Do you know that mice, rats, squirrels, and different rodents may cause HUGE injury to your motorhome, RV or camper? The truth is, only recently a good friend of mine had her journey RUINED as a result of a mouse chewed her gas line.
That will help you keep away from the identical downside, we’ve put collectively this information on the BEST mouse deterrent for campers to guard your van from rodents, and different suggestions and residential treatments you may need to strive too.
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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 clarify 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 large number is an understatement.
The Injury {That a} Mouse Can Do to Your Motorhome
Nevertheless, it seems we received away evenly.
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 mentioned she might scent diesel. Once we stopped, diesel was POURING out… and we found {that a} mouse had chewed by means of her hose.
Sadly, this meant she needed to be towed again and missed out on your entire journey. 🙁
We need to enable you 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 choose up from anyplace.
Watch the Injury 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 suggestions 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 on the lookout for 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 should you’re motorhoming in winter or planning a UK winter street journey– you’re extra prone to entice undesirable company!
Mice have two prime skills- they’re small they usually’re nice at climbing. This implies they’ll and can discover entry factors into your camper, even should 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 commonest choice is that they climb the tyre into the engine bay.
Different pests and bugs can get entry through:
- Actually tiny openings between panels or outdoors (reminiscent of the place pipes cross by means of)
- Cracks within the flooring or air flow holes
- Via doorways, home windows or hatches left ajar
How Do You Know if You’ve Obtained Mice or Pests in Your Motorhome?
The Biscuit take a look at!
In case 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 bit of biscuit on the ground of your van whenever you depart it.
If it’s nonetheless there whenever you come again, you will be moderately positive 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
Learn how to hold 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
- retaining 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 hold 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 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 manner into automobiles which aren’t getting used lots. 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 might 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 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 couple of foot tall and no mouse will have the ability to scale it.
What’s the Finest 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
House treatments and sprays with Important oils
Peppermint oil is the commonest 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 gained’t go close to the van.
Lavender and eucalyptus has additionally been identified to have an identical 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, you might want to take into account
- Your well being circumstances
- Pets you have got
Some individuals can react badly to important oils, so use a bit of to start out 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, make certain the lid xis off.
In fact, you’ll must replenish and exchange the oil/ cotton wool pretty repeatedly.
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 outdoors. This may create a scent barrier that the mice won’t need to cross. Do that as soon as every week or after heavy rain.
However should 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 should 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 possibly can 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 Preserve Mice Away?
Apparently so! Many individuals have used this spray with success- so it’s value making an attempt.
Finest mouse deterrent for campers- pre-made sprays
In case you don’t need to make your personal, you should purchase pre-made sprays
Ultrasonic 240v pest repellents
These are broadly offered, however have very blended critiques they usually’re not the very best resolution to maintain mice away from motorhomes or RVs.
For a begin, they require energy, which might be a continuing drain in your motorhome leisure battery.
Subsequent, they don’t work immediately, however work over time, by emitting completely 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 modifications in ultrasound frequency stop 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 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 doable to purchase 12v or battery-powered variations of those rodent scarers. These will be simpler to suit, however you might want to 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 a couple of years in the past and didn’t have nice success, however be happy to attempt to see in the event that they give you the results you want. That is the best rated one on Amazon.
Word: These are designed for effectiveness over a prolonged time frame and are NOT an instantaneous 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 embrace; vinegar, clove oil and cayenne pepper.
Do dryer sheets hold 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 urged them as an ideal resolution to repel mice in your RV or motorhome. Once more, you’ll want to exchange repeatedly to keep up effectiveness.
Humane Traps
If in case you have an present downside with mice or rodents in your van, you may need 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 due to Leah for her pictures and suggestions when penning this publish. Observe her on Instagram
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