How to EASILY Prevent Mice/Rats From Getting in Your Car/Engine Bay! (The Best Method)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
- NOTE: I forgot to explain WHY peppermint oil repels mice and rats. The potent smell and vapors of peppermint sting their nostrils and eyes, so they naturally don't want to be around it. It's actually an old trick, I just explain how to do it easily and cheaply.
Keep in mind, there might be some spots you need to spray the peppermint water that I didn't show such as behind the bumpers, behind the plastic fender covers, etc
ALSO, if this method doesn't work, do another treatment with 30-40 drops of peppermint oil in the 32 ounce bottle until it does work. You have to find where the mice/rats are actually living, and spray it down heavily.
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AMAZON LINKS:
-Peppermint Essential Oil: amzn.to/3ZXnzfM
-Professional Spray Bottle: amzn.to/3YR10YM
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CONTACT: MountainSpringsAdventures@gmail.com
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#Mouse #Rat #PestControl #Pest #Rats #Mice #Travel #VanLife #CarLife #Nomad #Camping #Outdoors #Nature #Toyota #Chewing #Wires #Damage #Woods #Forest #Snakes #Soy #Hood #Nest - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
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There are two types of “peppermint” oil sold…both come from the plant Genus Mentha. These two are Mentha piperita and Mentha arvensis (Corn Mint). The one you want is Mentha piperta. It costs about twice what Mentha arvensis costs, but it is the one recommended for use as a rodent repellant. If a product doesn’t clearly state which oil it is, you can assume it is the less effective/cheaper oil….and it usually has some bad reviews.
Here's my Mice not so Nice story: After parking my lil RV on some land I bought in Show Low, AZ, I learned about mice...AND big rats. Most of the campers up there would leave their hood open thinking the light would keep them from nesting...my experience is it drove one to build a nest way deep inside of engine compartment...I literally had to take off the dog house and with pliers and other tools dig that nest out from both sides...such a mess.
We also tried different traps. The mouse traps did nothing. The larger one did finally catch that nest builder. We also used a bucket of water with a slippery stick through two holes, one n each side, with peanut butter in the middle. That did catch quite a few. I finally gave up on that idea when I saw a mama and baby in the water and looked like they struggled, so I'm done with that. I know, they are pests, but it's really their home and I don't want that guilt. It hurts my heart.
I once had one in my cupboard and when I slid the door open, we both screamed and I shut it real fast😲...Then I devised an escape root by using a vent tube which I dropped out the nearest window and banged 🥁 on the opposite end of cabinet till it took the route. (Comedy of errors)...MONTHS later whilst cleaning out my cupboards, I saw a lil baby mouse bones. Again, so sad.
SO...this is why I'm looking to buy a Prius this summer (Lord help me, prices are high - 2023) and that way I will be driving more than sitting in one spot, and your spray will be what I use. I have also mixed a lil soap in that, I think I heard it helps it stick, and also, this is what I use to deter spiders...as there are Black Widows here in N. Nevada and various desert areas. I might also pick up some cinnamon oil and make a snake deterrent spray as well. Essential oils are good for many pest uses, that I sometimes feel I am spraying a virtual salad around my perimeter.😆
Really enjoying your videos, and really your's the the one that convinced me I might like this...I like your clean simple organized arrangement. Cheers brother, see ya down the road sometime. Robi.
Electrical connections are absolutely water proof. You're going down the road at 65 mph, it's raining sidways.....your entire engine bay is gettin soaked. Downt worry about spraying electrical connections.
Water resistant, yes. Waterproof, not so much. But you're right, spraying them shouldn't be an issue.
It's the peppermint OIL that is in the spray that you don't want on electrical. It interferes with conduction.
It's so nice to see another video and that you are doing well! I'm in the home stretch of my car camper build and while I was working on it I thought it would be a good time to review your video where you touch on using vinegar as a cleaner and after getting cleaned up and relaxing I brought up TH-cam I saw you new post! Like most people I'm not a fan of mice/rats and I'm going to do just as you said and hopefully not have any issues. Keep the videos coming and share an update of what you've been up to. :)
Thanks for watching, more t9 come
I've had this issue in the Pac NW for a decade, and this helped alot. Thank you very much.
Another ingredient I recommend using is *white pepper* I keep some suspended in water in a spray bottle, much as you have here. I use it to keep flies away during the summer. I also use it on my floor to discourage my dog from marking in the house.I hadn't thought about using it on my car, thanks for the idea.
