Mouse-Proofing
 

Has anyone had any luck keeping the mice away from the wiring and upholstery when the car is put away for the winter?

David

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Yep I use mothballs under the seats and in the trunk, as well as near the garage doors. I also use mouse traps baited with peanut butter. Cats are hard to beat for mouse control.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

I use dryer sheets. They keep our local mouse population away.
Moth balls work also but I don't like the smell.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Irish spring bath soapfront ,back and trunk good luck

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It must be only a certain brand of soap and dryer sheets, because I've seen mouse nests made from dryer sheets, and I've had mice chew up my bars of soap that I used to keep in my car.

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I recall a while ago one on the members on Ford Barn said that on occasion durning the "storage" season he would go out to the garage and fire up his car, leave the building and let it run for a while. Take a deep breath slip in and shut it off and get out. I would think that would take care of any resident mice.
Don't do this with an attached garage!!!

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Cost me a thousand dollars to get the 89 truck smoked because the rats got to the engine wiring and more. Now I fill the valley with moth balls and park away from hedges and ivy. I also try to feed the neighbors cat on occasion, just some treats to make it look around my place also.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

If you have an attached car house, a Rat Terrier, like me, will solve ANY RAT:eek: or MOUSE:eek: problem! (Snakes:eek: are included @ NO extra CHARGE)
Buster T.:cool:

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

when my friend movied into thier new house out back was an older prebuild garden shed. opened it up to put his riding mower in it and saw about 4 mice scurry around. Needing to deal with the house stuff he decided to put it in anyways and mess with it tommorow.

Anyways as life does he left it alone for about 2 weeks, went to mow the yard , opened the door to the shed and immediately and slowly closed the door. Saw a 5 foot black rat snake curled around the steering wheel and on the seat. Hasn't had a mouse problem since! Hasnt seen the snake either...

so yea id say install a cat or install a snake in the garage...cat may pee on things or get fur everywhere but a snake wont, may take a nap on the warm engine tho..

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

FWIW:

When mice or rats are chewing on wiring, upholstery, wood, & even plastic shotgun shells, this is a very positive sign that without a doubt, they already have enough neighborhood intermittent "nutritional" food to survive, but just not enough to satisfy their appetites.

We cannot control our neighbors from feeding rodents, but we can keep dog food, garbage cans, etc., & anything that has a food odor "out" of our Model A garages, except for a generous supply of "fresh" Mice & Rat Poison like d-con.

When d-con get old, it is totally useless.

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I went to hardware store to get moth balls and young lady said we sell something for keeping mice out of cars. I bought it and use it, smells like moth balls!!

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Bounce dryer sheets and Irish Spring soap sliced up works well one year I did not do this procedure and they made a nest in my car, I would say it helps.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

I've had good luck with the dryer sheets. They just don't last longer than a season. Keeping all "food" sources out of the garage, and cats are also very effective. I try to check my vehicles halfway through the season too, maybe add some more sheets....Oh, better head to the barn...:)

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

I use moth balls placed in a plstic dish inside and under the cars, I also use mouse spring traps with peanut butter but after changing them out 20 or so times I just hope the moth balls do the trick. Problem is it takes forever to get rid of the moth ball smell.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

I have had bad experience with the dryer sheets too.Turns out I was just buying the mice blankets.They built their nests with them.The best thing I have used is the rat zapper trap,or it's Victor equivalent.It only takes a mouse or two in a shed to make you think you have a herd of them in there.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Mothballs on the garage floor and in a plastic bag in the car and then dryer sheets.
I like the m/ball smell.
Paul in CT

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

I have 2 cats which control mice and chipmunks. Just put a litter box in the garage if they start peeing.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

If you don't like the mothball smell use a repellant called Fresh Cab. It is made from Balsam Fir oil and works great and smells great.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Hey Bill! glad to see you and Buster are back! Terry

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Maybe they were taking a bath with the soap and using the sheets to dry off.http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Just pull the plug and be done with the little pests!!!!!!!!!!!!!


http://i58.tinypic.com/2hhhklw.jpg

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Welcome back bill, hope your feeling better. I like to collect a few hedge apples to put in the garage in various places, they don't like those.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

I get rid of them with this.. them suckers haul ass out

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Isn't it ironic that Walt Disney chose the most destructive rodent on earth to make into a hero.:mad::confused:

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

In Minnie's book, "Living with a Rat Bag", she didn't have kind words for Mickey either. :D

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

I've used D-Con poison for 30 years in unheated garages with easy access for mice. Never a problem.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

love the pics:::nice documentation
you'll never go hungry LOL.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Hi David,

Mr. CP in reply #27, no doubt shares a common sense message that most will never understand.

After 30 years, he knows that there is ....... and there never will be ....... no such thing as rat & mice "Extermination".

The proper term is rat & mice "Control."

Really, not any different from our friendly Political Rats ....... we can "Control", most; but, never "Exterminate" them.

Concentrate on offering D-Con to the very first rodent that enters your garage, because he/she is seeking food and/or a place to dwell.

If he/she finds either, he/she leaves a trail that other rodents can smell to lead them to either join in the banquet ..... or enjoy the comfort of their the newly found Holiday Inn.

D-con is the best "Control" factor ....... get rid of the first rodent, & their is no inviting trail for others to smell.

Rodent "Control" can be thought of as being similar & as beneficial as political "Term Limits", i.e., these first "new" rats will not stay long in your garage.

Just trying to write it as ""Food for Thought" so Forum members can remember how our friendly rodents operate.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

In Wisconsin I always used mothballs. Haven't had to use anything in NC until this year. I am trying dryer sheets, don't know if they will work, but will see if I see any sign of mice this spring (although I've had the car out all ready this winter). So far haven't seen any sign of them critters.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Try Bay leaves under the seats.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Well I'm new here so here goes....but having had another old car for years I too use D-Con and Dryer Sheets but I have found .....and here is where I get in trouble....shall we say.... relieving one's self after a couple of beers around the entrance doors to the garage will, without a doubt, help keep mice away. We humans, being sophisticated types, tend NOT TO LEAVE OUR SCENT anymore. Pee around the building apparently is VERY frightening to not only mice but other critters as well.

I hope I'm not banned from the club. There is a sink in my basement!!!!!

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wonderd if natures softballs had a purpose...:p i know farmers hate em because they make cows sick when they eat em...

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I have a large Ginger Tom named TJ :)

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

Are we talkin' about the horse apples from the BEAU D' ARC trees? They are widely used for fence posts in Oklahoma. If you "plant" a post, shortly after harvest, it will grow into a tree, shortly! They have a beautiful GOLDEN wood & big BAD thorns!
Bill W.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

its those big green hard as a rock thing you find along the road the mice definatly don't like them

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

OH! NOT to be confused with ARMADILLOS:D
Bill W.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

They are very hard on the forehead, just ask my cousin, she stepped in front on one once, long long ago.

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

The mice seemed to hoard D-Con under the back seat of my Fordor in the long New England winter. Probably ate their fill and saved the rest for later.

I've had luck with a deterrent called Mouse Magic. It's oversize teabags of peppermint and spearmint potpourri. You have to replace them every other month or so. Amazon sells it.

John

Re: Mouse-Proofing
 

We used these in our barns to keep them completely mouse/rat free.
Not sure how to insert the link...

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86383

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86383