How To Keep Mice And Rodents Out Of Your Car?

How To Keep Mice And Rodents Out Of Your Car?

Why Do Rodents Get Into Cars?

Your car is a beautiful home for rodents. They're looking for shelter and narrow openings that don't allow larger predators to approach them, which describes the many spaces inside and under the hood. Rodents also love to gnaw on electrical wires—probably to keep their teeth from growing too long, though some insist they prefer the soy-based insulation now in use—and there's plenty to find. There's plenty of handy nesting material we call "seats."

As far as mice are concerned, you're fighting a critter that can pass through a hole the size of a pencil as a teenager and a hole the size of a dime as an adult. There are many such holes through the firewall of the car, through the engine bay, and inside (for wires and cables), and the ventilation system provides similar passage. Gaps around doors and rust holes in floors are other potential sources of entry. Getting into the engine bay -- whether it's a mouse or something bigger, like a squirrel -- is a piece of cake.

How to Keep Rodents From Getting Under the Hood?

You can not.

Some of the following deterrents may help keep rodents hiding in your car out of your car, or there may be things you can do to make your vehicle less attractive.

Leave the hood open: While it might sound counterintuitive, and probably only practical when the car is parked, leaving the hood open takes away some of the protection that smaller rodents crave from larger animals. You should disconnect the under-hood light (if your vehicle has lights) so your battery doesn't die.

Light: Rats are nocturnal (meaning they sleep during the day and forage at night) and don't care much about light. LED lights help here because they use one-seventh the electricity of old incandescent bulbs and don't get as hot. You could even try placing a trouble light with an LED bulb on the garage floor under the center of the hood, since your car's wheels may ride over it when you drive.

Noise: There are many sonic repellers on the market, both plug-in and battery-operated, and they're pretty much "set it and forget it." Some include strobes that add to the "brightness" factor. Although they claim to be silent about people and common pets, they are hardly universally appreciated. A cheaper solution might be to plug in a radio, maybe a timer (for mice, they might stay out of the car at night), but unlike a bug repeller, it won't be silent.

Scent: As with sonic repellers, there are many scented products that claim to repel mice and other rodents. Aside from the prepackaged ones, the most recommended ones seem to be Peppermint Oil (can be sprayed around), Cedarwood (long known for repelling moths; Western Red Cedarwood is especially recommended), Clove, Pine-Sol, Cayenne, Irish Spring Soap, Cinnamon, mothballs, and dryer sheets (Bounce has been cited by name). In terms of interiors in particular, some of these options are no more obnoxious than others—and maybe even delightful. However, many lose their strong smell over time and must be replaced periodically.

Physical Deterrent: Starting and moving the car frequently so that relatively frequent disturbances deter these visitors from nesting over time. (It is sometimes recommended to honk the horn or play the radio loudly before starting the engine, as the noise may dislodge some moving parts before they can injure them.) Gaps and holes can be covered with wire mesh or covered with steel wool or tinfoil. You can also place a rubber snake on the ground, but be sure to tell other family members you've done it first so you don't scare them.

If protecting wires from rodents is your primary goal, you can wrap metal shielding around them. Honda makes a highly regarded special tape that is said to be impregnated with spicy capsaicin; it can be purchased at dealerships or online.