One of our customers at PPL’s RV Parts Superstore was chatting with me about her RV experiences…over 10 years in a Class C mini motor home and this was her first year to have a problem with mice. She, like so many RV owners, cannot park her RV at her home because of deed restrictions, so she parks at a local storage lot. Unfortunately, this storage lot is located next to a field that was recently cleared for construction. I guess those little mice had nowhere to go so they found her RV to be a nice new home. By the way, mice can do some major damage to an RV. In this instance, it appears they came in through the hole by the plumbing line under the kitchen sink and decided to chow down on everything in site…including the electrical wires leading to her microwave and refrigerator. Needless to say, she had an expensive house guest to clean up afterwards and she was very frustrated to have to cancel an upcoming trip. This got me thinking so I started asking for suggestions on how to get rig of these pesky creatures and RVers are always so helpful with suggestions:
- Bounce Dryer sheets – Yes, apparently mice do not like that clean fresh smell of those sheets we use in the dryer at home. One RV owner told me to place them in all the cabinets, under the silverware trays and in all closets and compartments. I was told that only the original “Bounce” sheets work…apparently “spring fresh scent and lavender don’t do the trick.”
- Mothballs – This is the sure way to make your RV smell like grandma’s house. The mice will stay away, but I’m afraid my friends and family will stay away too. There are many RV owners who believe in scattering mothballs in the outside compartments and tell me it really works.
- Steel Wool – We have done this little trick for years. We simply place some steel wool around each pipe or electrical opening and the mice will not pass by the steel wool. It’s an easy fix, but I think I’m going to add Bounce sheets to my steel wool plan and go for the double duty plan.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w97ilEfkbr8&feature=relmfu
These are simple, inexpensive “fixes” that could save you hundreds in repairs. I have heard of major damage caused by rodents and, hopefully, you will take time to try a couple of these tricks and save yourself a headache down the road.
If you’ve had experience with these furry little pests, tell me about it. How much damage did they cause? What did you do to get rid of them? If you’ve recently had these uninvited guests in your RV and need a few replacement parts, check our our online catalog.