How to get mouse out of stove

I have a flat top GE NEW stove, and have since had a problem with mice. My husband took apart the back and tried to get into the space behind the front panel buttons but could not - there's a panel back there that doesn't allow access.

Is there room in there for a nest? Could they have come to me from the warehouse? There is a little space if I put my fingers up inside from where this little guy is coming/going and there seems to be a small shelf but it doesn't appear to lead anywhere inside the stove.

And I know already not to leave food out - but this was taken just minutes after breakfast this morning.

Q: When we turned on our gas oven after not using it for a while, there was a disgusting smell that a friend identified as mouse pee. We’ve dealt with the mice, but even though we thoroughly cleaned underneath and behind the stove, the smell is still there when the oven is on. Our friend says the mice got into the insulation and that we’ll have to buy a new stove. Is there anything we can do? If we do have to buy a new stove, is there a way to prevent this from happening again? — A.S., North Salem

A: Well, ick. I know that smell, and it’s a doozy. I called a few appliance specialists in Westchester for advice, but couldn’t find anyone who’d heard of such a problem. So I turned to Earl B. Feiden, a family owned appliance store in Kingston, Ulster County. The gentleman who answered the phone said my earlier contacts were “just being la-di-dah,” as mice moving into stoves is fairly common in rural areas.

Then he put me through to Tim in the service department, who elaborated. “If you live in the country, no matter how clean your home is, chances are you’ll have field mice at some point. They gravitate to a place that’s warm,” he explains, and the pilot light on a gas stove beckons your average rodent like a cozy fireside. The insulation that encases the oven is warm, too — a ready-made nest. Sadly, mice are not fussy about poo and pee in their homes, and once they’ve soiled the insulation, which they do on day one, “that smell is permanent,” Tim says.

If you’re handy, he continues, “you might be able to disassemble the stove and see how bad it is. On some models, you can take the side panels off; others you have to go down through the top. You may be able to remove the affected insulation without causing any compromise. Depending on the make and model, you can replace the oven insulation,” if the damage is widespread. If you’re willing to tackle this, you’ll probably have to disconnect the fittings, so it can be complicated, Tim notes. “Even for a qualified technician, it’s a time-consuming job.” One fairly quick possibility: see if there’s a removable metal protection plate directly above the bottom drawer — mice often nest there. 

If you’re forced to buy a new stove (which is likely), the best way to prevent a recurrence is to keep the mice out of your home. Tim says he’s not aware of any mouse-proof stove. He was also against the idea of covering the air intake holes behind the oven with window screen. “Those holes are designed for proper air flow,” he cautions. 

Mice can get through a quarter-inch gap, so block all possible entrances — like the tiny space around electrical and gas lines for example — with wads of steel wool. Rodents dislike peppermint, so cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil left on the floor behind the stove might help if a mouse gets in.

As with all other topics on the planet, the mouse-in-stove dilemma is being batted about online by fellow sufferers. One successful stove dis-assembler added new insulation and sprinkled it liberally with cayenne pepper to repel any future rodent. The smell of the cayenne pepper faded fast, he reports, and so far, so good.

Wait, did you just hear a squeak coming out of the oven or the dryer vent? Can mice live in appliances? They absolutely can. Appliances offer protected nesting spaces, heat, and often easy access to a food source. While this is a great deal for the mice, it’s not great for you. After all, mice don’t pay rent, and they can cause damage to your appliances and pose a health risk to you and your family. Here we cover how to identify if there are mice in your appliances and how to get rid of them. 

Signs of Mice in Appliances 

Have you heard scratching around your dryer? Or perhaps noticed some gnaw marks by the oven? Even if you don’t see them, mice may be living in your appliances. These are some telltale signs you are unintentionally hosting mice: 

• Droppings. Whether it’s a trail of tiny brown pellets or mounds of dried urine, mice will leave their waste all over. You’ll notice it heaviest in the areas where they spend the most time.  

• Footpaths. Smudges and footprints that create a trail around your kitchen or laundry room are another sign the rodents have made themselves at home. Gnaw marks are also an indicator along these paths. 

• Strong smell of urine. Mice urinate often because they use the strong, musty smell to establish territory. The smell is often confused with ammonia, but unlike the cleaner, it is anything but clean. 

• Mouse noises. If you hear scratching from inside your appliances, you probably have mice inside. You may also hear mice vocalizing in high-pitched squeaks. 

• Nests. Torn paper, stashes of stolen pet food or people food, or perhaps a ball of lint matted with mouse poop could all be signs of a mouse nest. 

• Appliance wiring damage. Mice chew everything, including wires. Avoid trying to fix this on your own, as you may put yourself at risk of electrical shock. Instead, rely on appliance repair professionals like our team at Mr. Appliance.  
    

How to Get Rid of Mice in an Oven  

Unfortunately, a mouse nest in the oven is far from uncommon. In fact, it’s one of the more popular appliances for mice to live in because there’s an ample supply of crumbs and a warm, cozy space to hide in. And if you find signs of a mouse in the oven drawer, you can almost be sure there’s a nest somewhere in the oven.  

Here are some steps for getting rid of mice in your oven: 

1. First, start lowering the population by placing traps in strategic areas. Mice reproduce extremely fast, so if your issue is out of control, you may need an exterminator to clear the nests out for you.  

1. Continue to discourage mice by keeping the house clean of crumbs and food spills.  

1. Next, find the holes that let mice in, and block them with wire mesh or caulk, as appropriate. 

1. Place cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil around the house, inside and out. This naturally repels rodents and could be a good extra measure to keep them away. 

Related Topic: The 5 Most Common Oven Issues to Watch Out For 

What to Do About Mice in the Dryer and Dryer Vent 

The dryer is the most common appliance to find a mouse in. Dryer ventilation system problems are usually to blame, such as holes in a vent hose, a loose or broken seal between the wall and the appliance, or a broken vent flap outside.  

To get rid of mice in your dryer or dryer vent, simply lure them out of the machine or vent with traps. Some traps come with scents that attract mice, or you can add bait, such as peanut butter.  

After you’ve done that, take measures to prevent future mouse problems. Wipe out your dryer and dryer vent endpoints with white vinegar to remove odors that could attract other mice. Use steel wool or caulk to block exterior cracks or holes that mice could get through. You also may consider installing critter-proof dryer vent covers. Finally, reduce lint around and in your dryer system, as mice love to use soft lint to cushion their nests. Vacuum behind your dryer regularly and get professional dryer vent cleaning at least once a year.  

How to Get Rid of Mice in the Washing Machine 

Another popular space for mice is your washing machine because the warmth of the laundry room is inviting. To get rid of mice in the washer, lure them out using baited traps, or hire an exterminator if needed. Then patch any holes around the drainpipe or anywhere else mice may enter. Don’t forget to thoroughly clean your laundry room to remove mouse smells.  

Potential Damage Caused by Mice in Appliances 

Besides the heart palpitations you might feel when you find a mouse in your laundry or zipping across the kitchen, mice can cause other damage like illnesses, appliance malfunction, and more. Mouse urine and feces not only smell horrible, but it can also carry various diseases like salmonella and hantavirus. Mice also chew constantly, which means it’s likely that they’ll chew appliance wiring and cause the machine to short-circuit, stop working, or become a fire hazard. 

If your appliances sustained damage from mice, our experts can help. To learn more, contact your local appliance pros at Mr. Appliance, schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (888) 998-2011 today. 

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