There are more than 276 million registered vehicles in the United States. These can be a valuable lifeline for getting to work, running errands, visiting friends or family, and enjoying some time away from home. However, if you are going to enjoy it, you need to keep your car in good condition.
A rodent infestation can make driving your car distinctly unpleasant! In fact, rodents can spread over 35 different diseases so having them in your vehicle can be a serious health and safety issue.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to deal with a rodent problem in your car. Are you currently hosting a family of rats or mice in your vehicle? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Read on to find out everything you should do to get on top of a rodent issue in your car.
Clear Away Any Debris
Debris around your car makes the perfect home for rodents. They will hide inside rubbish or shred it up to build nests with. Even something like a gym kit in your boot can make the perfect nest!
Because of this, it’s a good idea to clear out any rubbish or debris from your car. Once you’ve done this, take a vacuum around to clear up any leftover mess. While doing this, you should wear rubber gloves in case you come into contact with rodent droppings.
Make Your Car a Food-Free Zone
After cleaning your car, try to keep the food and drink in your vehicle to a minimum. Even tiny scraps and crumbs will act as a feast for mice living in your car so ideally, you should make it a food-free zone. If you do have to eat in your car, make sure that you tidy up immediately afterward.
When it comes to pest control, cutting off rodents’ food sources is key. There are plenty of other places for rodents to forage for food, so if they can’t easily access it they’re more likely to move on.
Keep It Bright
Rodents also love to burrow into dark, comfy corners where they can nest. Keeping it bright in your car will make them feel less at home.
So ideally try to park your car out in the daylight. If you store it in a garage at night then leaving the lights on inside the garage will also help. Opening the hood of your car is a great way to discourage any rodents from nesting in the crevices of your engine.
Use Peppermint Oil
If you have a mice infestation, putting drops of peppermint oil around your car can make them feel less at home. Rodents have a very strong sense of smell, so they really hate this.
For this to work most effectively, put some oil onto pieces of cotton wool and place these around your car. The oil will lose its scent after a few days so you will need to keep topping it up. If you are replacing the cotton wool, make sure you remove the old pieces as these make great nesting material!
Look for Entry Points
In order to have a rodent issue, they need to be able to get in and out of your car. Some parts of your car, such as inside the engine, are more accessible than others. So it is hard to block these off completely.
However, it is always worth checking for ways that rodents have gotten in. If you find any holes around your car you should block these up with wire mesh. Mice can get through very tiny holes so even these will need blocking.
Buy a Deterrent Gadget
If peppermint oil isn’t working, you can also use electrical deterrent gadgets to ward off rodents. These give off a sound or vibration that rodents don’t like.
Fortunately, they are a frequency that doesn’t register with humans, so you won’t find them annoying. In fact, you’ll hardly notice them. You can also get motion-sensor gadgets which are great for scaring away rodents looking to nest.
Keep the Car Running
Rodents love homes where they feel safe from predators and that includes humans! Because of this, they often choose to nest in vehicles that have been standing empty. So if you have a car waiting to be sold or scrapped, it’s a good idea to check on it regularly.
Taking it out for a drive or just turning the engine on can be enough to deter rodents from living in it. After all, if they think they are going to be disturbed regularly, they’ll look for a home elsewhere.
Invest in Traps
If you are finding it difficult to deal with your mouse problem then it might be time to call in the big guns. When all else fails, traps are the ideal way to catch mice and other rodents.
Setting a few humane or snap traps around your vehicle is sure to deal with any furry friends who’ve made themselves at home in your car. Of course, you should check and reset these regularly. If you use a humane trap, be sure to release the rodent well away from your vehicle so they don’t find their way back!
Get on Top of Your Rodent Infestation Today
As you can see when it comes to a rodent infestation, there are plenty of things you can do to evict furry tenants quickly. It’s also worth keeping in mind some things that you can do to keep rodents at bay in the future. That way you only have to deal with them once.
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