Do you know that mice, rats, squirrels, and different rodents may cause HUGE injury to your motorhome, RV or camper? Actually, only in the near past a buddy of mine had her journey RUINED as a result of a mouse chewed her gasoline line.
That will help you keep away from the identical drawback, we’ve put collectively this information on the BEST mouse deterrent for campers to guard your van from rodents, and different ideas and residential treatments you may wish to strive too.
Don’t overlook to seize your FREE motorhome upkeep guidelines under to ensure you get all of your checks achieved.
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Mice in Your Motorhome – The Downside
Till you’ve found a mouse in your motorhome or campervan, it’s tough to elucidate the injury they’ll do.
We discovered mice in our motorhome a few years in the past, after we’d been wild tenting in Scotland. That they had eaten into ALL the dried meals (together with the pet food) and had destroyed my folding yoga mat to make a nest below the fridge.
To say it was a multitude is an understatement.
The Harm {That a} Mouse Can Do to Your Motorhome
Nonetheless, it seems we acquired away flippantly.
Again in 2023, I met a buddy of mine referred to as Leah up in Scotland and we have been planning a route across the North Coast 500 with our motorhomes.
We acquired barely an hour north of Edinburgh, and she or he stated she might scent diesel. After we stopped, diesel was POURING out… and we found {that a} mouse had chewed via her hose.
Sadly, this meant she needed to be towed again and missed out on all the journey. 🙁
We wish to provide help to keep away from this trauma.
We’ve rounded up the perfect deterrents to maintain mice, rats, squirrels, snakes and different rodents out of your motorhome, campervan, caravan or RV, plus some pure or house treatments which you’ll choose up from anyplace.
Watch the Harm Mice Can Do to Your Motorhome or Camper
In case you’d wish to see the video of our Scotland tour, together with discovering the mouse injury, right here you go:
We hope you discovered the video helpful. In case you did, we’d adore it if you adopted us on Youtube. New movies with ideas for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe are launched weekly.
How Do Mice and Different Pests Get into Your Van?
Because the temperatures drop, the animals begin in search of someplace heat to make their nests… and your van is the PERFECT place (particularly if there’s meals saved inside too.)
So be ESPECIALLY cautious in the event you’re motorhoming in winter or planning a UK winter street journey– you’re extra more likely to entice undesirable friends!
Mice have two high skills- they’re small they usually’re nice at climbing. This implies they’ll and can discover entry factors into your camper, even in the event you suppose it’s too excessive off the bottom for them.
They will enter by ducts, exterior vents, holes in roofs, flooring or partitions, tubes, aerial holes and the commonest choice is that they climb the tyre into the engine bay.
Different pests and bugs can get entry by way of:
- Actually tiny openings between panels or outdoors (resembling the place pipes go via)
- Cracks within the flooring or air flow holes
- Via doorways, home windows or hatches left ajar
How Do You Know if You’ve Received Mice or Pests in Your Motorhome?
The Biscuit check!
In case you’re shutting down your van for the winter, and wish to know if any unwelcome ‘friends’ have moved in (I don’t imply the in-laws!), then put a bit of biscuit on the ground of your van once you go away it.
If it’s nonetheless there once you come again, you will be fairly certain you’re secure from pests and rodents in your van.
If it’s not… ?
Shutting down your motorhome/ camper for winter?
Seize your FREE winter shutdown guidelines right here
The best way to maintain mice out of camper throughout storage or parking?
The simplest approach to keep away from injury to your camper from mice or rodents is to not allow them to in within the first place.
You are able to do this by:
- sealing all factors of entry (though you’ll nonetheless want some for air flow)
- utilizing rodent scarers and deterrents
- not storing meals in your van, particularly in decrease lockers
- maintaining your camper clear inside
- Not storing meals or leaving garbage baggage outdoors your van to take to the bin within the morning!
How do I maintain mice or bugs out of my RV camper within the winter or in storage?
Most undesirable pest ‘invasions’ occur over winter or when your van isn’t getting used usually.
It doesn’t at all times must be in storage. Leah’s van was broken after she wild camped subsequent to a loch in Scotland!
However the majority of rodents discover a approach into automobiles which aren’t getting used loads. To assist cease this, you’ll be able to match issues like exterior vent covers, seal up filling factors and even placing a canopy in your van will help.
How do you retain mice from climbing into your van?
It at all times surprises me simply how HIGH these critters can leap and climb. Tyres, standing, awnings- you title it, they’ll climb it.
If you wish to cease mice from climbing up your tyres, you’ll be able to wrap rings of sheet steel round your tyres, jack stands or the rest you don’t need mice to climb up! Make the rings a few foot tall and no mouse will have the ability to scale it.
