Mouse nest:
The first place you should look is inside your car's airbox (that's where the engine air filter is located). Mice love this location because it's warm and protected from the elements. Open the box and look for signs of rodent freeloaders.
Droppings and Bad Smells
If you notice droppings and/or urine around your car, if there seems to be an odd smell in the car engine bay or coming through the air vent system, this could be a sign of a rodent making your car its home.
Mice have a very strong sense of smell and are often repelled by very strong odors like cinnamon, vinegar, dryer sheets, clove oil, peppermint, tea bags, and cayenne pepper.
You're greeted by a family of mice—and a mass of chewed electrical wires and shredded insulation. Fortunately, comprehensive car insurance typically covers losses from rodent damage to your vehicle. Here's what you need to know to file an insurance claim for rodent-related car repairs.
Peppermint oil and cayenne pepper are reported to deter rodents.
Mix up to 1 teaspoon of peppermint oil in a half cup of water and spritz under the hood, taking care to avoid electronics. Rats' sense of smell will be completely overwhelmed with spicy menthol, and they'll be forced to move away.
The strong scent of peppermint is overwhelming to mice. Similarly, essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, bergamot oil, clove oil, and cinnamon oil are potent in keeping mice at bay. One study noted that eucalyptus oil applied once a day was more effective as a rat repellant than once a week.
Their strong fragrance can be unpleasant to rodents and discourage them from entering. Place a few dryer sheets in various areas, such as the trunk and under the seats. While dryer sheets can help deter mice, they're not a guaranteed solution.
Peppermint Oil, Cayenne Pepper, or Cloves – Have strong scents that may deter mice but can cause skin irritation or burning.
Irish Spring soap is not likely to keep mice away from your house– and the strong fragrances could even be attractive to them. Rats & mice might initially be deterred by the overwhelming odor, but after a while they'll get used to it, and may even take a nibble to test it as food.
The smell of peppermint oil disturbs mice and often keeps them away. Mice rely heavily on their keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of peppermint can be irritating and overwhelming to them.
Step 1: Put on rubber or plastic gloves. Step 2: Spray urine and droppings with bleach solution or an EPA-registered disinfectant until very wet. Let it soak for 5 minutes or according to instructions on the disinfectant label. Step 3: Use paper towels to wipe up the urine or droppings and cleaning product.
Countermeasure 2: Peppermint Repellant Spray (Engine Bay)
Mice hate the way peppermint smells. This folktale is substantiated by experts and some established pest removal pros—several companies make peppermint-scented products specifically pitched as mice-repellant to be applied on cars.
Mice can enter through extremely small spaces, so even the smallest crack or hole should get a dose of peppermint oil. The scent of peppermint oil needs to stay strong in order to keep mice away. So make sure you're reapplying a few times a week to keep mice away.
Ways to Keep Mice out of a Car You're Driving
While it's easier for a mouse to settle into a car that doesn't move regularly, rodents also find daily driven vehicles attractive. Your engine remains hot after turning off, temporarily giving mice the warmth they seek.
Do Dryer Sheets Keep Mice Out? While some people believe the strong scent may deter mice, dryer sheets are not considered a reliable or long-term solution. Other proven methods like sealing entry points and professional rodent control services are recommended for better results.
The best way to get rid of rats or mice is by using traps. If using spring loaded traps for rats, bait three of them in a row without setting them. Bait with dried fruit, peanut butter mixed with oats, or cheese.
Get in touch with your friends at American Rat Control, and our team of pest control experts will work with you to remove rodents from your ride—and help keep them from tagging along in the future.
Speak with your State Farm agent about comprehensive coverage, which typically covers repairs for collisions with animals, after your deductible. *Rodents are not only involved in collisions, but included in claims data as an animal related loss for damage they cause to vehicles, like chewing wires.