Car storage and rodents

[elonblock]

What products have worked best in preventing mice from making a home in your car while in storage? And where do you place or use the products? Inside, or outside the vehicle?

Thanks!

Elon

[Woj]

I've heard that an exposed bar of soap in the car will do this. I do it every year. So far no rodents. I keep a bar of soap and a box of charcoal in each trunk and interior.

Also, another member here told me several years back to lower the sunvisors. The critters like to perch on there then eat into the headliner.
That is where I've seen most headliner holes, just above the visors.

Phil Woj.

[markjohnson]

I've always heard (and had good luck so far) with scented fabric softener dryer sheets thrown into car. I also try to keep those glue traps close to garage floor walls. I know them lil' bastards are around too because I've actually seen them scurrying through the grass when I mow the lawn and my next door neighbor is always complaining about them being in his house actually.

[Pulnaway]

Its funny that this be brought up now. I just pulled our vett out of a long storage to start the restoration and the aircleaner..outside of the filter was full of bird seeds.

[x Baldwin Motion]

I put moth balls in the ashtrays, and especially around the boot where the mice can get up around the shifter hole. Also use those little bags of mice "food" (last meal I would guess) just inside the garage doors where they may get in through cracks.

[mmcporter]

I take a multiple angle approach - I put Ivory Spring soap on top of plastic store bags in the trunk, each footwell and under the hood. In the garage itself, I put the poisonous food that will kill the mice should they ever get in. I plugged in an ultrasonic "noise maker" repellant also, but don't really believe it helps much.

[JRSully]

I actually let my cat into the garage on a very regular basis and have her crawl all around the cars, it gets her scent eveywhere, which the mice don't like. So far, so good, not a hint of rodents anywhere

[427.060]

Irish Spring soap slivers and/or Bounce dryer sheets.
James

[396L35]

I hang moth balls in old nylon stockings and it seems to keep the mice and spiders away.

[BARRY]

i have put irish spring soap in my car to find the bars half eaten

[David Billingsley]

Recently had squirel's eat into the main wiring harness above the transmission on a 2011 3500HD Duramax, what a mess. turns out the harness insulation is made out of a soy product, what were Chevrolet Engineers thinking ??

[Big Block Bill]

That sounds about right. The local Chevrolet dealer (Hoskins Chevrolet) had a brand new Volt get it's main cables eaten through by squirrels (they are located directly accross from a forest preserve) the first week it was @ the dealership causing about $4,000.00 in damage. They were told by GM that when the cables are manufactured, they use peanut oil to release them from the molds. Another great design in engineering..... "But it gets great gas mileage"

Bill

[elonblock]

I appreciate your input. I am helping a friend who just became the caretaker for 3 antique cars and a Falcon. He will be grateful to know there is an easy solution.

If you have any other suggestions not already mentioned, please keep them coming.

Elon

[69 Post Sedan]

I had a Hydrostream boat years ago, I would have blue plastic shrink wrap installed on it and store it outside in the country. I used to put dryer sheets in it and never had any issues with rodants.

Kurt

[Dusk Blue Z]

Elon, I would just put the Falcon on a perch, that should take care of any rodents.

[miket1]

Bounce dryer sheets, lay them inside each tire on the floor, and lay them inside the car, trunk, & on the engine, they work very well.

[WILMASBOYL78]

As Sammy can tell you...we use the "sleeping bags" for winter storage...they are actually called "Car Jackets"...HD vinyl bag that zips shut....they come in several sizes. Besides the normal maintenance stuff...we use the dryer sheets and the small de-humidifying silica bags...charcoal in a pan also works well, too.

If you would like a more natural or organic approach...
For a &quot;small&quot; fee Sammy will come over with some aged Provolone...the mice will follow him anywhere <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

wilma

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BARRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i have put irish spring soap in my car to find the bars half eaten </div></div>

Those damn leprechauns! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[L89DRMR]

Good one about the Falcon on a perch! LOL.

[jannes_z-28]

You should also plug the exhaust pipes and aircleaner snorkles. Rodents like to build their nests in there.

