VERMIN CONTROL

By Classic Car Restoration Club Editors

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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122 Responses to “VERMIN CONTROL”

  1. DAVID

    All those stories about Irish Spring soap and other nonsense is a waste of time. There is nothing that works better than the old spring type mouse trap. Put some peanut butter on the trip thing, set it by your car, and you'll have mice in no time. You can also smash a piece of Tootsie roll on the trip if you want more solid contact. I got 21 of those varmints this past winter.

  2. Mark

    Spraying peppermint oil in the car is the best thing I have ever tried. Did not have any problem last winter and I live out in the middle of nowhere!

  3. Brian

    We started having a problem in our garage a several weeks ago! We started leaving a bright light on a few days ago and so far no more vermin!

  4. john patalon

    There are available special made -up packets of herbal stuff that are pretty effective at repelling rodents at far]m and home and similar stores. they don't smell too bad either

  5. Bob Adcock

    Moth balls kept critters out, me out, too. Mothball oder was bad until the next spring. Used the dryer sheets, quit helping after awhile. Then came Irish Spring soap. Opened camper up, next "is the truth." On the counter was Irish Spring soap and a dryer sheet. The mice sat on the dryer sheet and nebbled on the soap. They ended up eating so much of the soap that their poop was green. Best peppermint oil not cheap stuff not enough oil. Say cinnamon works. Best I found was Peppermint oil t

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  10. 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 .