While numerous property owners complain about mice infestation and the damage they cause to wiring and furniture, this is also a common problem challenged by people who own vehicles. Having a mouse inside your car can cause havoc and a substantial amount of damage. It only takes a few seconds for a mouse to crawl into your car and start gnawing at wires or even die inside vents to leave your car reeking for a couple of weeks. This article will go through ways on how to keep mice out of the car.
Risks associated with rodents
Mice infestation can bring about health risks, as well as dangers to your vehicle. Even when you make sure you have locked your vehicle, there is still a risk of mice squeezing their way inside from small gaps or through the engine.
Here are a few common lead-in spots for mice:
-
-
- The holes surrounding wires
- Steering column
- Pedal shaft area
- Vents
-
Rodents usually chew on electric wires or may nest inside mechanical zones, making it difficult for the vehicle to function properly. Along with vehicle risks, some health risks are associated with mice infestation, including diseases like Hantavirus. Mice infestation has become an extremely common problem, so let’s look at ideas on how to keep mice out of the car, to keep you and your vehicle safe from rodents.
Strategies to save your car from rodent damage
Here are a few tips on how to sidestep damage and diseases from affecting you and your vehicle and how to keep mice out of the car, effectively.
- Park your vehicle in a rodent-free place especially pavements, instead of parking on grass.
- Store human or dog hair, peppermint oil or cedar wood inside your car.
- Keep your vehicle clean, by removing any food bags, garbage or tissues.
- Keep your car dry from the inside. Do not allow moisture to settle into your car, as this can attract rodents even more.
- Setup mouse traps or repellant devices inside your vehicle.
- Check for small openings in your vehicle, like a gap in windows, doors or the sunroof.
- Keep the car hood up. Mice look for a dark hideout to nest in, so make sure you discourage this by keeping the hood up while your car is parked, so it gets enough light for mice to stay away.
- Seal all possible mice hiding areas near the car.
Is your car mice-infected?
Now that you know how to keep mice out of the car, you might want to make sure your car is safe from mice infestation. The following are a few signs that your car might be infected with rodents:
- Ragged gauze in the vent
- Chewed up insulation
- Claw marks
- Gnawed wiring in the engine area
- Engine components with chewed up holes
In some extreme cases, mice can damage the under-hood of a car preventing it from starting. It is ideal to park your car inside, in a rodent-free zone or place a rubber snake under your car to scare off rodents. Cats can also scare off mice, by having them go to your garage for littering. There is no certain procedure of keeping your vehicle safe from mice, but the risk can be reduced a great deal by the few techniques mentioned in this article.