Alternative to mothballs?

[Kracken]

I have always used mothballs to keep rodents out of the boat during the winter. While they have always worked well, the smell lingers well into the summer. Does anybody know of a better alternative?

Thanks

[jaymorgan]

bounce fabric softener sheets

[Kracken]

Your kidding me???

That really works????

Needless to say that would smell a lot better than mothballs.

[jaymorgan]

many of my friends including me have been useing them for years and no rodent problems yet.RE:storage of cars and boats.

[tis]

Try cedar. We have used that in the past and seems to work really well. You can buy bags of it and we put it in little bags and put it around- or put it in whatever you are storing.

[DEJ]

Fabric softener sheets for sure, I have used them for about 7 or 8 years and no issues with unwanted visitors. Never had a problem with moth balls either but the smell is no where as pleasant as the fabric softener sheets.

[Dr. Green]

Bag of Cedar Roma Cedar shavings available at Sustain Ability for $2.50

http://www.sustainabilitynh.com/products.php?product=cedar-roma-cedar-shavings-bags

[Kracken]

Thanks for the help, these are much better alternatives.

[OCDACTIVE]

I have always used mothballs to keep rodents out of the boat during the winter. While they have always worked well, the smell lingers well into the summer. Does anybody know of a better alternative?

Thanks


store it in a heated facility indoors.. :D:eek:

[Kracken]

You have extra room OCDACTIVE? I will bring her over next month. :D

But seriously,

Thanks for all the good advice, next spring I won’t have to hear all the complaints from the wife about the smell.

[OCDACTIVE]

You have extra room OCDACTIVE? I will bring her over next month. :D

But seriously,

Thanks for all the good advice, next spring I won’t have to hear all the complaints from the wife about the smell.

I have tried other ways to keep rodents out and not to make you nervous but the moth balls are the best.

Feel free to follow me to Virgina to put her into heated storage. I can call and see if they have room? :laugh:

[DEJ]

A heated facility is like a welcome mat for mice etc... The only reason they move into our boats and cars that are in storage is they are looking for a warm dry place to spend the winter.

[OCDACTIVE]

A heated facility is like a welcome mat for mice etc... The only reason they move into our boats and cars that are in storage is they are looking for a warm dry place to spend the winter.


Sorry..Kracken and I are just razzing each other (inside jokes - lol no pun intended)

But if I paid a facility for heated storage and got mice.... Oh there would be a major law suit to say the least...

I have never heard of a marina with heated storage having rodent issues. I don't think they would be in business too long.

[Wolfeboro_Baja]

bounce fabric softener sheetsMy mechanic told me about that too. He used dryer sheets when he stored his snowmobiles, camper and boat. I've been using them for 8 yrs or so and haven't had a problem. Of course, I use 40 or 50 sheets in a 25 ft boat!! Too much is never enough when it comes to keeping rodents out of your car, boat or camper!! :)

[SteveA]

My mechanic told me about that too. He used dryer sheets when he stored his snowmobiles, camper and boat. I've been using them for 8 yrs or so and haven't had a problem. Of course, I use 40 or 50 sheets in a 25 ft boat!! Too much is never enough when it comes to keeping rodents out of your car, boat or camper!! :)

2 Boxes of 100 each at Sams Club $5.88

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=201382&pCatg=7296

[Kracken]

I think indoor heated storage would be the best alternative. I even tried to convince the wife we needed to add a second garage. When she found out it wouldn't be for her car, I got the “you are a stupid dog look”. So for now it looks like its dryer sheets and cedar bark mulch.

[jmen24]

I think indoor heated storage would be the best alternative. I even tried to convince the wife we needed to add a second garage. When she found out it wouldn't be for her car, I got the “you are a stupid dog look”. So for now it looks like its dryer sheets and cedar bark mulch.

HA, I get that look all the time. Props for going for the up-sell though.;)

[Toyorelle]

in addition to the dryer sheets, peppermint oil works well too. soak some cottonballs in it and leave them around. Has worked for us at the house as well as on the boat!

[Misty Blue]

Last year I had a problem with bats in my attic. One of the forum members suggested a sonic rodent device that can be bought at the locsl hardware store. It's made by Dedcon, I think.

If you can get power to where you store the boat you just plug it into an extension cord and it puts out an ultra-sonic noise that you can't hear but the rodents do not like.

It's cheap to run and worked for me. The bats were gone in one day.

Misty Blue.

[Kamper]

Havahart has a variety of repellant chemicals in addition to their humane traps. Some of them are multipurpose and safe for "organic" gadening so should be okay in a garage.

http://www.havahart.com/store/animal-repellents/bdapb

Good luck!

[gtagrip]

We too use Bounce Dryer Sheets. Never had a problem with rodents. :)

[jr616]

Moth balls outside & under sink - dryer sheets inside EVERYWHERE!
My RV smells so great in the spring!

[Grady223]

We use mothball and cloves in the house, but the smell in the spring takes a while to get rid of. Never have had a rodent problem, tho. How many dryer sheets would you need for an average room, sat 12' X 12'? They certainly would smell better - altho the cloves cut the mothball smell somewhat and are poisonous to rodents.