How to get mice out of your car: A quick guide

 Have you ever had a mouse in your car? 

It's unnerving, to say the least. As cute as mice can be, it's weird to think of them running around your Orlando Toyota unattended. And when you factor in the majorly expensive damage they can do to your car, they suddenly become a lot less cute. But how do you get mice out of a car, and how do you keep them out? Toyota of Orlando's auto care experts are here with answers. 

Why you need to get mice out of your car

Even if your car is just sitting in the garage collecting dust while you try to find the time to fix or restore it, you still don't want mice running around in it. They can do damage like: 

• Chewing through wiring, thus damaging electronics or your electrical system as a whole. Modern-day wiring insulation is soy-based, which is pretty much irresistible to mice. 
• Chewing on your carper, your seats, or the foam in the seats, leaving you with unsightly and costly repairs. 
• Leaving harmful droppings throughout the car, which is dangerous for you (and also disgusting). 

Needless to say, all of the above is damage you could do without. Electrical wiring damage could run you thousands of dollars in repairs. Your car insurance may cover the damage under the comprehensive policy, but you're still going to have to at least pay the deductible. 

Mice love to live in cars because they're warm and dry, they're a safe place to build a nest, and they're a great place to hide from predators. Here are some giveaway signs you've got a rodent problem in your vehicle: 

• You see mouse droppings or a mouse nest (be sure to check under the hood, too) 
• You smell a musty odor (or you smell mouse droppings) 
• You notice chew or puncture marks on your seats or chewing on your carpet 
• Your electronics stop working or your car won't start 
• You find a dead mouse in your vehicle or in your engine bay 

How to get mice out of your car

So once you've deciphered that you have a rodent in your car, it's time to figure out how to get mice OUT of your car. Here are some top tips: 

• Turn on the heat and park your car in direct sunlight. Mice, like humans, don't like extreme temperatures so if you turn up the heat, you may be able to force them out of the car. 
• Look for the nest and remove it from the car so they don't have a place to call home. 
• Honk your horn. Mice also don't like loud noises and might evacuate if you annoy them enough. 
• Visit your local home improvement store (like Home Depot or Lowes) and look for mice repellant. If you want to go the natural route, peppermint oil is a deterrent. You can soak cotton balls in it and put them throughout your car. (Bonus: your car will smell like Christmas.) 
• Lay down mousetraps. Sticky traps will catch mice so you can remove them from the car yourself. You can find them at home improvement stores. 

How to keep mice out of your car

Once you've gotten the mice out of your car, it's time to prevent them from ever coming back. Here are some Orlando Toyota tips for keeping mice out of your car: 

• Keep your windows and doors closed when you're not in the car. 
• Park inside of a closed garage if you can. 
• Don't park near food sources like bird feeders, trash cans, or dumpsters. 
• Keep your car clean - if you have crumbs and spills all over, it's like a buffet for mice. 

Want more tips on how to get pests out of your car? Toyota of Orlando - as always - is more than happy to oblige. Call us today at (407) 298-4500 or stop by. We're located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road.