Jan

[BARRY]

i have heard put a rubber snakes around the car will keep mice out . and put a box of open kleenek in the car the nice will live in it

[Rixls6]

I have a rat under the hood of all my cars.........not sure if a dryer sheet is gonna get them to leave. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

[Igosplut]

I've had more experience with this you can count. Bars of soap: Tried this (with Irish spring and others). I'd put in an old sock (yet another suggestion) and they chewed on it. Dryer sheets: Tried this with bounce and other brands (both used and new, some people insisted that it had to be one way, or the other. put 'em everywhere, outside the car, inside.... They made nests out of them. Spearmint/peppermint bags: Agway sells this stuff called &quot;Mouse Magic&quot;. Guys here SWEAR by this stuff, and it's smells like....well spearmint, so it's not offensive like mothballs. They chewed the corners off of those, so nobody told them that they didn't like it....

Moth balls. Now these do work, But... they stink obviously, and besides melting away over a few months, the amount of them spread around just stinks too badly for me to ever put them in my car. I do put them in a lawn shed where I keep the mowers. They kept making nests on top of the magnetos (shoulda seen them scrambling out of the cover when I started it, I admit...savage amusement,yes...) Got so sick of it that I'd raise the engine cover and put a quarter box right on top of the mower. But it's so overpowering that you can't take a deep breath inside there, but no mice..

So that left me with traps. The best one that is for multiple mice is the 5 gallon bucket/paper towel roll/peanut butter home-made style. If you don't know what I'm referring to, Here's (http://www.kountrylife.com/content/gal1017.htm) a link to a picture. I use W/S washer fluid (no stink) but for real cold weather you could use antifreeze. This worked great for me, with the exception of a small cement-block garage I have on my property. They wouldn't touch it in there, so I had to revert to regular mouse traps that you set/bait, and it breaks their dirty little necks. In there, I line six up on either side of the car (baited with peanut butter) and they never get by all of them (as sometimes they're lucky enough to be able to clean the bait out of one or two).

So if other stuff works for you then more power to you. But it never did for me....

[XXXGoldL34M20]

My secret weapon against rodents is Febreze Fabric refresher &quot;Auto&quot;
Rodents hate the smell but after you store the car and get in the car in the spring, it smells nice as it also eliminates bad odors.

I give my carpet a good spray of this stuff and thats it.

[m22mike]

I agree 110%, Creamy Jiff (my brand of choice)and good old wooden traps. I keep some set right at the base of the roll up garage doors where the chipmunks chewed holes in the seal.
For the chippies I used a rat trap <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif happy hunting.

[ORIGLS6]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Igosplut</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use W/S washer fluid (no stink) but for real cold weather you could use antifreeze. </div></div>

NEVER, EVER, EVER use antifreeze if you have pets and care about them!!!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif

[69 Post Sedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XXXBlackLs6M22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My secret weapon against rodents is Febreze Fabric refresher &quot;Auto&quot;
Rodents hate the smell but after you store the car and get in the car in the spring, it smells nice as it also eliminates bad odors.

I give my carpet a good spray of this stuff and thats it. </div></div>

What do one do if they low end cars that only have rubber floors??? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Kurt

[69 Post Sedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rixls6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a rat under the hood of all my cars.........not sure if a dryer sheet is gonna get them to leave. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif </div></div>


<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[XXXGoldL34M20]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69 Post Sedan</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XXXBlackLs6M22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My secret weapon against rodents is Febreze Fabric refresher &quot;Auto&quot;
Rodents hate the smell but after you store the car and get in the car in the spring, it smells nice as it also eliminates bad odors.

I give my carpet a good spray of this stuff and thats it. </div></div>

What do one do if they low end cars that only have rubber floors??? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Kurt </div></div>
Kurt you need to buy a high end car with carpets like a 70 LS6 or spray your cloth seats<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[SS427]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ORIGLS6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
NEVER, EVER, EVER use antifreeze if you have pets and care about them!!!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif </div></div>

The topic has been broached before and I strongly concure. Don't use anti-freeze or even some windshield washer fluids without protecting your pets from access to them. Read here.

Don't let this happen to your pet (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/290752/Searchpage/1/Main/27375/Words/antifreeze/Search/true/Re_A_better_mouse_trap#Post290752)

[BJCHEV396]

I keep a couple of baited T-REX traps in the garage.Work great.For sale on Ebay.

[wagonman]

If you can,putting the car on a 4 post lift is a good method.

[x Baldwin Motion]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Igosplut</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.....Moth balls. Now these do work, But... they stink obviously .... </div></div>


I've gotten used to the moth balls and THEY DO WORK, throw in a couple of &quot;Little Green Trees&quot; come spring time and your set.

