Mice in RV: Secrets to keep critters out of your camper

Spring has arrived and you climb inside your RV or camper to prepare for another season of fun adventures. Then everything comes to a halt when you open a cabinet door to see a cluster of mice droppings everywhere, Nooooo! Mice and other unwanted critters are an annoyance we all have dealt with at one time or another. There are many campers that swear by homemade mouse repellents to keep up on an active eviction notice. Critters can destroy walls and wiring throughout your unit if left squatting all season long. So, what are some secrets when you find mice in your RV?

How do I keep unwanted guests from invading my space?

One of the most popular methods is Peppermint oil or peppermint leaves. You can also try things such as Irish Spring soap or dryer sheets before resorting to an industrial, chemically heavy deterrent.

There are many industrial products on the market, along with sound devices to deter mice in an RV. We are going to cover some more natural products that you probably already have at home that you can try.

Mice in your RV is not what you want, but you have options to prevent them from making it their home.

Why do mice get in my RV?

The main reason your RV becomes home to rodents is the need for warmth and a food supply. When the season changes and temperatures drop, small rodents can no longer stay outdoors and they begin their search for a safe haven. Another reason you may find mice in your RV is their natural food supply has diminished and you may have left some food from prior usage.

Mice can be very destructive and removing them quickly could save you from costly repairs later on. We have a few natural products for you to try to keep mice away.

Try these first!

Peppermint Oil

From my research, I have found that peppermint is the one that gets the best results to keep mice out of an RV. You can use peppermint leaves, spray, or oils. A cheap and easy way to do this is to soak cotton balls or make a peppermint oil spray to use at entrance points.

Cayenne Pepper

The strong smell of cayenne pepper helps not only keep the mice of your RV, but also repels other pests such as ants, roaches, and bugs. Sprinkle a good amount of cayenne pepper in areas where you find mice.

Goodie Pouch

DIY spice pouch to a place near openings, cupboards, and closets

Using a small cloth pouch, combine cinnamon, cloves, chili flakes, and star anise to create a strong scented deterrent.

*Bonus – makes your camper smell great

White Vinegar

White vinegar is a pungent-smelling vinegar and has been known to work great at keeping mice away. More than just the smell it is probably the strength of the smell that keeps them at bay.

Ammonia

Mimics the odor of predators’ urine and can act as a repellent.

Fabric Softener Sheets

Spread dryer sheets all over the RV when it’s in storage to keep mice away. This is a widely debated method with people on both sides of the fence.

Irish Spring Soap

Same idea as the dry sheets; Supposedly mice hate the smell. The perfumes in this soap are what tell mice, rats, chipmunks, and other critters they are no longer welcome to share your space.

Slice up small shavings and place them in a cloth pouch or just wrap them up so the perfume can permeate your camper.

Keep the lights on

Mice are sensitive to bright lights and have poor eyesight. Survival instincts cause them to avoid larger animals and being active at night helps mice avoid being seen by predators, as well as people. Because mice avoid danger, they may be scared off by bright, flashing lights or loud noises.

Placing a couple of lights under and around your RV/Camper could be the deterrent that you are looking for to keep mice out of your RV.

Secrets to Keep Mice out of your RV

How To Keep Mice Out Of Your Camper BEFORE They Get In

As you may very well know an RV is not the most tightly sealed vessel in the world. There are some things you can do to slow mice down as they search for room and board rent-free.

Mice are nasty critters that produce 60-80 droppings a day and don’t really care where they leave them. Besides just being disease-carrying, they are also destructive as they use anything they can to chew up to make up their bedding. You may never see a mouse in your RV, but most likely you have seen what they have left behind.

With that being said, it is best to just try and keep them out and not try to run them off at a later time. It is impossible to stop them completely, but there are things to slow them.

Mice are nasty critters that produce 60-80 droppings a day

So how do I keep them out in the first place?

Let’s start with a front-to-back inspection from the outside for any small gaps or holes. check around any vents, hoses, or pipes going into your unit. Get under your RV and give it a thorough inspection as this is where most openings will be.

For any openings, you find use Great Stuff Window and Door Insulating Foam Sealant with Quick Stop Straw. You can use the hose to shoot into gaps and it will expand to fill them completely. I found many spots under my Class C, especially around the generator and bed area in the back. Try not to overdo it at first as it will expand much more than you expect it to.

The foam sealant is not the hardest material in the world and mice have been known to chew on it also, so if possible cover openings with a piece of aluminum sheeting to secure your fortress.

Now to the inside

Same as with the outside, you need to perform a front-to-back inspection for any possible points of entry. If you don’t think they can squeeze through it, sorry, they probably can. This may include pulling some things up to look under, like the bed, dinette, and anything that may have a dead space underneath.

While inspecting the inside this is a good time to assure there are no goodies spread about. Your new roommates are there for a warm place to sleep and a homecooked meal. Open all your cabinets and storage areas and check for any signs that guests may have already moved in.

If you are a full-timer then it will be a regular inspection on the inside, but if your unit is in storage you need to remove items. remove anything they can eat and make bedding out of, paper towels, boxed items, or cloth materials.

If storing, do a good cleaning of the inside of cabinets for any food crumbs left behind. They can smell anything that was left out and even food in plastic containers are not safe.