How to clean mouse nests out of appliance burners
Mice pull apart insulation to build nests inside narrow appliance parts like gas stovetops, making them difficult to reach and clean out completely. Standard tools like tweezers, shears, or uncontrolled lint sticks struggle to grab all the hidden debris, leaving homeowners unable to clear out the remaining material safely.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- Most of it landed at once — the busiest month was September 2026, with 6 people.
- This comes up 32.5× more often in r/appliancerepair than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
How to clean mouse nests out of appliance burners
- 1Using shears and tweezers to pull out nesting material manuallyDid this help you?
- 2Calling for a professional repairmanDid this help you?
- 3Leaving the appliance as-is under the assumption that it is safe if it hasn't caught fire yetDid this help you?
- 4Using a long lint stickDid this help you?
- 5Disassembling the applianceDid this help you?
- 6Removing the burners and cooktop screws to access interior compartmentsDid this help you?
- 7Throwing away the appliance entirelyDid this help you?
- 8Using snap traps behind or under the stoveDid this help you?
- 9Placing glue boards in the lower broiler drawerDid this help you?
- 10Relying on a pet catDid this help you?
- 11Removed the mouse and put him outsideDid this help you?
- 12Started a new deep clean cycleDid this help you?
- 13Sealing the console in a plastic bag with rubbing alcohol-soaked cotton balls for several days so the fumes kill the insects.Did this help you?
- 14Placing the device in a storage unit and using bug bombs multiple times.Did this help you?
- 15Bagging the device tightly with silica gel desiccant packs for a couple of weeks to dry out insects and eggs.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I bought a long lint stick so it catches lints but because its not controllable i cannot gather and lints on my own.”source ↗
“It is so narrow to clean them and I just want to get all the lints out argh!”source ↗
“I started cleaning my gas stovetop’s burners this morning and when I removed the cover from the front (most used) burner I saw what looks like insulation material.”source ↗
“Could this be mouse damage where they tried to build a nest or something? I’m now wondering if I need to remove the entire top and vacuum it out.”source ↗
“I used an old set of shears and a pair of tweezers and here’s what I got out. I know there’s more in there though.”source ↗
“The range was infested by mice! I am removing the mice and will need to remove the poop and dried pee from the area under the cooktop so the odor doesn't attract more mice. (and it stinks!)”source ↗
“They have been living in the insulation in the walls of the range.”source ↗
“What is the best way to get rid of it?”source ↗
“Any suggestions on good traps?”source ↗
“Later when the cycle was done I saw a small mouse running on top of the clothes.”source ↗
“Idk how the mouse survive the cycle, but what do I do now?”source ↗
“So unfortunately I have roaches in my apartment and they’ve infected every crevice that they can.”source ↗
“So needless to say they’ve made a home out of my pride and joy my PS5.”source ↗
“I’m moving by the end of the week and I don’t want them to hitch a ride to my new apartment.”source ↗
“What can I do to evict them and assure that I don’t bring any to my new apartment.”source ↗
“I’ve moved out of a house that had roaches. I got a storage unit and have bombed it 3 times now but I’m still scared to bring my PlayStation to my new home. What should I do to guarantee they’re out of console?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 6How do you clean stuck crumbs near toaster heating elements?
- 7How to clean mold and swampy smells off a garbage disposal rubber flap
- 2How to get old magnetic whiteboard residue off a fridge
- 7How do you finally get rid of bird mites after removing a nest?
- 14How to get animals out of the attic without sealing them inside
- 14How to clean a heavily soiled oven without ruining the enamel