Do you know that mice, rats, squirrels, and different rodents could cause HUGE injury to your motorhome, RV or camper? In actual fact, only in the near past a pal 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 ideas and residential treatments you would possibly need to strive too.
Don’t overlook to seize your FREE motorhome upkeep guidelines beneath to ensure you get all of your checks completed.
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Should you discover this submit helpful, you may as well deal with us to a espresso on the backside of this page- we promise to get pleasure from it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we would even bask in a biscuit (or two!)
Mice in your motorhome- the issue
Till you’ve found a mouse in your motorhome or campervan, it’s tough to elucidate the injury they will do.
We discovered mice in our motorhome a few years in the past, after we’d been wild tenting in Scotland. They’d eaten into ALL the dried meals (together with the pet food) and had destroyed my folding yoga mat to make a nest beneath the fridge.
To say it was a multitude is an understatement.
The injury {that a} mouse can do to your motorhome
Nonetheless, it seems we obtained away frivolously.
Just lately, I met a pal 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 obtained barely an hour north of Edinburgh, and she or he mentioned she may scent diesel. Once we stopped, diesel was POURING out… and we found {that a} mouse had chewed by her hose.
Sadly, this meant she needed to be towed again south and missed out on all the journey. 🙁
We need to make it easier to keep away from this trauma.
We’ve rounded up the very best 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 be able to decide up from anyplace.
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 prone to appeal to undesirable company!
Mice have two high skills- they’re small they usually’re nice at climbing. This implies they will and can discover entry factors into your camper, even when you suppose it’s too excessive off the bottom for them.
They’ll enter by ducts, exterior vents, holes in roofs, flooring or partitions, tubes, aerial holes and the most typical possibility is that they climb the tyre into the engine bay.
Different pests and bugs can get entry through:
- Actually tiny openings between panels or exterior (equivalent to the place pipes go by)
- Cracks within the ground or air flow holes
- Via doorways, home windows or hatches left ajar
How are you aware when you’ve obtained mice or pests in your motorhome?
The Biscuit take a look at!
Should you’re shutting down your van for the winter, and need to know if any unwelcome ‘company’ have moved in (I don’t imply the in-laws!), then put a chunk of biscuit on the ground of your van while you depart it.
If it’s nonetheless there while you come again, you will be fairly positive 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
What’s one of the simplest ways to maintain mice out of an RV or camper?
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
- conserving your camper clear inside
- Not storing meals or leaving garbage baggage exterior 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 typically.
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 means into automobiles which aren’t getting used loads. To assist cease this, you possibly can match issues like exterior vent covers, seal up filling factors and even placing a canopy in your van might help.
How do you retain mice from climbing into your van?
It at all times surprises me simply how HIGH these critters can bounce and climb. Tyres, standing, awnings- you title it, they’ll climb it.
If you wish to cease mice from climbing up your tyres, you possibly can 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 couple of foot tall and no mouse will be capable 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
Sprays with Important oils
Peppermint oil is the most typical type of rodent deterrent we’ve heard of, and is the very best pure treatment too.
Mice apparently hate the scent of peppermint, in order that they received’t go close to the van.
Lavender has additionally been recognized to have the same impact, as does eucalyptus, chilli oil and mint.
The right way to use Peppermint Oil to repel mice
An important issues is the energy of the mix- the stronger the scent, the extra poor Mr Mouse doesn’t prefer it.
Nonetheless, with important oils, that you must take into account
- Your well being circumstances
- Pets you will 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. Should you put them in a jar, be sure the lid xis off.
In fact, you’ll have to 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 want. You’ll be able to add approx. 10-15 drops to 400ml for a powerful combine. Shake effectively to combine collectively.
Spray onto across the parameter of your van on the bottom exterior. This can create a scent barrier that the mice is not going to need to cross. Do that as soon as per 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 Inside use
Create a weaker spray (use 3-5 drops of peppermint oil per 400ml). You don’t need it too robust, particularly when you’re travelling with canines.
Spray this onto areas the place there may be an inlet or gap into the van.
CAUTION: Don’t spray onto something the place there may be going to be direct heat- this spray is oil primarily based and flammable!
In case your van goes into storage for winter, you would in all probability make a stronger mixture of the inner spray and depart it there while you’re not utilizing your van.
Does peppermint spray actually maintain mice away?
Apparently so! Many individuals have used this spray with success- so it’s value attempting.
Finest mouse deterrent for campers- pre-made sprays
Should you don’t need to make your individual, you should buy pre-made sprays
Ultrasonic 240v pest repellents
These are broadly offered, however have very blended opinions they usually’re not the very best resolution to maintain mice away from motorhomes or RVs.
For a begin, they require energy, which will likely 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 speculated to be imperceptible to people, however many individuals have reported feeling complications or listening to high-frequency noise.
They can be utilized exterior or inside (relying on the mannequin), so will be fitted into engine bays or beneath the van.
12v or Battery operated Rodent Scarers
It’s additionally attainable to purchase 12v or battery-powered variations of those rodent scarers. These will be simpler to suit, however that you must 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 happy to try to see in the event that they give you the results you want. That is the very best rated one on Amazon.
Mothballs
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 awesome resolution to repel mice in your RV or motorhome. Once more, you’ll want to switch recurrently to keep up effectiveness.
Humane Traps
When you have an current drawback with mice or rodents in your van, you would possibly need to use a humane lure 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 photographs and ideas when scripting this submit. Comply with her on Instagram
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