We used to have mice getting in thru our kitchen slide and into the the drawer area under the kitchen counter (no food there) so I placed a pouch behind the bottom drawer. We also place steel wool where they were getting in under the slide. With that taken care of we now only keep a couple of pouches in the basement and that seems to do the trick. The only reason I can think of that they say don't place in your living area is that when the pouch is removed from it's packet the odour, though pleasant is very strong at first and may bother some people. It's supposed to be a non poisonous product. We have never again had a mouse issue after using this product.

Good Luck!