How to Keep Mice and Other Pests Out of Your Unit

Published on 8/20/2020
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Let's face it, no one likes mice in their things.  Whether it's in your home, your yard, your storage unit, camping trailer, etc., they are not only a nuisance, but can be hazardous to your health.  Unfortunately, they are most likely to find their way into your home/space once in awhile.  However, there are some tips and tricks that will help keep them at bay if you're not a fan of traps or don't have a good cat.

 

One of the simplest and most common ways to keep mice and other pests out is to keep a clean area.  With your storage unit, keep the unit tidy and keep it well swept.  That also helps you see if you have any fresh mouse droppings and you can take a new course of action if needed.

 

Another simple way of warding off mice and insects is to use cedar wood.  You can do something as simple as placing a few cedar blocks around your unit or you can go to more extremes and sprinkle Western Red Cedar mulch, shavings and/or sawdust around the outskirts of your unit. 

The secret to cedar’s ability to run off a whole host of unwanted critters are aromatic hydrocarbons (phenols) and acids it contains that are toxic. The phenols, which give cedar its delightful earthy scent, are what repels fleas, moths, cockroaches, venomous snakes, mice and rats. And, in the laboratory, autoclaved cedar shavings have even been shown to inhibit the growth of micro-organisms. When rodents are exposed to cedar mulch/shavings/sawdust, the aromatic hydrocarbons are absorbed through the respiratory tract and enter the blood, damaging livers. The acids given off by cedar are very damaging to rodent respiratory tracts, destroying cells that line the lungs and trachea.

Just make sure you are purchasing 100% pure products as some may use other woods as fillers and won’t be as effective. 

 

If you don’t have easy access to cedar but you do have some essential oils lying around your house, soak some cotton balls with either peppermint oil or lavender oil.  These are said to deter mice if they are placed near their entry points.  However, with this method, you will need to soak them every couple of days for the smell to stay potent.

We also strongly suggest using plastic containers over cardboard boxes and not keeping ANY food in your storage unit.  Mice have been known to chew through anything they can to get to food.

There are many more home remedies for deterring mice and insects, but always find the one that works best for you and your situation.