how to know if there s a rat or mouse in your house?

Mouse turds, signs of chewing or nesting, an unusual odor, squeaking at night...

If you suspect mice, don't bother with sticky traps. I've seen mice actively avoid them and I've seen mice caught in them that either starve to death (particularly if you leave for a weekend) or chew off their own limbs to escape. They are not humane.

Either get a trap that will allow you to release them, if you're into that, or will kill them immediately (the classic wood mouse traps work great for this - bait them with cheese slices or peanut butter).

To clean up a mouse's droppings, wear a mask or respirator and use rubber gloves. Mix a solution of bleach and water in a spray bottle and spray the area. Let sit for about five minutes and then wipe with paper towel. Remember that hantavirus can be fatal to humans and is usually contracted while cleaning up mouse droppings.

they are not very polite guests and leave their calling card behind or you find your favorite socks chewed up.

Yes, the little gifts...
Put out those sticky traps near where you suspect they are.
You'll be surprised what all you'll catch.

They leave "little messages" (turds) that are usually pretty easy to spot, and to smell....

When you wake up one morning and there's one at your bedroom door because one of the cats killed it! I honestly didn't know I had any but that mouse needed to be taken out of the gene pool because it was stupid for coming into a townhouse with two cats and a dog! Then again, maybe it was too smart for it's own good - my immediately adjacent neighbors have a disabled dog, so maybe that mouse thought all predators were that slow!! LOL!