Mouse-Proofing

[David BB 33]

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

David

[Tom Wesenberg]

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.

[Pete]

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

[billwill]

Irish spring bath soapfront ,back and trunk good luck

[Tom Wesenberg]

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.

[1crosscut]

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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!!!

[daveymc29]

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.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

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

[SeaSlugs]

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..

[H. L. Chauvin]

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.

[Big hammer]

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!!

[MikeK]

I let the cat pee in the garage. Haven't seen a mouse in years. As an added benefit, the smell keeps the wife out of the garage, too. When I was young I thought mothball scent was the cologne all grandmas wore.

[Ed Northrop]

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.

[CTH automotive]

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...

[JonC]

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.

[Keith True]

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.

[1931 flamingo]

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

[Res731]

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

[Fourd]

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.

[Terry, NJ]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

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

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