How To Keep Mice Out of Your Camper For Good

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Whether you are a full-time RVer or putting your RV away for the winter, mice are always unwelcome! Don’t underestimate the lengths these critters will go through to get in either. Today we’re going to share with you how to keep mice out of campers and RVs, for good!

We recently had mice in our RV and could not figure out how they were getting in. After trying a few different methods we eventually caught three. Below is a list of the tried and true methods for how to keep mice out of your RV.

How Do I Get Rid of Mice In My Camper Fast?

Once you’ve discovered a mouse in your camper, the goal is to remove it and any others as fast as possible. There are plenty of ways to get rid of mice, but all of them require some patience. No matter what method you use, you will have to wait for the mouse to fall for your trap.

Keep reading to discover the different ways you can get rid of mice quickly!

A mouse poking its head out of a container

Proven Methods to Keep Mice Out Of Your RV Camper

These methods have been proven to keep mice out of your RV. These tried and true techniques are popular in the RV community. Whether you want to exterminate the mice in your RV or keep them alive, we’ve got you covered.

Kill Traps

Kill traps are the fastest way to keep mice out of your camper. There are a few different methods when it comes to kill traps, which include snap traps, electrical traps, and glue traps.

While we are not against killing a mouse that has entered your RV, we are against glue traps, and you should be too. They prolong death and some mice might even chew off their own limbs to get out. Simply put, glue traps are cruel and lead to a miserable death. So we highly recommend sticking to humane traps.

Catch and Release Traps

If you do not want to kill a mouse but are interested in kicking it out of your RV, then catch and release traps are for you.

With this product, you can catch mice and safely release them elsewhere. Just be sure to release the mouse far away from your RV otherwise they might come back.

Victor M310SSR Tin Cat Multi-Catch Live Mouse Trap - Indoor and Outdoor Humane Catch and Release Mouse Trap - 2 Traps
  • Humanely Captures Mice - This no-touch, non-lethal solution is designed for live catch and release of mice
  • Multi-Catch Design - This large trap can hold up to 30 mice before it reaches capacity, making it ideal for larger...

Hire an Exterminator

If all else fails, resort to hiring an exterminator. If you continue to find mouse droppings but know you haven’t caught your culprit, you’ll need a professional.

Allowing a mouse problem to go on for too long can cause serious damage to your RV and can end up costing you a ton in repairs. If you can’t keep mice out of your RV yourself it’s best to bring in an expert.

A mouse sitting in a pantry next to the cinnamon and tooth picks. Storing food properly is how to keep mice out of campers.

Important Warning: Don’t Use Poison!

I’d like to step on my soapbox real quick: we are against all poison bait options when it comes to pest control. Mice are food for owls, coyotes, cats, mountain lions, and others. When you poison a mouse you are possibly poisoning any of these animals.

In California, there is a real problem of mountain lions dying from mouse and rat poison. This particular example is what led us to become aware of this issue and advocate against poison.

Preventative Measure for Keeping Mice Out Of Your RV

Once you’ve removed any unwanted mice from your RV, you want to ensure they stay out. Or maybe you haven’t had a little critter in your RV yet, but you are fearful of any unwelcome guests. Either way, there are a few preventative measures you can take.

Blocking Holes

You can take preventative measures by blocking all of the entry points, gaps, and cracks in your RV with a mouse spray foam sealant.

You can use expanding spray foam in even the smallest of holes. Be sure to hunt down every gap in your RV, as mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime!

Steel Wool

If you don’t want to use spray foam, you can use steel wool to mouse proof your RV. You will need to break off pieces of the wool and block all potential entry points.

Mice dislike steel wool as they can’t chew through it. A big plus for this method is that it also deters other rodents and insects as well, not just mice.

Peppermint Oil Spray

If you’d prefer a more holistic method to mouse proof your RV, then a peppermint spray is a good choice.

Spray this mouse repellent outside to keep mice away from your RV and campsite. You can also take peppermint oil-soaked cotton balls and place them all around and in your rig.

Mighty Mint - 16oz Peppermint Oil Mice Repellent Spray
  • Safe for People and Pets When Used as Directed
  • Creates a Natural Peppermint Barrier for Mice

Ensure Food Is Properly Stored

Mice are either looking for a warm place to stay or a free meal. If they can find shelter, food, and water in your rig, you’re looking at the potential for a full-blown mouse invasion.

Next thing you know, you’ll have a rodent infestation with adults and baby mice. To prevent this, be sure to store your dry good in well-sealed glass or plastic containers. This includes pet food too!

Do your dishes every night and don’t leave food out on the counters. It’s also a good habit to throw your garbage away frequently.

Debunked Methods For Keeping Mice Out Of Your RV

If you are in any of the popular RVing Facebook groups, you may have seen the suggestions listed above as well as a few additional ideas from the RV community.

Lucky for you other campers have already tried these additional methods and reported back. Turns out there are a few recommendations that have been debunked. Let’s review a few!

Irish Spring Soap

The rumor is to place unwrapped bars of Irish Soap around your RV. Apparently, mice do not like the smell so they will stay away.

A bar of green soap with tons of mouse bites on it. Irish Spring soap is not how to keep mice out of campers.
Source: Facebook/Rita Peters

Dryer Sheets

We’ve heard that placing dryer sheets randomly throughout the floor and under storage will keep mice out of your RV. The logic behind this is that mice use their sense of smell to navigate back the way they came. Therefore, the dryer sheets are too strong for them and they can’t find their way back.

However, many people on Facebook say this method doesn’t work. In fact, we’ve heard a few stories where the mice actually used the dryer sheets as nesting materials! That’s why this method gets put on the debunked list.

Moth Balls

This method is to place mothballs around your RV and in your storage compartments. The fact is, it’s actually illegal to use mothballs for anything other than their intended use, as they are considered poison; and you all know how we feel about poison.

Cat stalking mouse in a grass field.

Keep The Mice Away With These Proven Methods

Those are all of the proven methods we know of to keep mice out of your RV. Ever since we got our Battle Born Batteries installed we try to boondock as much as possible, which means we are more likely to encounter unwelcome little creatures.

In our opinion, there’s nothing better than a good old fashion trap. We prefer to use catch and release traps but will resort to snap traps if they refuse to vacate the premises. What methods have worked for you to keep mice out of your RV?

Last update on 2024-03-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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