The pepper spray works really well. Since it's not red or black pepper, it doesn't stain. You can use it on walls, etc. It leaves unseen pepper flakes deposited in the spot sprayed, so the deterrent effect lasts a long time. It would probably work well against pests in the kitchen, and outdoors in picnic areas, etc. Pretty much any critter hates pepper up their nose. lol
It's great seeing you with a new video. Enjoy Spring, my friend, happy travels. 👍.
Thanks for the info!
Pepper works well to keep dogs from tearing into your garbage cans when set at the road.
Good to see you back with a new post! Hope you are avoiding scorpions and other desert critters as well as it warms up. Enjoy your time out here, great time of year to be in this part of the country.
Thanks, will do!
Hey great to see you're back!! I'll keep this video in my favorites for when I go car camping in my Hyundai Ioniq hybrid!👍👍
Love the practical nature of your videos. Been a while, happy to see you are doing well and hope to see more soon. 👍
Follow on question: Ever get a mouse inside the living area? I have seen some people report this problem and I've wondered how a mouse was able to get inside. They may have drilled a hole without filling it properly during their builds. No clue though.
Also, any issue ever with ants? I've had a couple issues in the past, one very bad one. I had parked two close to a hedge row overnight and they swarmed my garbage bag.
Thanks. Never seen a mouse, or ants, inside the actual car. Always under the hood. Gotta be careful with stinky garbage inside the car.
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Yes, left a candy wrapper that smelled like a reeses peanut butter cup in the car. After work, 100s of ants were everywhere and it took them weeks to die out. I suspect the issue was the bush I backup up against gave them a fast highway on a hot summer day.
@MountainSpringsAdventures do you think mint can attract curious bears?
Yea! You’re back!! You’ve been missed. Thanks for the great info!
You bet!
Glad to see you posting videos again. I'm about to take off in my Prius V for parts unknown at the end of the month. I live in the Forest in FL, and after finding some places where mice bit through plastic... and a neatly stacked two handfuls of acorns (ok, that might have been the squirrels, they are pretty small here) I doused some used dryer cloths in Clove (because that's what I had, and stuffed them in the corners under the hood
(I think they dislike strong scents) and they haven't been back. Happy trails!
That's cool. Clove oil has a potent smell also. Never heard about dryer sheets. Thats interesting. Have fun!
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Yeah, the dryer sheets were from another ytube channel, I don't remember which. Interesting to see you out West rather than back East. Maybe you'll film the places you can go in a Prius;
I'm headed out that way, I think. If you follow SUVRVing. Tristan also has a website with the locations he's camped all over the West for years, and often there are road condition descriptions.
I'm excited, a little scared.... not sure I'm comfortable "stealth camping" ie: trespassing in urban areas, and may end up doing what BLM land I can in the, "Class P RV."
Egad....clove is too potent for me to handle..but some people like it obviously. Mint I can tolerate OK.
Here in Central Wisconsin, I've kept bounce sheets throughout areas. As long as you change them out every month or 2, they stay out. No more surprises in the glove box either. Mint works well, too. I use it in the garage along with bounce sheets on shelves. 😉
You always provide such good advice about living/camping in your car. Thank you so much
Damn Bo...I was starting to worry about you, lol. Welcome back my man and Im looking forward to future videos. Btw, my Set Power 12volt fridge is still going strong for a year now....thanks for the recommendation. The handle broke on mine too but I like it better without it. And Im glad to see your companion is doing well.
Glad the setpower is working, mine is also still running great. More to come!
So glad to see you back!
Nice to see you Bo and Shannon too...
Stay hydrated in the desert...
I just use a damp rag saturated with peppermint and cinnamon oils and wipe things down every couple weeks IF it's been raining a lot or monthly if not...
I also put some on cotton balls and stick them in places like doors, trunk, basement etc...
PS... I'd use an electric sprayer as my hand would be sooo sore...
Thanks for the tips! Cotton balls sounds like q good idea too
Glad to see you back on the tube 🎥 Bo! 🙌
Great having you back .
Thanks! I appreciate you leaving this since I'll be out in Utah, Nevada and Colorado spring and fall.
You’re back! So glad to see a new video from you, m’man!
Hey, thanks!
To get the oil to mix more easily, I create an emulsion with a little bit of peppermint castile soap in warm water with the peppermint oil and shake it up. I just periodically shake it to remix.
Six months is too long when camping in the desert from what I have read. There are multiple online nonsponsored articles that give good advice. I would personally spray every few weeks.
So glad to see you posting again. Glad you are well. God bless.
Thank so much 😊
Some of the popular prius camping youtubers constantly pump stuff but this channel has quality content every time!
What "popular prius camping TH-camrs" are you referring to? Lol, I didn't know there were any others but I also don't search for it
Thanks for the tips, welcome back.
