JF Ranch

Sadly, I'll be storing my 1999 Convertible for the Winter soon. It will be sleeping in my garage, under cover until Spring.

Since I am new here, has there been any discussion about various measures to prevent mice from getting into a car over the Winter months?

1Spartan

Hey JF Ranch,

I too am new to the site and storing a convertible also. I have a field across the street with same concerns. I am looking to purchase a car cover which I think will entice the mice even more. Thinking traps and moth ***** below the car but still have the new car smell.

Any veterans with advice would be great.

Thanks

El original

About 10 mouse traps around car and along walls. Important, bait with JIF peanut butter, (but do not lick off trap once set) The whole garage smells like peanut butter and mice simply cannot resist. Resistance is futile rodent!!

MSG C5

Stick some steel wool into the exhaust and place some Downey dryer sheets in the car and engine bay.

JR-01

Moth *****, dryer sheets and Irish Spring soap.

Vetteman Jack

I use Bounce dryer sheets under the hood and inside the cabin. Haven’t ever had any mouse problems.

rigmover

I'm in Alberta and we have tons of mice and I've seen mice eat Irish Spring soap they get used to the smell but the dryer smelly sheet's do work the best. And less mess make sure there no food in the garage like garbage or juice fruit boxes or beer cans that in itself will bring in the rodents. You can always leave the cat in the garage LOL!!

foggy

I like the moth ***** that are packaged in the little individual wrappers.. Like a breath mint
you get at a restaurant... You can put them anywhere without worry of them staining or
ruining anything.
I do these for my cars and camper in off season. I also use bounce sheets too.
If you put the moth ***** near the tires and low parts, that deters them little bastards
from crawling up and into your baby.

57gman

And mice repellent from tractor supply!

Road Runner

Only problem with using an peanut butter or similar ‘food’ is that it attracts the mice. I live in the country and have all kinds of rodents everywhere. The only solution i’ve found are Rat Zappers - battery powered death traps. Gets them every time and are very ‘clean’. Best of luck.

corgasm

After having mice eat my wires in a C4 some years ago and making a very disgusting winter home in the rear seat stuffing of my '73 Mustang I tried everything: traps (make sure you monitor daily), dryer sheets (lose their odor fairly quickly), packets of mouse repellent (smells nice), sticky traps, fox urine (predator, how do they get that?), etc. I ended up investing in a car capsule that stays inflated with a fan. You need a garage and power source. Not cheap BUT cheaper than having mice get into your wiring. Apparently they like the rubber coating.

Sydwayz

1) Ultrasonic Pest Repellers (120VAC) plugged into several outlets in the garage.
2) Bounce dryer sheets in the interior, probably 12 or so.
3) Irish Spring and Bounce Dryer sheets all over under the engine compartment.

UM Rebel

yanmar

THE BEST SOLUTION I'VE FOUND IS GLUE TRAPS. PLACE THEM IN CORNERS AND AGAINST THE WALLS. COST IS ABOUT ONE DOLLAR EACH AND WORKS GREAT FOR ME. LOTS OF LUCK TO YOU.

JR-01

I use them, but I have found that in extreme cold they lose some stickiness making them ineffective.

laurent_zo6

Just put this sign in the garage:

JF Ranch

Thank you for all the suggestions. Most will probably work, some perhaps better than others. First I need to try to seal the gaps in my garage doors that could allow mice to come inside, then pursue some if not most of these great ideas.

However, I'd like to explain an elaborate solution that has come to my mind over the past several weeks. Please tell me if I'm out of my mind crazy or not!

Why not jack the Vette up and store it on stands? Each jack stand would be in a pan or bucket with a couple of inches of either oil or RV antifreeze, creating an "impenetrable moat". Any mouse determined enough to crawl into the pan, would face certain death and be unable to get into the car.

In another thread there was discussion of vehicle storage on jack stands. Some suggested that this would be harmful to the shocks. There may other disadvantages of winter storage this way.

Please offer your expert advice. Thanks!!

tones_Z

Use BOUNCE or other similar type smelling dryer sheets.
I know it sounds funny, but it works great. Been doing this for years, never any issues. Place one behind each tire and in front of the engine bay on the ground. They HATE the smell.
Good luck.

countylawdog

Have used several products over the years ... moth *****, Bounce dryer sheets, Irish Spring [no more, mice been eating it], peppermint OIL on cotton *****, the electronic mice repellant and Cab Fresh ... repeallant originally made for farm equipment in storage ... works good. Good luck.

57gman

I've got to ask, and I'm not joking, is it the orginal Irish spring soap or will any version of Irish spring work?