VERMIN CONTROL

QA-Mouse-1

Q:

I have a problem with rats and mice getting into my cars and eating wire harnesses, vacuum hoses, and spark plug wires. Do you have any ideals about what to do? They are getting to be an expensive problem! Bob Hemling Atlanta, GA

A:

I’ve heard many remedies for this, but the two I see come up more than any other is mothballs and dryer sheets. A more recent cure states cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil keeps the mice away and leaves your car minty fresh smelling. Mothballs are the traditional method, and mice can’t stand the smell of them. Unfortunately, not many people like the smell either. The dryer sheets have more appeal because people aren’t offended by the aroma. Just place a few sheets inside the car, and maybe a couple under hood and underneath the car as well. Tossing one in the trunk wouldn’t be a bad idea either. There are multiple ideas for effective bait traps as well, but they are detailed and I don’t have the room to expand on the subject here. If I were you, I’d try the dryer sheets first, and see if they don’t work to keep the critters away from your rides. If they don’t, let us know. I’m sure other Members have dealt with this same issue successfully, and will offer their ideas too. Mark Simpson Managing Editor

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113 Responses to “VERMIN CONTROL”

  1. Glen

    I have used moth balls for years. Yes it take awhile for the smell to fade but in 30 years I have never had a problem .

  2. Alan Saxe

    Leave lights on rats mice hide undercover of darkness.

  3. MILT

    Irish Spring bar soap and lavender soap from the $doh (dollar store) ;) work for me.

  4. Steve Swendsen

    GrandpaGus.com sells mouse packs you place wherever. Scented packs last a long time and smell nice and work great for me in my toy hauler I keep parked on my back lawn near the woods ! Stays mouse free !

  5. Ken Honnig

    I have been in the pest control industry for over 35 years. I have never seen these old wife's tales work. The ONLY way to guarantee you don't get rodents in your car is to kill them on the outside of the building or car before they get in. Once they go thru getting in it is to late, Would a smell make you leave your home? Set up tamper resistant bait stations around your garage or at each wheel if car is outside. Inspect once a month and refill with poison. Better yet CALL A PROFEFFIONAL.

  6. John

    Just buy a mouse trap on ebay. It is the one that sits on top of a 5 gallon bucket. Use some peanut butter as bait. I had a real problem with mice getting i to my house, garage and cars. I bought two of them. I ended up moving them around my property to catch more mice. When I first put them oit there, I was catching 10-15 mice a night. Now 1 if I am lucky. No more mice problems!

  7. Jim

    I use dryer sheets under the hood,trunk,and interior. i also place dryer sheets at the front and rear of the tires and on top of them. You can also buy, if needed, charcoal activated moisture controller plastic containers that you can find at most dollar stores. You remove the plastic lid, peel off the foil seal, and place one or two in the interior and trunk. They really work. When it's time to get the vehicle out, just toss them out. Amazing the amount of water in them at the end of the season. I also use Tomcat sticky traps along the perimeter of the garage. I put them in the corners and along the walls. Those little buggers can get in through the tiniest of openings. Another idea, if you store your gas grill in the garage, is to thoroughly clean it inside and out. The faintest smell of food or grease will attract them. The dryer sheets should be replaced when the scent fades.

  8. m embree

    I had little success with either Best results were Cat

  9. Tony Moller

    I have heard that plug in sonic repellers work also ! I actually have then in several locations around my house and have not heard any mince chewing in the walls since installing them. If you are using a trickle charger on your car/cars during storage and have outlets near the cars or are using an extension cord (use a multi plug adapter) with it and plug in a sonic pod.

  10. David Harvey

    I use a combination of dryer sheets spread around inside the cabin, the trunk, and under the hood, along with Tomcat rodent repellant (a peppermint oil spray) sprayed in a continuous ring/circle around the vehicle. As others have said, the dryer sheets need to be replaced periodically and the Tomcat spray also should be refreshed as needed.