I did loads of research into this and finally came to the conclusion that what one person recommends another will say doesn't work. Personally, I have purchased loads of packs of mothballs from Wilkinsons (99p each) and some very small sealed containers (£1.50 for pack of 3 from wilkinsons). Drill several small holes into the container lid so that the smell can escape, then simply fill them with mothballs and place them around the van. I have about 15 of them scattered around when in storage and I may sound mad but I had mice last year and after using the mothballs there was no trace this year(they apparently hate the smell). You can buy expensive gadgets but they usually have to be plugged in all the time and get mixed reviews. My set up cost about £15 but totally worth it to me.
If you use so many mothballs, surely your van will end up smelling like Granny's wardrobe whilst you are using it?
Whilst some may be ok with such a 'perfume' there will be others who end up coughing and wheezing due to the chemicals used to repel the moths and mice!
At home we have a mouse problem during the winter months in our garage, as they come in from living on a nearby building plot awaiting development, we deal with them by putting down the blue rentokil pellets, its very good stuff at ridding them, and they tend to return outside in search of water as it takes effect, so no bodies to shovel up most of the time, only had 2 in the whole of last winter, and without any smell.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
You hardly notice the smell and once the van doors are open it soon fades within an hour. The mothballs aren't the same as the ones years ago. They are chemical free and a cheap way of deterring rodents.
We have used the battery powered sonic mice deterrent thing in our vans for about 4 years now and have not had a problem...just have to remember to change the battery every 6 months or so.
It is easier said than done, but the only real way is to make sure they cannot get in.
Make sure that all external doors and locker hatches fit properely. All vents need a very fine mesh over them--some of the standard fit ones have a mesh the beasties can get through. When you leave the van make sure that the waste outlet covers are in place, because they will get through a sink or shower rose. Worst job, you need to get underneath the van and check for any possible points of access.
We had a visitation one year, where they entered via an open wast pipe , squeezed through the shower rose, then nibbled an access hole through the airtex rubber shower mat. They entered the main part of the van by squeeziny through the 2 to 3 mm gap under the washroom door leaving a large pile of droppings where they squeezed through. They ripped up plastic to make nests, ate a bowl of pot pouri, nibbled shoes, parasol, cutains etc a right mess! Won't make that mistake again!
Brian
------------- there are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
I once read on a forum [forget which] that sheets on Bounce distributed around the van also deters mice. I`ve been doing it for a few years and had no bother, whether this works or we have no mice aroud who knows? they are not exspensive. I put them in cupboards, under seats storage, toilet, under panel in wardrobe in fact everywhere. I use a full box of fourty sheets and the van smells nice.
We had mice in our van a few years ago when it was stored on a site. Fortunately, they didn't do any major damage. We made sure no food was left in the van (although they had chewed a duvet cover and some paper towels) and installed one of the sonic repellers as mentioned by Tango. We also put in some traps, but nothing ever was caught. We had no further problems with mice. I don't know if the sonic devices made the difference or not, but I would certainly think it worth trying.
As a former pest controller i agree with the previous post that recommended keeping them out. Mice have flexible skeletons so any space you can push a pencil through they can squeeze through. We used to use brush strips for under doors and wire mesh scrunched up for larger gaps like pipes. Don't know if the sonic repellers work but I suspect they're not 100% effective or pest control co's would be out of business!
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Topic: Vermin MICE
