Using whole cloves to keep mice away?

[wingdreamer]

Unfortunately, its getting that THAT time of year again.... ... time to store the trailer for the winter. I read somewhere recently that putting whole cloves around the inside of the trailer will keep mice/rodents away. After recently also finding out that NO insurance company in Canada (and maybe in the States as well) will  fix your trailer if mice chew it up, I was seriously shocked and am looking at any/all options to keep those damn critters out!
The cloves smell nice, a cinnamon/Christmas baking smell, so beats the hell out of mothballs (never,never,never!) Anyone have any thoughts on what works best? Will the cloves permanently stink up the interior of my trailer?

[Rockywood]

I have Allstate insurance here in the states.  They will cover any and everything that chews up my pup.  IF you have the RIGHT coverage

[ependydad]

I have Allstate insurance here in the states.  They will cover any and everything that chews up my pup.  IF you have the RIGHT coverage

Your agent must be more helpful than mine. He laughed at me when I asked if it would cover rodents and said that one didn't exist.

Their price was right, so I went with them anyway.

[wingdreamer]

Any ideas out there? Looks like I'm not the only one who is curious about the answer though...

[The Sod Father]

I heard that cinnamon keeps them away but never tried it.  I've also heard "Bounce" fabric sheets help repel mice.

FWIW - I was faced with a MAJOR mouse infestation 2 years ago.  They took up residence in my pool house, garden shed and camper.  Then they went for the house and nested inside exterior walls and the attic.  It was gross. 

I called an exterminator and he said repellents help, but if you want to get rid of them, you need to "get rid of them" using either traps or poison.  I went the poison route and was stunned at how many dead mice I would find DAILY in my swimming pool.  The poison causes sever dehydration and they either die from that or drown.

Last Winter was pretty much mouse free in the house, garage and attic.  I still found some droppings in the pool house and a few dead mice in the pool when I took the cover off, but nothing like the prior spring.  I have been vigilant in keeping the bait stations filled and have not had problems since.  My new nemesis is stink bugs.

[beemerphile1]

Whole cloves could work although clove oil would be better.
Peppermint oil.
Spearmint oil.
Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper.
Bounce dryer sheets.

If you're not afraid to get stinky you can use bobcat, fox, or cat urine.

Whatever you use be sure to replace often as the scent fades.

Whatever you use as a repellent the first step is to prevent access.  Most RVs have big sloppily cut holes around all the penetrations for pipes and wires.  Put a strong light inside the pup, crawl underneath and caulk all access points.  A mouse can go through a 1/4" crack or slit.

[Tukee44]

They smell good on the grill.

[The Sod Father]

They smell good on the grill.

Mice or whole cloves??

[ghacker]

...My new nemesis is stink bugs.

My sympathy. I understand this is one of the big problems with them and no easy solution yet. Not hear yet and I hope they come up with an answer before they do.

[The Sod Father]

Yep, stink bugs first appeared in Pennsylvania.  Yet another "gift" from Asia.  It is believed they made their way here in shipping containers.

[3OnTheGo]

Sometimes the little buggers will pull out caulk. A good trick is to stuff holes with steel wool, then caulk over that. They don't like biting into it, so they'll stop pulling. Stuff any space smaller than your little finger, since a little mouse can squeeze through the tiniest holes.

A non-toxic way to catch them is to smear the inside of a plastic bucket with peanut butter, then rub cooking oil around the peanut butter. Make a little ramp up to the bucket. The critter will smell the peanut butter, run up the ramp to get to it, free fall down the side of the bucket and be unable to climb out. I know it sounds crazy, but I've seen it work.

[SkipD]

A good trick is to stuff holes with steel wool.....

Steel wool rusts.  A far superior product for this task would be either copper wool or bronze wool.  Google both and you'll find several sources.

[JD and Beastlet]

A non-toxic way to catch them is to smear the inside of a plastic bucket with peanut butter, then rub cooking oil around the peanut butter. Make a little ramp up to the bucket. The critter will smell the peanut butter, run up the ramp to get to it, free fall down the side of the bucket and be unable to climb out. I know it sounds crazy, but I've seen it work.

That's a different take on what I built:



It worked very well.

[3OnTheGo]

Skip, of course either of those will work too, but one great thing about encasing/embedding the steel wool in caulk is that it doesn't rust.

[thebakers]

I did the light from the inside and lay under the PUP and stuffed steel wool then caulked over the openings; no problems in two years.
All else fails, a six-pack or bottle of wine, camo, a .177 pellet gun/rifle with laser sights, and a few idle hours will do the trick. Just don’t hit the tires.