Good to see you posting again. Thanks!
More to come
Missed your videos Bo! Hope you're able to upload again soon. Your content is helpful and thoughtful.
Working on it!
Thanks for the info! I've put the Peppermint oil drops on cotton balls and placed them all up in and around under the hood, but spraying sounds better!😉🙋♂️
I just got back from a two week road trip from VT to FL in my gen 3 Prius. I went down there with your window covers, your tinting, your fridge, your battery setup, your interior lights, on and on. I loved it! I decided to put a 5 inch foam bed 38 inches wide in the back. Fantastic sleep. Fantastic trip. Thank you!!! My next trip down I want to go on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also want to put two solar panels on the roof to charge the Bluetti. I don't like being dependent on finding a plug in outlet to fully charge the Bluetti. The car 12v sockets can't keep up with my power needs.
Cool! Glad that was fun. I've made that east coast haul many times lol. Have fun at blue ridge! I charge my bluetti with an inverter
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Same here. Have used the 1500 watt inverter hooked to 12 v battery to charge my Bluetti while car is on. Some newer models should be able to charge in very reasonable time, but the 12 vdc cig lighter limited to bout the 150 watt limit which is about all my Jackery 500 can accept and takes too long unless on a long drive. Still, solar is just one more thing to carry and SLOW for charging and such small amounts of energy that it is not worth it to me IMHO..and my life is devoted to solar and built 3 net zero tiny houses so I love solar. Of course, if needing to draw higher current for cooking in Instant Pot one can use the inverter wired to 12 volt system direct to preserve Bluetti content since the car won't be on long. I hacked my ECU to allow EV mode in my 08. It was easy, and it does forestall ICE popping on when I'm boiling water for tea etc and don't want to smell exhaust with door open...so long as you don't pull too much. Bo, you have lot of great innovations! A pleasure to watch your travels.
Thanks for making this and more content. Love your videos. Mice sometimes get in my prius too parked in driveway in the country. Very much appreciate the video on this
Right on!
Good to see you again!!!
I really enjoy watching your instructional videos They are simple, practical, and easy to understand.
I appreciate that!
Finally you came back after 8 months 🎉🎉🎉
ong
Thanks!
Glad you are back bro
Dude where you been!!?? Glad to see you are alive. You got to post. I don’t even know what it is but I your videos 😂
Thabks. Im Working on it! I been busy with some other stuff
Great advice on spraying lower front grille. I SAW a mouse run from my battery down to the grille on my gen 4 prius. Check your alignment for your front driver's side.😉 I inflate my tires to 40lbs on all four. I have woods around me so I bought a mouse blocker AND I spray peppermint too.
Whats a mouse blocker?
This is such a useful info - thanks a bunch! I will make sure to try it when I get my vehicle converted.
Glad it was helpful!
With all living things... it's always about habitat and food. The peppermint oil makes it uninhabitable for rodents! So smart!
👍👍👍👍👍👍 Where have you been?😀 Good to see you back on TH-cam.
Thanks for Your Info
Always Enjoy Your Videos
Glad to see You Back !!
Thanks for watching!
As you can see yhe videos were sorely missed so no need fo rme to say anything other than.... about time. Your content is needed in the world of car dwellers and soon to be.
;)~
Thank you, so glad it's actually helpful ☺️
Nice to see you back
Great to see a video from you tonight!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I've watched your videos off and on for some time now. I think you are very smart and have been very helpful to so many . Here is something I'm wondering though. I get the feeling you might need some time to stay put for awhile. Or perhaps permanently now. Have you thought of getting a place for awhile? Take a break from the car camping. You deserve it.
I appreciate that. My goal is to eventually own a piece of property or house and then travel/live nomadically part time.... like, maybe travel 6-9 months per year and take occasional breaks at my property. But thats a long term goal.
@@MountainSpringsAdventures OK. You have some things you want to do and that's good. Enjoy yourself and stay safe wherever you travel. We will all be watching you on TH-cam.
Glad your back 2005 Prius owner 👍
Great video. One question: Why don't you spray the tires?
