food – Mice are attracted to crumbs and spills. If you eat in bed or have food nearby, it can attract mice onto your bed.
- Seeking warmth – Mice like heat, which a bed provides. They may crawl under covers or pillows to stay warm.
- Nesting material – Mice will use soft materials like sheets, pillows, mattresses to build nests for raising young.
- Security – Being off the ground makes mice feel safer from predators. Beds provide an elevated space.
Do mice commonly come on beds?
It’s not extremely common for mice to come onto beds, but they may occasionally venture onto beds for the reasons mentioned. Mice prefer to stay hidden in dark corners, walls, and small spaces. However, if a bed is near an active mouse nest or food source, mice are more likely to come onto beds in search of food or nesting sites.
How to keep mice off beds
Here are some tips to deter mice from coming onto your bed:
- Eliminate food sources – Don’t eat or leave food crumbs in your bed. Keep pet food and human food stored tightly in chew-proof containers.
- Keep the area clean – Vacuum and mop floors regularly. Mice are attracted to crumbs and spills.
- Inspect bedding – Check sheets, mattresses, and pillows for signs of chew marks or droppings.
- Seal cracks – Use caulk and weather strips to seal any openings where mice can enter near the bed.
- Use deterrents – Place cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil or place dryer sheets around the bed legs.
- Set traps – Use humane traps or snap traps around the bed legs to catch mice.
- Get a cat – Cats can help deter mice from an area.
Signs mice have been on your bed
Look for these signs that mice have visited your bed:
- Droppings – Look along sheets and mattresses for small black or brown droppings.
- Urine stains – Mice urine will fluoresce under UV light.
- Chew marks – Inspect wood frames, headboards, and bed legs for teeth marks.
- Nests – Look for shredded materials, cotton, fabrics that mice used for nest building.
- Musky smell – Mice secrete an oily residue that gives off a musky odor where they travel.
Risks of having mice on beds
Allowing mice on beds poses some potential risks and concerns:
- Disease – Mice can transmit diseases through urine, droppings, or bites. These include salmonella, hantavirus, and leptospirosis.
- Asthma & allergies – Mice urine and droppings contain allergens that can trigger asthma and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
- Property damage – Mice will chew and gnaw on wood, fabric, insulation, and wiring, causing costly damage over time.
- Contamination – Mice droppings and urine make textiles, mattresses, and bedding unsanitary.
How to sanitize a bed after mice
If mice have been on your bed, you’ll want to clean and sanitize it. Follow these steps:
- Wash all bedding on the highest heat setting allowed for the material.
- Vacuum mattresses thoroughly to remove all debris, droppings, and dust.
- Use disinfectant or enzyme cleaner on mattresses and allow to fully dry.
- Steam clean mattresses and box springs to kill bacteria.
- Discard pillows or cushions that cannot be thoroughly cleaned.
- Seal all mattresses and pillows in allergen-proof covers.
- Replace mattresses or bedding if extensive contamination, chewing, or soiling has occurred.
Conclusion
While uncommon, mice may occasionally come onto beds while seeking food, warmth, or shelter. Practicing good sanitation, sealing entry points, removing food sources, and setting traps can help deter mice. If mice do access your bed, promptly and thoroughly clean and disinfect your mattress, bedding, and surrounding area to remove allergens and minimize disease risks.