Rodents and Storage
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: Markham Ontario
Rodents and Storage
Mice chewed on my hockey equipment last winter 
and I don't want it to happen to anything on my vette.
What is the best deterent to use to keep out those pesky rodents during winter storage. If you know it works tell me, if it doesn't warn me.
Thanks
and I don't want it to happen to anything on my vette.What is the best deterent to use to keep out those pesky rodents during winter storage. If you know it works tell me, if it doesn't warn me.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
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Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
I've heard a couple of dryer sheets in the exhaust openings and under the hood should do the trick. They love that nice warm little spot under the fuel rail covers. Some also have mentioned moth *****.
Paul
Paul
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Dryer sheets and moth ***** are fine for the engine compartment, and the sheets can be used inside the car. I would ball up some aluminum foil and stick it in the exhause pipes; critters love to nest in those "tunnels!" 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
A friend of mine used drier sheets and they used them to build a nest. Not much of a deterrent. I put around 10 Have a Heart traps around the car with peanut butter in them. I use these as the other trap types won't work with small mice but these will. Keep an eye on them. The mice can very easily get into the A/C fan through the underhood area.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,476
Likes: 56
From: = From Toronto = 9/11/01 FDNY 343 Never Forget
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'13-'14
Last winter I used a liquid called "Wintergreen Oil" that I ordered from a pharmacy ( had to special order as material is VERY toxic). I dabbed cotton ***** with the oil and layed the cotton ***** on aluminum plates( like buttertart trays), then placed 2 of them in the engine compartment, 1 inside the car and 3 under each side of the car. I also put a couple of cotton ***** in each exhaust tip. The stuff smells like a strong mint and will disappear after a few days of driving when you bring the car back out.
When I picked my car up last spring there were actually 2 dead mice about 3 feet away from my car but NO damage to my car.
When I picked my car up last spring there were actually 2 dead mice about 3 feet away from my car but NO damage to my car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 0
From: St. Robert Missouri
Originally Posted by boatboatboat
Do you use smooth or crunchy peanut butter? Also have you found either jif or peter pan to be as good as the L-cheapo store brand?
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Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Okay, this is a common subject on the RV Boards I inhabit. They store those big ol' motorhomes all the time and those things have food and lots of places to attract mice.
First and foremost, seal the car the best you can. Get under the car and have someone shine a light all under the dash and glovebox. You'll be surprised how many openings you see. Seal them with expanding foam.
Dryer sheets don't really work. They dry out themselves and only provide material for mice to make a nest.
Mothballs do work, but beware, it takes months to get rid of the smell.
Generallyl, mint oils work well but they evaporate and require new application frequently.
Here's a pretty cooll one I read about. Park the vett on a very shiney tarp, something that reflects, maybe aluminum foil if you can't find a tarp. It works even better if it's lighted. Seems the little critters don't like to see themselves.
There's some stuff called "Fresh Cab" that claims to keep mice away and leave the cockpit with a nice smell after you remove it.
http://www.goodearthenterprises.com/
Also read that the air fresheners that smell like vanilla are good for keeping them out.
Good luck!
First and foremost, seal the car the best you can. Get under the car and have someone shine a light all under the dash and glovebox. You'll be surprised how many openings you see. Seal them with expanding foam.
Dryer sheets don't really work. They dry out themselves and only provide material for mice to make a nest.
Mothballs do work, but beware, it takes months to get rid of the smell.
Generallyl, mint oils work well but they evaporate and require new application frequently.
Here's a pretty cooll one I read about. Park the vett on a very shiney tarp, something that reflects, maybe aluminum foil if you can't find a tarp. It works even better if it's lighted. Seems the little critters don't like to see themselves.
There's some stuff called "Fresh Cab" that claims to keep mice away and leave the cockpit with a nice smell after you remove it.
http://www.goodearthenterprises.com/
Also read that the air fresheners that smell like vanilla are good for keeping them out.
Good luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 34,299
Likes: 1
From: [Enter Unoffensive Comment Here]
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
I put out "mouse treats" that look like bird food. Kills them & dry's them out from the inside...no stink at all. I also use soap shavings to deter them. 
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: fremont ohio
I use Downey fabric softeners and they seem to work,,, lot of them under the hood and on the inside.might try some of that wintergreen oil this year. Would like to buy one of those "bubble covers" but they cost too much.
bob/ohio
bob/ohio
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Lexington KY
Rodent Launching
Man, don't cover the ehaust pipes. You'll miss out on the springtime tradition called "ye olde launching o'the rats". Mice do just fine. Simple too. Quietly enter the car in late April. Twist the the key and FOOM!! Rodent surprise. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring your cat. Ah, the memories. 
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Nassau County NY
My Z06 has been in storage in NC for 8 months now.I'll be flying to NC in two days to reunite with my baby. I was using mothballs to prevent critters from taking up residence in my absence. I'll let you know how well they worked...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Ashburn VA
Originally Posted by bozo4onion
Man, don't cover the ehaust pipes. You'll miss out on the springtime tradition called "ye olde launching o'the rats". Mice do just fine. Simple too. Quietly enter the car in late April. Twist the the key and FOOM!! Rodent surprise. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring your cat. Ah, the memories.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 10
From: Fernandina Beach Florida
Originally Posted by srchief100
4 out of 5 mice surveyed prefer the taste of JIF (smooth). The crunchy tends to scratch during excrement
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
I'd put something UNDER the fuel rail/coil covers. When I bought my 01 Z, it was obvious that the previous owner stored the car. The passenger side fuel injection harness was chewed through. I removed the "nest" the little rodent created and then took it into the dealership where I bought the car and yelled at them because this was a GM Certified Car and they obviously didn't look at the wiring harnesses. Next day, I pulled away with the dealership replacing the fuel injection harness at no charge (they were submitting it as warranty). I bet they were surprised when GM didn't pay them for that claim.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 689
Likes: 1
From: Media PA
I had a bad time last winter with my C3. I'm still having a bad time getting rid of the smell in the car. Ripped apart just about everthing and cleaned. Still have an odor. Any ideas. Oops did I steal the thread? 
