When you guys put the cars away for winter what do you use to keep mice away? I've heard mothballs work but they smell damn bad.
Thanks,
Brent
Thanks,
Brent
Storage question
- Thread starter Fanged03
- Start date
Moth balls do work, but I agree the smell can be a negative. Here is some more info for you. Should help.
The best way to keep a mouse out of a car is to keep him out of the building in which the car is housed. Make sure the building has a “rat guard” barrier that goes around the bottom of the structure and into the ground, preventing pests from burrowing in. If there are gaps on the bottom of the walls, fill them with steel wool. Keep doors and windows sealed as tightly as possible. Use metal collars or rubber gaskets to seal openings for electrical wires, fuel lines and pipes.
Keep food out of your building and cars. If there’s nothing for mice to eat, they won’t stick around. Don’t leave scraps or crumbs inside the vehicle. Vacuum the carpets, seats, under-seat area, console and glove box. Use probe tools to get at the petrified French fries on the side of the seat. Shampoo the carpets so they are squeaky clean and smell fresh.
Traps and poisons are a line of defense against unwanted furry visitors. They come in a variety of models and prices. They work, but remember that traps are designed to attract mice and then kill them. Keeping the mice away in the first place works best.
Cats kill mice, but cats also like to roost on cars and may leave claw marks in paint. Heavier cats can ruin convertible tops. Cats also require food that can actually attract mice, so keep them out of your garage/storage building.
In most cases, mice and vermin enter a car by scampering up the tires. If the vehicle is stored without tires, it is a bit harder for them to get inside. Tireless storage will also keep your tires from “flat spotting.”
Rodents can nest several places in a vehicle: the engine compartment, the interior and the trunk. They’re drawn to the warmth of an engine or heater motor. They will eat electrical wires and even spark plug wires. Recently a collector stumbled upon a simple way to keep an engine bay mouse-free – leave the hood up. After he inadvertently left his hood up, his mouse problem was solved.
Vermin can also get into cars through holes around cables, pedal shafts, steering columns and so on. If you can seal all these openings, mice can’t enter. Leave the sun visors in the down position. If you want to keep the windows slightly open for better airflow, cover the opening with screening.
Usually, these creatures can’t get into a trunk if you seal interior openings; they usually enter the trunk from the rear seat. Some cars have drain holes in the spare tire well. These holes should be taped.
Some people put mothballs on the floor around the car. The line of mothballs should have no gaps at any point. Other collectors place mothballs or scented soap in a cake pan inside the car to keep mice away. Mice don’t like the mothball smell, but neither will your friends. If you go the mothball route, eliminate the smell by putting a Yankee Candle under the seat on a hot day.
Zipper bags seal the whole car. There are two types. The first is a big plastic sack with a zipper. A second type is a plastic bubble supported by a curtain of air. The air pump draws little current and promotes better airflow. Both bags work well if you use them properly. The trouble is the hassle. You must be very careful not to trap moisture in the bag. While the air-curtain type won’t trap moisture, it does require electricity.
One final step in fighting rodent infestation is to make spot checks every couple of weeks. If you see droppings or notice that unpleasant mouse smell, the steps you have taken so far aren’t working. In this case, the first thing to do is to get rid of the mice. Then you’ll need to protect the vehicle from being re-infested. If you inspect the car on a regular basis, you should be able to remedy the problem before damage is done.
The best way to keep a mouse out of a car is to keep him out of the building in which the car is housed. Make sure the building has a “rat guard” barrier that goes around the bottom of the structure and into the ground, preventing pests from burrowing in. If there are gaps on the bottom of the walls, fill them with steel wool. Keep doors and windows sealed as tightly as possible. Use metal collars or rubber gaskets to seal openings for electrical wires, fuel lines and pipes.
Keep food out of your building and cars. If there’s nothing for mice to eat, they won’t stick around. Don’t leave scraps or crumbs inside the vehicle. Vacuum the carpets, seats, under-seat area, console and glove box. Use probe tools to get at the petrified French fries on the side of the seat. Shampoo the carpets so they are squeaky clean and smell fresh.
Traps and poisons are a line of defense against unwanted furry visitors. They come in a variety of models and prices. They work, but remember that traps are designed to attract mice and then kill them. Keeping the mice away in the first place works best.
Cats kill mice, but cats also like to roost on cars and may leave claw marks in paint. Heavier cats can ruin convertible tops. Cats also require food that can actually attract mice, so keep them out of your garage/storage building.
In most cases, mice and vermin enter a car by scampering up the tires. If the vehicle is stored without tires, it is a bit harder for them to get inside. Tireless storage will also keep your tires from “flat spotting.”
Rodents can nest several places in a vehicle: the engine compartment, the interior and the trunk. They’re drawn to the warmth of an engine or heater motor. They will eat electrical wires and even spark plug wires. Recently a collector stumbled upon a simple way to keep an engine bay mouse-free – leave the hood up. After he inadvertently left his hood up, his mouse problem was solved.
Vermin can also get into cars through holes around cables, pedal shafts, steering columns and so on. If you can seal all these openings, mice can’t enter. Leave the sun visors in the down position. If you want to keep the windows slightly open for better airflow, cover the opening with screening.
Usually, these creatures can’t get into a trunk if you seal interior openings; they usually enter the trunk from the rear seat. Some cars have drain holes in the spare tire well. These holes should be taped.
Some people put mothballs on the floor around the car. The line of mothballs should have no gaps at any point. Other collectors place mothballs or scented soap in a cake pan inside the car to keep mice away. Mice don’t like the mothball smell, but neither will your friends. If you go the mothball route, eliminate the smell by putting a Yankee Candle under the seat on a hot day.
Zipper bags seal the whole car. There are two types. The first is a big plastic sack with a zipper. A second type is a plastic bubble supported by a curtain of air. The air pump draws little current and promotes better airflow. Both bags work well if you use them properly. The trouble is the hassle. You must be very careful not to trap moisture in the bag. While the air-curtain type won’t trap moisture, it does require electricity.
One final step in fighting rodent infestation is to make spot checks every couple of weeks. If you see droppings or notice that unpleasant mouse smell, the steps you have taken so far aren’t working. In this case, the first thing to do is to get rid of the mice. Then you’ll need to protect the vehicle from being re-infested. If you inspect the car on a regular basis, you should be able to remedy the problem before damage is done.
Last edited:
A mouse trap baited with peanut butter works for me. Have caught numerous mice and never any in the cars.
Fred
Fred
That would work Fred. The goal, of course, is to keep mice out of the storage facility (ie. a garage) to begin with. 
CobraBob said:That would work Fred. The goal, of course, is to keep mice out of the storage facility (ie. a garage) to begin with.
Impossible with my garage door and rubber seal at the bottom. they manage to sqeeze under it.
Fred
Those little rascals!! They also sell triangle shaped tube traps that have a stickly base. I have two in my garage even though I don't have mice. They're placed just inside the garage door on either side. I guess mice normally travel along the garage edges when they enter. You might want to check into them. Pest control companies use them.
Users who are viewing this thread
