Protect Your Family by Keeping Mice Out Over the Winter

Mice may not be as frightening as rats, but they still carry their share of diseases. One of the top concerns RV owners have when they winterize their vehicles is keeping mice and other critters out of the camper. A vacant camper is a prime spot for these animals to take up residence over the cold winter months, but you can keep them out.

Banish All Food

It’s okay to leave some things like paper goods in the camper over the winter, but you don’t want to leave behind any food. Give the camper a thorough scrubbing when the season is over. Sweep, mop and vacuum the camper to clear away the smallest crumbs. Remove toiletries like tooth paste that might be tempting to critters, and clean out all other food from the pantry.

Feel Fresher with Irish Spring

Make the camper smell fresh and enjoy the luck of the Irish with Irish Spring soap. Shaved into slivers and placed in tin plates around the camper, the fresh scent you love will be atrocious to mice. It’s an easy and fresh smelling way to keep your camper rodent free over the winter.

Watch Where you Park

If you like parking the RV in the backyard because it’s not in the way there, then you are inviting mice. Try to avoid putting your camper in winter storage near fields, wooded areas or on grass. The best options are solid surfaces like concrete or even gravel.

Fill the Gaps

Wait until dusk, turn on the lights in the camper and then crawl underneath. This will make it easy to spot holes where mice might gain entry to your camper. Use expanding foam, steel wool or silicone to remove the welcome mat by filling any gaps and holes. You can also use steel wool in appliance vents. Cover it with tape to keep the mice from removing the steel wool.

Patrol the Exterior of Your Camper

The ground around your camper should be as clean as the interior of your camper. If mice are attracted to the area around your motorhome by trashcans, then it won’t take them long to discover that they can have food and shelter. Clean the area, remove trash and eliminate any tempting items like woodpiles.
Keeping mice out of your RV isn’t as difficult as you might think. The extra work is well worth the effort because mice will eat your canvas, destroy electrical lines and even chew through water lines. Even if they don’t cause physical damage to your camper, their residue and feces can pose a serious health risk to your family. Follow these tips to keep the mice out, so your camper will be ready to go when spring rolls around.

Healthy Traveler