Mice Are Getting in My Car!

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

I have a second car that is kept garaged most of the time. Unfortunately mice seem to be getting inside! What can I do? If I put mouse traps in there and I don’t check it often…..EEWWWWW!

Theresa M., Santa Rosa, CA

Dear Skittish in Santa Rosa,

Car manufacturers are now making cheese flavored wiring? Probably not but damage done to wiring by nibbles and the cardboard that is in the dashboards of most cars is an ideal knowing area for mice and can be very expensive to have repaired. They can get in through the air vents quite easily and wreak havoc on a stored car in relatively short time.

The only odor that would be worse than a dead mouse could possibly be one of the many tried cures: mothballs. Get that car out of storage and let it sit in the sun and you will regret ever trying that method!

The easiest and most effective is peppermint oil! Yep! The same oil that you used as a kid to make those fire-hot toothpicks. Commonly found with local grocers, peppermint oil on cotton balls are a great deterrent for mice. You could also put the oil and cotton balls in a small jar with holes poked in the lids and placed around the interior for a longer lasting method.

Mice detest the smell of peppermint oil so take advantage of that and pass the toothpicks!

Solemnly,

M

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