Do you know that mice, rats, squirrels, and different rodents may cause HUGE injury to your motorhome, RV or camper? The truth is, only in the near past a good friend of mine had her journey RUINED as a result of a mouse chewed her gas line.
That can assist 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 suggestions and residential cures you would possibly need to strive too.
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Mice in Your Motorhome – The Drawback
Till you’ve found a mouse in your motorhome or campervan, it’s tough to elucidate the injury they’ll do.
I discovered mice in my motorhome a few years in the past, after I’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 underneath the fridge.
To say it was a large number is an understatement.
The Injury {That a} Mouse Can Do to Your Motorhome
Nevertheless, it seems we received away calmly.
Again in 2023, I met a good friend of mine referred to as Leah up in Scotland and we had been planning a route across the North Coast 500 with our motorhomes.
We received 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 by means of her diesel hose.
Sadly, this meant she needed to be towed again to Edinburgh and missed out on the complete journey. 🙁
I need to show you how to keep away from this trauma.
I’ve rounded up the most effective deterrents to maintain mice, rats, squirrels, snakes and different rodents out of your motorhome, campervan, caravan or RV, plus some pure or dwelling cures which you’ll decide up from wherever.
Watch the Injury Mice Can Do to Your Motorhome or Camper
In the event you’d prefer to see the video of our Scotland tour, together with discovering the mouse injury, right here you go:
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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 when you’re motorhoming in winter or planning a UK winter highway journey– you’re extra more likely to entice undesirable friends!
Mice have two high skills- they’re small and so they’re nice at climbing. This implies they’ll and can discover entry factors into your camper, even when you assume 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 most typical 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 (corresponding to the place pipes cross by means of)
- Cracks within the ground or air flow holes
- By way of doorways, home windows or hatches left ajar
How Do You Know if You’ve Bought Mice or Pests in Your Motorhome?
The Biscuit check!
In the event you’re shutting down your van for the winter, and need to know if any unwelcome ‘friends’ have moved in (I don’t imply the in-laws!), then put a chunk of biscuit on the ground of your van while you go away it.
If it’s nonetheless there while you come again, you might be moderately certain you’re protected 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
Learn how to maintain mice out of camper throughout storage or parking?
The best option 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
- preserving your camper clear inside
- Not storing meals or leaving garbage luggage 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 all the time need to 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 means into automobiles which aren’t getting used rather a lot. To assist cease this, you may match issues like exterior vent covers, seal up filling factors and even placing a canopy in your van may also help.
How do you retain mice from climbing into your van?
It all the time surprises me simply how HIGH these critters can bounce and climb. Tyres, standing, awnings- you identify it, they’ll climb it.
If you wish to cease mice from climbing up your tyres, you may wrap rings of sheet metallic round your tyres, jack stands or anything you don’t need mice to climb up! Make the rings a couple of 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 principle choices are:
- Sprays with important oils (like Peppermint)
- Ultrasonic Pest Repellents (Battery, plug-in or 12v variations)
- Humane traps
- Gentle underneath your van
Residence cures and sprays with Important oils
Peppermint oil is the most typical type of rodent deterrent we’ve heard of, and is the most effective 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.
Learn how 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.
Nevertheless, with important oils, it’s essential contemplate
- Your well being circumstances
- Pets you will have
Some folks can react badly to important oils, so use slightly to begin with and construct up. Additionally, be sure to 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 the event you put them in a jar, ensure that the lid is off.
In fact, you’ll must replenish and change the oil/ cotton wool pretty recurrently.
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 would like. You’ll be able to add approx. 10-15 drops to 400ml for a robust combine. Shake nicely to combine collectively.
Spray onto across the parameter of your van on the bottom outdoors. It will create a scent barrier that the mice is not going to need to cross. Do that as soon as every week or after heavy rain.
However when 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 when you’re travelling with canine.
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 in all probability 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 nevertheless it’s a concept and never a science! Many individuals have used this spray with success- so it’s price attempting.
Greatest mouse deterrent for campers- pre-made sprays
In the event you don’t need to make your individual, you should purchase pre-made sprays
Ultrasonic 240v pest repellents
These are broadly offered, however have very blended opinions and so they’re not the most effective resolution to maintain mice away from motorhomes or RVs.
For a begin, they require energy, which will probably be a relentless 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 forestall them from growing immunity and flexibility.
They’re imagined 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 might be fitted into engine bays or underneath the van.
12v or Battery Operated Rodent Scarers
It’s additionally attainable to purchase 12v or battery-powered variations of those rodent scarers. These might be simpler to suit, however it’s essential keep in mind to vary the batteries or that there’ll nonetheless be a drain in your battery.
Personally, we used these in a storage just a few years in the past and didn’t have nice success, however be at liberty to attempt to see in the event that they be just right for you. That is the best rated one on Amazon.
Word: These are designed for effectiveness over a prolonged time period and are NOT an instantaneous repair.
Mothball Kind
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 excellent resolution to repel mice in your RV or motorhome. Once more, you’ll want to exchange recurrently to take care of effectiveness.
Humane Traps
In case you have an current drawback with mice or rodents in your van, you would possibly need to use a humane lure to catch them.
Utilizing a lightweight underneath the Van
As rodents are nocturnal, lighting up an space can deter rodents from getting into that house. Rodents don’t prefer to be seen in daylight, as they’re extra prone to being victims to prey. So utilizing a lightweight supply underneath your van might deter them from working round underneath your motorhome. My good friend Leah makes use of this one on her van, the magnetic discs on the sunshine simply connect to her van chassis – BUT keep in mind it’s there earlier than you drive means 🙂 It’s USB chargeable and can final in a single day on the nice and cozy mild setting.
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 believe not…
Many because of Leah for her images and suggestions when penning this submit. Observe her on Instagram
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