I hope you're back for awhile ..Truly one of the absolute best TH-camr's here .Hiiiii Shannon❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks Kyndlee :) Shannon says hi back :P
@@MountainSpringsAdventures, yw..I love your vids and plz share more Shannon ..your baby is lovely ❤🌹
I'm going to spray this outside my home, too. Thanks! ☺️🙋♀️
I live up in Canada, and read that some ppl had noticed that their vehicles sprayed with fluid film werent touched by rodents. Its a petroleum/ wool based anti-corrosive used to prevent rust in cars up in the salt belt. It's non toxic and doesnt damage wiring, and is supposed to lubricate metals like bolts and connections - adding to longevity. I bought a can and I sprayed the same areas you spray here with fluid film, and then i sprayed with a peppermint/ lemon/ clove oils mixed with water onto the same spots. Wheel wells and everything. the fluid film adds a protective oily layer on components and lasts for a year or so. Someone said rodents may not like the icky ness of being covered in oily mess. I did this because i had found some mouse droppings deep in the engine bay on my honda odyssey. I'll inspect in about a month and see if i notice any signs of rodents
Very unique content!!! Highly useful too. Thank you.
Thanks, your welcome
Great video, very informative. Thanks!
Another great video, Bo. Even though I live in a house in a Boston suburb, we have lots of chipmunks and other rodents around and people's cars do get invaded sometimes. I haven't seen evidence in my vehicle of rodents getting in but I've seen evidence of what they're eating on the driveway adjacent to the car. I also park at trailheads in the woods and often leave some food in the car. Even though the food is wrapped or in containers, I think that attracts rodents, so doing the peppermint spray may be a great, low-cost idea for me. One comment. Your cautiousness around the rotors and springs seems unnecessary, given how soaked they get when driving through rain anyway. Also, did you get any of the spray up above the gas tank where one of the nests was found?
Hey Jeff. Generally, people in the suburbs or cities dont struggle with mice in cars, its usually people around rural areas, farms, and wilderness areas that struggle with it the most. I didnt spray the gas tank area, probably should have
Welcome back! Peppermint oil is great for keeping out all sorts of critters except bears. Bears love it.
Good point. Yes I've heard of bears being attracted to toothpaste and gum. Males sense.
@dds1970
What about tea tree oil, as a substitute? It smells like kerosene. lol The bears wouldn't like that too, would they?
@@asdfjkl7430 not sure. I’ve read bears don’t like pine sol and vinegar. I’ll have to google if they don’t like tea tree oil.
Long time, no see! Where ya been?
Thanks for the mice hack!!
Carry on. Stay in touch!
Been busy with other stuff.
@@MountainSpringsAdventures as you can tell.. you’ve been missed.
Hope all is well.
Ty so much! I want to avoid mice problem before a $400 repair bill to fix wires, like some people have.
Those home Depot ones break too. If you mix a little bronners peppermint soap it'll make the oil and water mix.
Thanks for the video. I have a question though. Why can't you soak the stuff inside your tires? All of that stuff gets soaked when you drive through puddles on the street. Is it because of the oil?
Great information. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Thanks for watching!
Welcome back 😊
Bo is back, yay!
Thank you for the welcome haha
I had a 3rd gen Prius. The mice figured out how to push the cabin airfilter aside and get into the interior. I forget exactly what I did about it. I think I came up with some kind of screen I highly recommend this because they always seem to come in that way, Cheers. I think a good idea is to come up with some kind of goop about about 3:04 inches long on the shock absorbers
Thanks for the update!
I traded my Prius for a 2021 RAV4 XSE Hybrid AWDi, that would be a great car for you too.
Very nice!
I use peppermint oil also but I put it on a on a paper towel and put the paper towel in a bag and put that underneath the wiring harness and whatever else kind of wires
I saw this a few days ago on another channel and then also a video where I guy tested mint oil and filmed with an IR camera (a box w/ sunflower seeds inside and glass top to see what the mice did). After seeing those were super effective, I tried it on my car that's never had rodents until this winter. So far, it didn't work after first spray down so I doubled the number of drops from 15 to 30, and it didn't work after that time either. So this morning I put a few dozen drops of just pure oil around the engine bay and then just did a spray down all over the place with 3 dropper full in the sprayer. We'll see how it goes!
Great seeing you hope your well much ❤️ don doing spark now in St. Augustine
Cool, I actually lived in st Augustine for a short time a while back
That zep bottle is the best bottle ever! I been out of the zep cleaner for awhile but I'll never get rid of that spray bottle
thank you for this info. did you mention how often to do this??
oh mvmd you just answered! thank you.
Rats ate into the wiring harness on my Toyota Highlander and also the foam insulation under the plastic engine cover, expensive fix. Been using peppermint oil and Irish Spring soap bars around engine area, seems to work, they were after the sugar in the plastic wire coating.
Heard from an auto mechanic that Toyota uses soy sauce as one of the organic ingredients in plastic wire cover along with sugar, that's what the rats are after.
A neighbor said I should leave my hood up at night to let the heat escape and rats don't like open areas. The heat may escape along with my battery and other engine parts.
