The BEST Mouse & Rodent deterrents for Motorhomes, RVs and Campers (2022 up to date)

Do you know that mice, rats, squirrels, and different rodents could cause HUGE harm to your motorhome, RV or camper? The truth is, only in the near past a pal of mine had her journey RUINED as a result of a mouse chewed her gas line.

That will help you keep away from the identical drawback, we’ve put collectively this information on the BEST mouse deterrent for campers to guard your van from rodents, and different ideas and residential treatments you may wish to strive too.

Don’t overlook to seize your FREE motorhome upkeep guidelines beneath to be sure to get all of your checks finished.

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If you happen to discover this put up helpful, you can even deal with us to a espresso on the backside of this page- we promise to get pleasure from it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we’d even bask in a biscuit (or two!)

Mice in your motorhome- the issue

Till you’ve found a mouse in your motorhome or campervan, it’s tough to elucidate the harm they’ll do.

We discovered mice in our motorhome a few years in the past, after we’d been wild tenting in Scotland. They’d eaten into ALL the dried meals (together with the pet food) and had destroyed my folding yoga mat to make a nest below the fridge.

To say it was a multitude is an understatement.

The harm {that a} mouse can do to your motorhome

Nonetheless, it seems we received away evenly.

Not too long ago, I met a pal of mine known as Leah up in Scotland and we had been planning a route across the North Coast 500 with our motorhomes.

We received barely an hour north of Edinburgh, and she or he stated she might scent diesel. After we stopped, diesel was POURING out… and we found {that a} mouse had chewed by means of her hose.

Sadly, this meant she needed to be towed again south and missed out on your complete journey. 🙁

We wish to enable you to keep away from this trauma.

We’ve rounded up the very best deterrents to maintain mice, rats, squirrels, snakes and different rodents out of your motorhome, campervan, caravan or RV, plus some pure or house treatments which you’ll choose up from anyplace.

How do mice and different pests get into your van?

Because the temperatures drop, the animals begin searching for someplace heat to make their nests… and your van is the PERFECT place (particularly if there’s meals saved inside too.)

So be ESPECIALLY cautious if you happen to’re motorhoming in winter or planning a UK winter highway journey– you’re extra prone to entice undesirable visitors!

Mice have two prime skills- they’re small they usually’re nice at climbing. This implies they’ll and can discover entry factors into your camper, even if you happen to suppose it’s too excessive off the bottom for them.

They’ll enter by ducts, exterior vents, holes in roofs, flooring or partitions, tubes, aerial holes and the commonest possibility is that they climb the tyre into the engine bay.

Different pests and bugs can get entry through:

• Actually tiny openings between panels or outdoors (corresponding to the place pipes move by means of)
• Cracks within the flooring or air flow holes
• By means of doorways, home windows or hatches left ajar

How are you aware if you happen to’ve received mice or pests in your motorhome?

The Biscuit check!

If you happen to’re shutting down your van for the winter, and wish to know if any unwelcome ‘visitors’ have moved in (I don’t imply the in-laws!), then put a chunk of biscuit on the ground of your van once you go away it.

If it’s nonetheless there once you come again, you might be fairly positive you’re secure from pests and rodents in your van.

If it’s not… 😱

Shutting down your motorhome/ camper for winter?

Seize your FREE winter shutdown guidelines right here

What’s the easiest way to maintain mice out of an RV or camper?

The simplest approach to keep away from harm to your camper from mice or rodents is to not allow them to in within the first place.

You are able to do this by:

• sealing all factors of entry (though you’ll nonetheless want some for air flow)
• utilizing rodent scarers and deterrents
• not storing meals in your van, particularly in decrease lockers
• preserving your camper clear inside
• Not storing meals or leaving garbage luggage outdoors your van to take to the bin within the morning!

How do I hold mice or bugs out of my RV camper within the winter or in storage?

Most undesirable pest ‘invasions’ occur over winter or when your van isn’t getting used typically.

It doesn’t at all times should be in storage. Leah’s van was broken after she wild camped subsequent to a loch in Scotland!

However the majority of rodents discover a approach into automobiles which aren’t getting used quite a bit. To assist cease this, you may match issues like exterior vent covers, seal up filling factors and even placing a canopy in your van may also help.

How do you retain mice from climbing into your van?

It at all times surprises me simply how HIGH these critters can leap and climb. Tyres, standing, awnings- you title it, they’ll climb it.

If you wish to cease mice from climbing up your tyres, you may wrap rings of sheet metallic round your tyres, jack stands or the rest you don’t need mice to climb up! Make the rings a couple of foot tall and no mouse will have the ability to scale it.

