Keep Your Motorhome, Campervan Free of Mice
We’ve all been there. You’re all ready for a weekend road trip in your campervan and discover that mice have set up shop in a storage compartment. Or you take your motorhome out of storage and find that your bench seats have become rodents’ nesting material.
We love nature, but we would prefer that most of it stay out of our homes on wheels.
The Mischievous Mouse
Mice are small but mighty. They can wreak havoc on your motorhome’s interior, wiring, and even plumbing. They also carry disease and leave urine and feces in their wake.
These little critters can squeeze in through the tiniest openings. If you can see daylight through a crack, they can see a warm spot to nest. They’re also remarkably good at staying out of harm’s way once they invade your space.
Dealing with mice is all about making your RV as unattractive to them as possible. Here are a few tips to help you remain rodent-free.
Park Properly
The first way to keep the mice where they belong (outside) is to park wisely. Don’t park your rig in their natural habitat. Leaving your camper on grass or other vegetation makes it more likely for an errant mouse to stop by.
Park your vehicle on pavement or gravel when you aren’t using it. If you’re storing it for the winter, consider getting a high-quality cover. Make sure the cover does not have holes, especially on the bottom where mice love to enter.
Seal It Up
It can be hard to seal every tiny crack and crevice. But try anyway. Rodents will use the path of least resistance, so the fewer openings you have, the less likely they are to visit.
We’ve talked about sealants before. They’re crucial for RV maintenance, particularly for keeping out water. Regularly inspect all of your seals, or have them inspected during scheduled maintenance. If water can get in, mice are likely to follow.
Check your whole vehicle for little cracks and openings. Check around your coach’s door, windows, and slide outs. Check for gaps where plumbing and electrical components enter the vehicle. Look inside compartments and access panels for any hint of an opening.
If you aren’t sure how or where to check, add this to the list of regular maintenance to be done at your local shop. They’ll know exactly where the vulnerable spots are and can seal them.
There’s no way to find every single tiny opening. So make the interior of your motorhome or campervan as uninviting to mice and other rodents as possible.
Reduce Temptation
Mice are looking for warmth and food. Clean your rig thoroughly after every trip and remove all the food. The only things it’s okay to leave in your kitchen are items in unopened cans or jars. Mice will chew right through paper or plastic food packages.
Vacuum the floors, clean out the cabinets, and make sure that the kitchen is spotless.
Mice also love to chew on paper, fabric, and anything else they can get their little teeth on. Take paper products out of the vehicle when storing your RV for long periods. Do the same with linens, towels, and other soft items that are attractive for bedding.
If you must leave items in your camper while it’s in storage, put them in heavy-duty, sealed plastic bins.
Make It Smelly
Mice and other rodents dislike strong smells, so use that to your advantage. People use dryer sheets, mothballs, peppermint oil, and even Irish Spring soap to make their motorhomes uninviting.
Place scented items in cabinets, interior and exterior storage compartments, and along the edges of the floor. If you’re using dryer sheets, put some in the bed, too.
You can also place traps or put out poison pellets in case you do have mice invaders. Remember that traps need to be emptied by someone (and decaying mice will leave a horrible odor) and that pellets that kill mice are also harmful to kids and pets.
Inspect It
Your motorhome, campervan, or travel trailer should be inspected thoroughly every time it comes out of storage, especially in the spring. Even the most diligent mouse-proofing may not be 100% effective.
In addition to being messy and unhealthy, mice can leave dangerous damage. They love to chew wiring and block your plumbing. Take your rig into the shop every year to make sure it’s safe to hit the road.
Contact Leisure Coachworks for help keeping mice away and rodent RV repair. We’ll get you back on the road critter-free and buttoned up tight against future infestations.
