Keeping Mice at Bay

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: Keeping Mice at Bay

Post by njoconnor »

First year we had the 72, I stored it in our back garage. I placed mothballs in aluminum pie pans nder the hood, the foot wells, and the trunk; even one under the car. Then added Bounce sheets in the glove box, map pouches, exhaust outlet, and throughout the interior and engine compartment. No signs of mice in the whole building that year, and yes, the moth ball smell was persistent for a few days. Planning the same routine this year since I won't ave any major projects on the car to justify it up in the main garage.

Neil
Neil O'Connor
Madison, WI
72 FIAT 124 Spider
12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
14 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Eco-Diesel
ex-71 FIAT 124 Coupe
and a host of Audi's, Saabs, VW's, MOPAR's, Fords, and a Bimmer....
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RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Keeping Mice at Bay

Post by RRoller123 »

When winter barn stored, I used to put an opened box of mothballs sitting on the passenger floor, and never had mice probs. No need to disperse the individual moth balls, the smell permeates very strongly everywhere, and it is gone in only a day or 2 when the cover is removed and the car aired out in the Spring. I Also put poison-type mouse traps inside the base of each of the 4 wheel stands.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
SunnySideUp
Posts: 640
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:02 pm
Your car is a: SOLD

Re: Keeping Mice at Bay

Post by SunnySideUp »

If you can't stand the wretched odor of moth balls try peppermint oil instead. The location mentioned above for pie pans is ideal, just use cotton balls soaked with a peppermint oil solution instead of moth balls. I have used the solution recipe with the clove oil option discussed at this site: http://how-to-get-rid-of-mice.com/peppermint-oil/ successfully over the last year. Make sure not to get any of the solution on finished surfaces as it may cause damage.

You will need to check the pans every couple of weeks and refresh as needed. A little goes a along way. No rodents and my Spider (and garage!) smells great, too. Best of all, I am not killing off the hawks, cats (domestic and wild) and other species around oury property with secondary poisoning from using Decon or similar poisons.
SunnySideUp
rlmiller
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:11 pm
Your car is a: 1977 spider
Location: SE Washington

Re: Keeping Mice at Bay

Post by rlmiller »

Ditto on mothballs. Have used them in our motohome for the last 4 years during winter storage. During the spring - fall we move it to some mtn property and scatter some underneath and put a few in the engine compartment. No evidence of a single mouse. Strong smell disappears within a day or so. We put them it plastic picnic style bowls that can just be thrown away.

Sadly I have no explanation why I never thought of treating my Fiat the same. I've had the dreaded nest in my glove box last year. I'll be taking care of her this week!!
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming-Wow! What a Ride! Hunter S. Thompson
VAspider
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2015 1:14 pm
Your car is a: 1969 Spider 1970 Spider 2012 Abarth

Re: Keeping Mice at Bay

Post by VAspider »

Frank
69 Spider
70 Spider
12 Abarth
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