What’s the greatest mouse deterrents for campers and motorhomes?

There are a number of issues you are able to do to discourage mice from selecting your van. The primary choices are:

• Sprays with important oils (like Peppermint)
• Ultrasonic Pest Repellents (Battery, plug-in or 12v variations)
• Humane traps

Sprays with Important oils

Peppermint oil is the commonest type of rodent deterrent we’ve heard of, and is the very best pure treatment too.

Mice apparently hate the scent of peppermint, in order that they gained’t go close to the van.

Lavender has additionally been identified to have an identical impact, as does eucalyptus, chilli oil and mint.

Methods to use Peppermint Oil to repel mice

An important issues is the power of the mix- the stronger the scent, the extra poor Mr Mouse doesn’t prefer it.

Nonetheless, with important oils, you’ll want to take into account

• Your well being situations
• Pets you’ve

Some individuals can react badly to important oils, so use a bit of to begin with and construct up. Additionally, be sure to put them someplace a pet can’t drink or chew them. ]

To make use of Oil with cotton balls to repel mice in your van

Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and put throughout your motorhome or RV. If you happen to put them in a jar, make sure that the lid xis off.

After all, you’ll must replenish and change the oil/ cotton wool pretty repeatedly.

To make use of oil with spray- for exterior use

In a 400ml spray bottle, add the peppermint oil drops and water. Make this as potent as you would like. You may add approx. 10-15 drops to 400ml for a robust combine. Shake properly to combine collectively.

Spray onto across the parameter of your van on the bottom outdoors. It will create a scent barrier that the mice is not going to wish to cross. Do that as soon as every week or after heavy rain.

However if you happen to spray round your van beneath, this could assist with not having it dilute/wash away with rain.

Use the Oils and Spray for Inside use

Create a weaker spray (use 3-5 drops of peppermint oil per 400ml). You don’t need it too sturdy, particularly if you happen to’re travelling with canine.

Spray this onto areas the place there’s an inlet or gap into the van.

CAUTION: Don’t spray onto something the place there’s going to be direct heat- this spray is oil based mostly and flammable!

In case your van goes into storage for winter, you might in all probability make a stronger mixture of the inner spray and go away it there while you’re not utilizing your van.

Does peppermint spray actually hold mice away?

Apparently so! Many individuals have used this spray with success- so it’s price making an attempt.

Greatest mouse deterrent for campers- pre-made sprays

If you happen to don’t wish to make your personal, you should purchase pre-made sprays

Ultrasonic 240v pest repellents

These are broadly offered, however have very blended opinions they usually’re not the very best answer to maintain mice away from motorhomes or RVs.

For a begin, they require energy, which will likely be a continuing drain in your motorhome leisure battery.

Subsequent, they don’t work immediately, however work over time, by emitting completely different frequencies of ultrasonic waves to annoy the nervous system of bugs and rats. This makes the pests really feel uncomfortable in order that they transfer away.

Intermittent adjustments in ultrasound frequency stop them from creating immunity and flexibility.

They’re speculated to be imperceptible to people, however many individuals have reported feeling complications or listening to high-frequency noise.

They can be utilized outdoors or inside (relying on the mannequin), so might be fitted into engine bays or below the van.

12v or Battery operated Rodent Scarers

It’s additionally potential to purchase 12v or battery-powered versions of those rodent scarers. These might be simpler to suit, however you’ll want to keep in mind to vary the batteries or that there’ll nonetheless be a drain in your battery.

Personally, we used these in a storage a couple of years in the past and didn’t have nice success, however be at liberty to attempt to see in the event that they be just right for you. That is the very best rated one on Amazon.

Mothballs

One other scent mice don’t like is mothballs, so contemplating placing a few of these round your van.

Different scents rodents don’t like embrace; vinegar, clove oil and cayenne pepper.

Do dryer sheets hold mice out of camper?

Apparently so! Within the UK, we don’t use dryer sheets as a lot as they do in America, however many individuals have urged them as an incredible answer to repel mice in your RV or motorhome. Once more, you’ll want to switch repeatedly to keep up effectiveness.

Humane Traps

In case you have an present drawback with mice or rodents in your van, you may wish to use a humane trap to catch them.

Lastly- the BEST mouse deterrent for campers, motorhomes and RVs…?

Get a cat.

I’ve by no means ever heard of a motorhome or RV proprietor who travels with a cat who’ve a cat who has an issue with mice of their van. Co-incedence? I feel not…

Many because of Leah for her pictures and ideas when penning this put up. Follow her on Instagram

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