What’s the Greatest Mouse Deterrents for Campers and Motorhomes?
There are a number of issues you are able to do to discourage mice from selecting your van. The primary choices are:
- Sprays with important oils (like Peppermint)
- Ultrasonic Pest Repellents (Battery, plug-in or 12v variations)
- Humane traps
Residence treatments and sprays with Important oils
Peppermint oil is the commonest type of rodent deterrent we’ve heard of, and is the perfect pure treatment too.
Mice apparently hate the scent of peppermint, in order that they gained’t go close to the van.
Lavender and eucalyptus has additionally been recognized to have the same impact.
The best way to Use Peppermint Oil to Repel Mice
A very powerful issues is the power of the mix- the stronger the scent, the extra poor Mr Mouse doesn’t prefer it.
Nonetheless, with important oils, it is advisable to think about
- Your well being situations
- Pets you may have
Some individuals can react badly to important oils, so use slightly to begin with and construct up. Additionally, ensure you put them someplace a pet can’t drink or chew them. ]
To make use of Oil with cotton balls to repel mice in your van
Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and put throughout your motorhome or RV. In case you put them in a jar, ensure that the lid xis off.
After all, you’ll have to replenish and substitute the oil/ cotton wool pretty frequently.
To make use of oil with spray- for exterior use
In a 400ml spray bottle, add the peppermint oil drops and water. Make this as potent as you want. You’ll be able to add approx. 10-15 drops to 400ml for a robust combine. Shake effectively to combine collectively.
Spray onto across the parameter of your van on the bottom outdoors. It will create a scent barrier that the mice won’t wish to cross. Do that as soon as every week or after heavy rain.
However in the event you spray round your van beneath, this could assist with not having it dilute/wash away with rain.
Use the Oils and Spray for Inner use
Create a weaker spray (use 3-5 drops of peppermint oil per 400ml). You don’t need it too sturdy, particularly in the event you’re travelling with canines.
Spray this onto areas the place there’s an inlet or gap into the van.
CAUTION: Don’t spray onto something the place there’s going to be direct heat- this spray is oil based mostly and flammable!
In case your van goes into storage for winter, you could possibly most likely make a stronger mixture of the interior spray and go away it there while you’re not utilizing your van.
Does Peppermint Spray Actually Preserve Mice Away?
Apparently so! Many individuals have used this spray with success- so it’s price making an attempt.
Greatest mouse deterrent for campers- pre-made sprays
In case you don’t wish to make your individual, you should buy pre-made sprays
Ultrasonic 240v pest repellents
These are extensively offered, however have very blended evaluations they usually’re not the perfect resolution to maintain mice away from motorhomes or RVs.
For a begin, they require energy, which shall be a continuing drain in your motorhome leisure battery.
Subsequent, they don’t work immediately, however work over time, by emitting totally different frequencies of ultrasonic waves to annoy the nervous system of bugs and rats. This makes the pests really feel uncomfortable in order that they transfer away.
Intermittent adjustments in ultrasound frequency stop them from growing immunity and adaptableness.
They’re purported to be imperceptible to people, however many individuals have reported feeling complications or listening to high-frequency noise.
They can be utilized outdoors or inside (relying on the mannequin), so will be fitted into engine bays or below the van.
12v or Battery Operated Rodent Scarers
It’s additionally potential to purchase 12v or battery-powered variations of those rodent scarers. These will be simpler to suit, however it is advisable to bear in mind to alter the batteries or that there’ll nonetheless be a drain in your battery.
Personally, we used these in a storage a couple of years in the past and didn’t have nice success, however be happy to try to see in the event that they be just right for you. That is the best rated one on Amazon.
Notice: These are designed for effectiveness over a prolonged time period and are NOT an prompt repair.
Mothball Sort
One other scent mice don’t like is mothballs, so contemplating placing a few of these round your van.
Different scents rodents don’t like embody; vinegar, clove oil and cayenne pepper.
Do dryer sheets maintain mice out of camper?
Apparently so! Within the UK, we don’t use dryer sheets as a lot as they do in America, however many individuals have steered them as an incredible resolution to repel mice in your RV or motorhome. Once more, you’ll want to interchange frequently to take care of effectiveness.
Humane Traps
When you have an current drawback with mice or rodents in your van, you may wish to use a humane entice to catch them.
Lastly- the BEST Mouse Deterrent for Campers, Motorhomes and RVs…?
Get a cat.
I’ve by no means ever heard of a motorhome or RV proprietor who travels with a cat who’ve a cat who has an issue with mice of their van. Co-incedence? I feel not…
Many because of Leah for her pictures and ideas when scripting this put up. Observe her on Instagram
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Final replace on 2024-07-12 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photographs from Amazon Product Promoting API
