Mice problems

This past spring, when I removed one of my cars that I kept stored in an out-building, I discovered it was completely inhabited by mice. There were nests in the trunk, interior, engine compartment and up the muffler. There was even a nest in the glove compartment. Needless to say, the stench was overwhelming. After I removed all the mice (live and dead), along with their nests with my shop vac, I purchased special mice urine enzyme spray neutralizers and soaked the entire car. However, nothing removed the odor. I finally stripped the car, scrubbed down all metal surfaces, washed (multiple times) all the rugs, treated the leather and replaced all the under mats. I finally got the car back together the other night. Ok, the question is what works on keeping mice out of cars during storage short of getting some cats? Any first hand experiences out there? I heard mothballs work, but I hate that smell almost as much as mice urine.

 

I had a similar problem when I bought my QV - "stored" in a farmer's shed. They didn't get into the cabin, but everywhere else. Take the front trim out from the spare tyre carrier and check your HVAC pipes - they're fabric and paper, and I bet they're all chewed up with dead bodies, crap, grass and corn cobs everywhere.

Also take out the carpet in the boot and check the insulation in the boot floor and firewall (you can see it through the fibreglass) - they love to chew the cellulose wool and make tunnels through it.

I stripped out all of the above to bare metal, cleaned, deodourised, and left it in the hot sun every chance I got for months. That was 3 years ago - I've replaced the boot padding and carpet, but still haven't got the HVAC back together yet.

Good luck

Patrick

 

I put little boxes of decon around the car and inside. Keep checking on them and renew as needed. Never had a problem. Oh also place a bucket of water away from the car and empty it every few weeks. After they eat the decon they look for water and die.

 

Mothballs don't work. Dryer sheets don't work. Irish Spring soap doesn't work.

The only thing that works is eliminating the existing population and excluding new arrivals.

 

I have delt with a lot of mouse infested cars. I found a product called Fresh Cab, it's a rodent repellent that smells like a christmas tree. Mice cannot stand the smell, it actually smells good. For a car in storage you can place these large tea bag sized containers in the interior, engine compartment and trunk. I have customers that place them anywhere they think mice could be getting into thier storage area. So far they seem to work extremely well.

 

http://www.earth-kind.com/

Has anyone used it?

 

I just ordered a 3 months supply of Fresh Cab - $37.50. Cheap price compared to what I spent rectifying the damage done by the mice. I'll keep you posted as to its effectiveness. I'd get an outdoors cat, but it would probably end up using the car as a litterbox.

 

TomCat rat poison (http://www.tomcatbrand.com/) in a dish by your car .. but be sure you keep it where no pet can eat it.

 

It might work- I wouldnt bet on it, and would pay that $$ for evergreen oil. Thats what it is, basically. many complaints on that product .

Also, dont nedd to buy Tomcat Brand- all these brands carry same active ingredient- dicoumarin (or similar blood pooling agent). its an anticoagulant that makes them bleed internally. Its old , low tech, but effective stuff. Buy Brand X.