Keeping mice out of the RV - Update post #15

[BernardandMissBianca]

Had a quick question about the best way to keep mice out of the RV for winter.
We had issues last winter with them eating the window curtain on the front (need to completely replace that), nesting in the generator and making a mess out of the mattress for the bunk over the cab.

We've managed to keep them at bay with bounce sheets over the summer but once we put the cover on and move the RV to the field behind the house we won't be able to access the RV after we get snow. DH found some spray online called Mouse Free http://www.mouse-free.com/store/do-it-yourself/ has anyone heard of this or used it?
Is there another product anyone can recommend?

Also, what do you do with the mattress in the master? We left it on last winter and surprisingly there were no mice issues with that but I don't want to take any chances.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

We never had mice /rat issues within our motorhome. Maybe it is the area we live, Washington state, or maybe our climate. We did place some de-con in some of the areas I thought could be accessed by mice. Those furry creatures can squeeze in thru some of the smallest openings. We also made sure to cault any questionalbe openings. We used caulk specially made for motorhomes. I would also gets some of the containers for getting rid of moisture. They are called dampRid. I even use in the bathrooms at home. I would make sure to place those in an area where mice could not get to them and eat the moisture grabbing crystals. We did keep our motorhome under a carport and had a heater placed in it for winter. I might think the mice would like the hear LOL. I am sure some of your issues could stem from where it is stored over winter. Can you store it closer to house so you can get heat to it during winter? If so I would try that.

Not sure if I have helped any but like you I hate having to deal with mice. I once saw a mice in my kitchen when late at night i went into kitchen to get a drink of water. Turned on the light and there I was being stared our by one of the most scarey creatures on earth. Yep, a 3 inch long mouse. I must have scared that mouse as much as he/she scared me. We both stopped in our tracks stareing at each other for what seems like hours then I screamed and turned and ran to a chair. I could have given that mouse a heart attack with my scream but no he/she turned and ran the other direction. Took me two days to figure out where that mouse could have gotten into the house. Once found I caulk the area and bam no more creature siteings.

 

[2goofycampers]

3 ways to kill mice

1. traps - just the old fashioned kind with a dab of peanut butter
2. poison
3. glue traps

 

[North of Mouse]

Some mice got in our MH in the Smoky Mtns. and I immediately went to Gatlinburg and bought some traps - 3 mice later we were done LOL. We looked everywhere, could not figure where they got in, so now we *always* keep a peanut butter baited trap in there just in case - but no more mice!

Storing it in the north, with no accessibility, could pose a big problem. You wouldn't want a mouse to die in there (yuck) so that rules out traps. Our MH is in a garage, plus we don't live up north, so I am stumped on any advice under those conditions.

Hope you get some answers from other northerners that may have the same type problems and weather conditions that you have - good luck

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Unfortunately living on a farm, we have major issues with mice.
If I had my way we'd have a barn to store the RV in for winter but it still wouldn't matter, we have mice in the house, in the garage, in the outbuildings.

After I posted I found a thing called Fresh Cab and they sell it at the local Tractor Supply place. It seems that a lot of farmers use it for their tractors so I'm going to give that a try. I think we will put some in generator too.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have to apologize but am I the only one who thought this was pretty funny considering who it is asking??? I saw it as I scrolled along the main boards...just had to stop by and giggle. Sorry BernardandMissBianca. Back to your regular, informative discussion!!!!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Yep, love those mice. In fact I have several in my house, but at least they don't eat my curtains!! LOL

 

[Flametamr]

An old exterminator to me to pack steel wool in all the possible openings. They hate the feel of it and won't chew through it. You can buy the large bulk kind without soap and use that. Might take a little time but will work.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thanks, I read that, so I have it on my list.

So far we will try:
cab fresh
bounce dyer sheets
the spray
steel wool

hopefully that will help. So far the only things they have ruined are the curtains and the wire for the back up camera. That, thankfully, is on the outside so DH said it's an easy fix.

 

[amylevan]

My husband sets up a homemade trap that uses antifreeze that they fall into so that they don't decompose (and smell) over the long winter. Works very well. Here's a link to something like what he does: http://www.instructables.com/id/A-BETTER-MOUSE-TRAP/

I take all the towels, blankets, sheets, dish towels, etc and store them in rubbermaid containers. We just leave the mattresses and couch cushions out though. I guess we are taking a chance, but so far, we've been ok.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

small update.
After talking with DH more, we have also decided to buy a mattress bag at U-Haul to store the mattresses in. And we will flip them up against the window.
I haven't had a chance to get out there yet though, we got our first somewhat major snowfall today. Still didn't get the darn thing covered though, I will have to do that this weekend. Thankfully the snow will be gone by then.

 

[arthuruscg]

Prevention:

The big thing is the clean out every crumb of food and eliminate food sources near by. So, don't store your trash cans near the RV because the RV becomes a home near the food source.

I am guessing the over the cab mattress became a lovely home due to the driver/ passenger drooping crumbs under the seat.

Steel wool works great, even in your home. It does need to be shoved in every crack, and extra space around piping. There is also copper wool, but I have not tired it.

The bounce dyer sheets don't work, they just hide the decomposition smell.


Getting rid of those that made it in:

Don't use the poison by it's self. Rats/mice have a habit of eating the stuff and dieing in the hardest/ stinkiest places, a perfect example is a mouse dieing in the mouse wheel of the furnace. We noticed a slight smell all summer but it wasn't until the fall when we turned the furnace on did we discover where the mouse died at.

There is also traps that contain the mouse in a box, which helps if you don't like to see the aftermath.

The "better mouse trap" is a great idea for those that don't have kids and will be leaving the RV closed up.

Also, have you thought about adopting a feral cat to live under the RV during the winter?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

No crumbs to be had in the RV at all. I have a strict no eating policy unless they are outside or seated at the table.
I remove all food from the RV after every trip, and we didn't use it at all this summer so we had no food at all and only put water in for the first time this season when we thought Hurricane Sandy was going to hit us.
I also do a deep clean after each trip or after we see droppings because I'm a little OCD when it comes to mice diseases. After the last issue with mice I pulled the mattress off the overhead bunk, took the cover off and washed it twice.

Trust me I won't use De-Con, my mom used that stuff as we grew up and mice would die in the walls all the time. Nasty, nasty stuff. I do have some twist traps that we use in the house, I will put them outside too.

We do have a few feral and barn cats that make the rounds in the neighborhood. One in particular we see daily, I hope she takes up residence under the RV this winter.

The snow we got is almost melted, at least enough around the RV to get it winterized. I hope the weather cooperates this weekend. Looks as though Sun-Tues the high is going to be 55, I can live with that to get the work done outside.

 

[bearloch]

my trailer was on a site near woods i used drye rsheets a lot of them everywhere, steel wool,and no crumb anywhere, nothing stored inside either all towels, bedding were wrapped in pastic as was mattress on the outside under the rig i put a insect and mice posion all around 3 yrs no pomblems!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

So I thought I would post an update.
We pulled the MH up out of the field today, uncovered it and opened it up.

No mice!!!

We wrapped DS16 bunk mattress and our mattress in the mattress bag from UHaul, we wrapped the generator with heavy black construction bags and heavy plastic cling wrap.
The only thing we ended up using inside were the Fresh Cab sachets. We put them everywhere we saw evidence of mice last year. I thought fo sure we'd have to get out there and replace them but I was able to get inside the MH a few times over winter and they were fine.

So excited to be mouse free so I thought I'd share with others who might have issues.