Very cool solution
Hey Bo! How are you and Molly doing? Had to jump in and comment, First so glad to see you made it to the desert, it's not the mountains but do you still hate the desert? I have been using this solution myself, it's very effective. I spray the Peppermint oil literally everywhere! wires connectors everything soaking everything down. Mice are super athletes they don't need tires and shocks to get up into your vehicle and yes they are attracted to electronics and it's been rumored that the insulator of the wire is made from peanut oil, and since their sense of smell is so great. bingo! I treat my vehicle every time I can't smell the oil, every few weeks. opinion best part of this video is the advice of getting a quality spray bottle, if anyone in the comments says the "bears" are attracted to peppermint oil is full of BS.
When did i say i hate the desert? I love the desert, always have. I heard the wires were made from soy products. Seems strange Toyota would do that.
@@MountainSpringsAdventuresI heard they eat the plastic, which would make sense if it was made from peanuts or soy, especially in the desert where food is sparse. Natural plastics, better for the environment and all of our health in long term but higher maintenance in the short term.
Wow, was wondering where you were just a couple of days ago.
I might do this with my car this summer, thanks
Twice a rat got into my car and caused extensive damage. Thank you for the great tips✌
Good tips. We are surprised that you and the dog don't eat the mice.
Just spray your face and don’t get any in your eyes.
It’s a great idea man, but you definitely got it on the electrical.
What about spraying it around the perimeter of the Prius on the ground?
Thanx 4 this vital info!!
No problem!
How often do you have to do this? I have put the peppermint oil in the car but it really smells too strong so I like this idea. Thanks
He's baaaaack!
Great info!😮
Glad you think so!
bro you look like a British rock star now. nice.
Do you have a video explaining why you chose that roof rack box?
Thank you so much. Maybe this will help me out.
if you can afford it...instead of water...use 70% alcohol :D...disinfects-evaporates faster...seem to carry the mint oil better...make the scent dissipation spread fast too...makes better spray for carpeting floors and the hood heat cover under...makes me wonder if it will work tho to keep Irish Spring Bars inside yer car too...smells good and supposedly discourages squirrels and rats/mice (:D)
I forgot a key ingredient! (From my days when I made natural remedies for dandelions.) I think if you put a little drop of dish soap in this, it will make it stick to the surfaces better. That's what I am going to try! (Watch us find out that the soap attracts critters! Ha!)
Peppermint is what works for me also. I live in a rural area and wood rats got into my engine bay and into the air ducts. It was a real hassle.
Mice can jump out a 5 gallon bucket so yes they can jump to any part of the undercarriage not just climb up the tires.
Good advice. 👍
Thanks! 👍
omg. this is the worst. I used to live in a bus and they literally drove me out of it. can't wait to learn from you. I used peppermint oil. maybe they were demon mice. lol. it was awful.
very helpful, thanks
Glad it was helpful!
mice are a constant problem with vehicles at work that sit in a parking deck for extended periods, several had so much damage to the wiring harness they were totaled. once after a drive I noticed a horrific smell from my car after I parked in the driveway. I opened the hood and saw a large pile of burnt cat poop on the exhaust manifold.
Interesting solution. 🤔👍
Yes, it's actually an old trick, but I just explain it in simple terms
Thanks, Bo. Had a mouse or squirrel problem recently. 😢
Remember that God loves ❤️ you, Bo, and He wants you to love Him too 🙂
I placed cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil. The mice used it to build a nest. I placed Irish Spring in my glove compartment, mice chewed up the soap. I clean my car everyday. Nothing has worked, except traps
would it not be easier to use the mixture and spray on a shop towel and wipe the areas down, like an armor all made of mint.
I got instructions online I thought drop means dropper like 1ml lol I put like 20 on my 500ml water i can really smell the pepper mint is that ok?
Awesome!!!!!
Add a few drops of dish soap and it will allow the water and oil to emulsify.
Why are you worried about spraying your tires? They are made to go in water round-the-clock at high speeds and I can't imaging 1/1000 diluted peppermint oil is going to damage them? If so, there should be a warning label on the oil bottle :) Just not wanting to waste the product?
yeah I had a mouse start to build a nest in my car when I didnt drive it for like a week. they were chewing up all the rubber parts under the hood and brought a bunch of nesting material to build their nest. the only reason I notices is when I did drive the car a mouse was crawling on my windshield wiper while I was going down the highway
A drop of dish detergent will help keep the oil in solution.
I use it in my fifth wheel - I am in a full on battle with rats. Lowe’s sells a giant jug