With Spring in full swing and spring fever in the air, humans aren’t the only ones frolicking out in the fields spending more time outdoors. Four-legged creatures are also coming out and roaming around adventurously, finding new places for nesting as mating season commences. This could mean that your RV or Boat becomes a nesting ground for rodents. Before rodents claim your stored vehicle, follow these 7 helpful tips below!
1. Remove all your food from your RV!
A basic step, but also the most important in ensuring your RV is safe from rodents. Rodents love food so if you leave it for them to seek out, they will find it and make your RV home. Remove all food from the RV and wipe the cabinets down so there aren’t small particles of food left lying around. Even if you think certain foods are okay in prolonged storage, such as canned foods, the smell can still attract rodents. .
2. Spray Ammonia in your Engine
Spraying glass cleaners like Windex in your engine helps keep rodents from making a nest in your engine compartment or chewing on the wires. Ammonia has a strong scent that wards off unwanted critters and if your engine reeks of it, they will stay away! Preserve your engine and save it from irreparable damage by keeping away rodents which chew on wires, leave unwanted droplets, or even die within the engine.
3. Use Dryer Sheets to keep rodents away (i.e. Bounce)
Put dryer sheets throughout your engine compartment and all throughout the RV and this will ward off those pesky rodents because they hate the smell. Similar to ammonia, rodents dislike strong smells. Keeping these pesky creatures out prevents them from causing damage to your engine. Some prefer the dryer sheets over the Windex as it offers an easier clean-up of simply pulling out the dryer sheets from the RV engine before riding it out of its spring storage home.
4. Seal all Gaping Holes in the RV with Spray Foam Insulation
Your Recreational Vehicle has small crevices and access points for plumbing that mice and other small animals can squeeze into and gain access. To protect the RV, close those gaps by sealing them with spray foam insulation. These gaps are typically found where the plumbing is located or behind cabinets. Be sure to check for any other openings to secure your automobile from these tiny invaders.
5. Get some Mothballs
Rodents hate mothballs! Place some in bowls and spread them around the RV. Mothballs should be placed in areas that are susceptible to pests clawing: cupboards, top of those upholstered seats, on the bed, couches, and in the bathroom. The key targets to keep in mind while surveying your vehicle is to safeguard any place an animal will want to make their soft and comfy nests out of.
6. It’s a trap!
Don’t let mice take over your camper! Use mice traps to ensure there are no unwanted guests roaming around. As an extra precaution, place some traps on the ground near the engine! Whether using the traditional traps or no-kill humane contraptions to secure your RV, it is extremely important to stop by your storage spot to check on the captures. You certainly don’t want to be welcomed by that pungent smell that will linger for many days!
7. Keep Storage clean with Irish Spring Soap
Rodents hate the smell of this soap! Something about the chemically-induced Spring-fresh scent deters these pesky critters from unexpectedly visiting your storage space. Plus it helps you get in the mood for Spring! Buy a bulk of these at your local discount stores to set them around the RV and the Engine. The strong scents will be more welcoming for you while warding off uninvited animals.
Spring time means spring cleaning and storing your RV or Boat into storage spaces will help in organization and feeling refreshed! If looking to keep your vehicles covered this spring, our professionally managed storage facility is an ideal place. Pro RV & Boat Storage is conveniently located in Anna, Texas. Call 214-995-3078 or visit our facility website.
