You might have spotted a mouse running around your house. But, can mice go into a closed refrigerator?
Here’s what I found out – Yes.
Mice are clever creatures that can get into a closed refrigerator by chewing the seal around the door.
Refrigerators are not the ideal place where a mouse should be going. So, why do they go inside a closed refrigerator?
Table of Contents
Why Do Mice Go Inside The Refrigerator?
Mice can get inside your refrigerator for many reasons. A mouse generally goes inside a fridge to find forage.
But they can stay there if the place seems habitable to them.
To Find Food
Mice can get into a fridge to find food for their colony.
It is during times when food is scarce, and they cannot find much food outside. Another reason is when they find too much food inside the fridge.
Mice need a lot of food, and a fridge is the best one to find it. The mice can chew through any type of packaging inside the fridge.
They usually are found in large freezers, munching on frozen veggies or packaged food.
To Find a Habitat
Mice can also get into the refrigerator if the living conditions near there are ideal.
Generally, being hot-blooded, they tend to live in warm areas. A refrigerator’s insulation or the area near its compressor is somewhat warm places.
These are comfortably warm and dark places for the mice.
They can find food easily from inside the fridge and can also find dripping water.
So, if they live inside or close to the refrigerator, they can find their forage and water.
For Security
The insulation or the compressor coiling provides them with a safe place to live in.
These places are far from the reach of humans and not easily found.
They also try to find a place that is dark. For example, under the fridge, and behind the fridge are the perfect place for them to hide.
They can nest there to have a constant supply of food.
Mice get into the fridge for their necessities, but how do they manage to get inside?
How Do Mice Get Into Refrigerators?
There are many ways by which a mouse can get inside a refrigerator. It can chew its way through or by the holes and weak points of a fridge.
They are intelligent enough to find a way.
A Broken Door Seal
Mice can go through the broken plastic seal around the door. If the seal is somewhat broken and has holes or openings in it, they can chew it.
They chew it until the opening becomes wide enough for them to fit.
In addition, they can now easily go inside and outside with that hole and carry food.
Through Plumbing and Airflow
Another way mice can get inside is via plumbing and airflow units.
The drainage pipes and cooling fan openings are situated at the back of the fridge.
They are generally covered with a plastic layer for protection. But mice can chew anything and everything.
They can destroy that plastic layer to make holes and crawl inside.
Cavity Liner
Refrigerators have so many weak points, as it seems now. To go through the Cavity liner, mice first have to get through the inner and outer shells.
The outer shell is made of metal, and mice cannot chew it. But, if the outer shell is damaged or rusted and has holes in it, it can easily get through.
The inner shell is made of much softer material and is easier for the mice to destroy.
Besides, the body structure, flexibility, and size of mice are in their favor. Mice can go through any holes that can fit their heads.
Mice spread diseases and are unhealthy to have near any food source. How can you get them away?
How Do I Keep Mice Out Of My Fridge?
When you are sure of mice in your fridge or have seen them getting in or out of the fridge, there are a few things you can do.
Locate Entry Points
The first thing you are going to do after finding a mouse infestation near your fridge is to locate entry points.
The entry points of your house as well as the entry points of your fridge. If holes or cracks are found, repair them.
But you can also fill the small cracks with cotton or mesh infused with peppermint oil.
Remember, these are temporary solutions to keep mice away while preparing for the actual repair.
You can use traps or bait to lure them out of their hiding places. Remove all the edibles from your fridge and set up baits.
They basically went there in search of food, so they would come out if they didn’t find any.
Sealing Your Refrigerator
Sealing your refrigerator is the best way to prevent mice infestation.
You can try sealing off the compressor and drainage, defrost drain, and cavity liner with much more secure material.
The door seal can also be mended, or a damaged one can be replaced with a new one.
The entry points of your fridge should be thoroughly checked and sealed.
Mice In Refrigerator Motor (What To Do)
The refrigerator motor is a warm and dark place. It is perfect for their nesting. To get them out of there, you can try the following steps;
Step 1
First, switch off the refrigerator and unplug it.
Step 2
Take out all the food from the refrigerator, followed by taking out the drawers and shelves.
Step 3
Discard the droppings and nesting materials from inside the motor.
If you find anything else, discard that too. There is a possibility of finding dead mice there. Remove them by wearing a glove.
You should always wear a glove while cleaning after mice.
Step 4
Thoroughly disinfect the whole area. Wipe the area with a disinfectant solution after spraying generously.
Step 5
Repair any entry points and holes to prevent further mice nesting.
Mice In Refrigerator Insulation (What To Do)
Another warm and dark place where you can find mice is refrigerator insulation.
Refrigerator insulation provides warmth from the compressors, and mice find it comfortable to live there.
You can follow the steps to get them out;
Step 1
As usual, unplug the refrigerator first.
Step 2
You have to call an electrician for this. The expert would then open up your refrigerator from the back.
Step 3
Look out for any kind of opening. A hole or a crack should be there if you suspect rodent infestation. Identify the entry point and seal it off.
Step 4
If needed, replace the old damaged insulation with a new one.
Step 5
Disinfect the whole refrigerator after taking out the shelves and disinfect them individually.
FAQ:
How Long Can Mice Survive Inside The Fridge?
Mice can survive for a pretty long time inside the fridge. They can spend their entire lifetime if not spotted and evicted.
Mice can survive inside a fridge because they have a regular source of food and water.
You can find them multiplying and making a nest inside the fridge just fine.
Can Mice Ruin A Refrigerator?
Unfortunately, yes, they can ruin your refrigerator. Just like other electronic appliances, they can destroy a fridge by chewing off the wires.
Not only that, mice droppings, urine, and overall mice infestation smell horrible.
Their habits may also lead to fire hazards and short circuits of the said appliance.
When Do Mice Go Inside The Fridge?
Mice are nocturnal creatures, and they hate being close to humans. So, they get inside the fridge when the humans are resting.
It doesn’t have to be night-time; they make a run for it whenever they feel they won’t be seen.
However, most of the time, they like to move at night.
Recap:
Mice can definitely go inside a closed fridge as it provides perfect nesting conditions for them.
Mice living inside your fridge are dangerous as they can spread many diseases.
The droppings, urine, and saliva while biting are extremely harmful to humans.
If mice sightings are regular around your fridge, you should take proper safety measures.
These can be prevented, however, by proper maintenance. If holes and damage are seen, they should be repaired immediately.
Finding mice in refrigerator motors or insulation is not surprising. But they should be taken care of, and disinfection of the entire fridge should be done.
Curious to know other facts about mice? Don’t forget to read if mice can live together or not!