* also the wife and kid can't stand moth balls so that keeps them out of my car for the first few weeks of spring also <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

[Igosplut]

I'm well aware of the dangers to pets. My dog has no access to the cement garage as it's detached. The thing is, I've brought the dog to work (auto repair shop) for the last ten years. She has the run of the place, but stays mostly in the office. We don't leave antifreeze uncovered as a rule, but she has never been attracted to it at all (yes we do watch). Also, my Snap-On dealer has a lab that makes the rounds with him I asked him if she ever went near any antifreeze (she runs through most everybody's shop on arrival) and he said the first six months he'd watch her, and anytime she got close he'd tell her &quot;No&quot;. He said she's never shown any interest since. And again, back in the day I worked at a gas station that had guard dogs. I can never recall any special precautions that the owner took other than not leaving drain pans uncovered. The five gallon bucket trap would be very hard for a dog to get it's head into given the rod/towel roll through the top center. And you could very easily make something to cover the top (chicken wire, etc) so there is only access for the mice.

[Igosplut]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: x Baldwin Motion</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Igosplut</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.....Moth balls. Now these do work, But... they stink obviously .... </div></div>


I've gotten used to the moth balls and THEY DO WORK, throw in a couple of &quot;Little Green Trees&quot; come spring time and your set.

* also the wife and kid can't stand moth balls so that keeps them out of my car for the first few weeks of spring also <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif </div></div>

My problem is that I'm so irrationally mad at the mice from past experience I'm more inclined to put half the box in......

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Igosplut</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: x Baldwin Motion</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Igosplut</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.....Moth balls. Now these do work, But... they stink obviously .... </div></div>


I've gotten used to the moth balls and THEY DO WORK, throw in a couple of &quot;Little Green Trees&quot; come spring time and your set.

* also the wife and kid can't stand moth balls so that keeps them out of my car for the first few weeks of spring also <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif </div></div>

My problem is that I'm so irrationally mad at the mice from past experience I'm more inclined to put half the box in...... </div></div>

I know what you mean. A couple years ago in the late Fall, a frikken field mouse moved an entire bag of grass seed from my garage into the interior of my Gramma's Firebird. He was so morbidly obese that he looked like a tennis ball with legs. Of course, I was not fast enough to catch him and accidentally kneeled on the center of the driver's seat and promptly heard a riiiiiiiiip as the center seam tore down the middle like a perforated piece of paper. Needless to say, i built a Maginot Line of mouse traps throughout the entire car and eventually got him.

It took five years to find the NOS saddle material to fix the center insert. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif

[69PACE]

I have had better luck with the regular sent Bounce sheets. Get the largest box and pepper the interior with them on the floor in the defroster vent and heater duct, which is their favorite nesting spot at the base of the heater output then store tons of the neighbors dog food in the y connector. I place them also under the seat on the and under the rear. In the glove box, console, and the trunk, in the cowl induction hood and air-cleaner. And in the tail pipes - yes they made a nest one year there. Half way through winter you will need to replace them to keep squatters out.

I tried the cat solution but my cat is not that hungry to be effective and I hate the idea of his paws all over my paint. I tried mothballs but they left stains. I tried soap but it got messy.

[1969L78Nova]

Don't forget to turn the sun visors all the way down and away from the headliner. If not mice will find their way up there and they will chew a hole in the headliner.

[njsteve]

I went to Lowes and bought a bunch of the old fashioned mouse traps last week. I have already caught a mouse a day for three days, in the garage and the attic. The 3 cats have dibs on the inside of the house. We always know when they have a prisoner. I hear the kitten making a horrendous vibrating purr/growl that sounds like a cellphone set on vibrate, sitting an snare drum. Then the fun comes when we have to chase the kitties to do a prisoner trade to get the mouse from them and release it outside...after it signs a promise to never return.

[Keith Tedford]

From personal experience, mothballs neither worked in our cottage nor our cars. We've had no problem since using bounce dryer sheets. Use lots of they. They are not very expensive. I also keep warfarin down 12 months of the year and have had no problem since.

[hiperf406]

At the local farmers supply store they have a produce called &quot;Fresh Cab&quot;. You put in your car &amp; the smell keeps varmints out.It smells like strong Potpourri so not a terrible smell. Used it for couple years &amp; it works good.





70 LS6
68 Z28

[Keith Tedford]

One other thing, if you are in the habit of eating anything in the car, make sure that you vacuum ALL the crumbs out. Nothing like food to attract the rodents.