How to Get Rid of Mice in Your RV

HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A MOUSE INFESTATION

How do you know when mice have made your RV their home?
Here are some signs that indicate a mouse or rodent problem:

Mouse Droppings

Where there are mice, there are sure to be droppings. Look along the walls, in drawers and in cabinets for mouse droppings.

Holes 

When mice get into your RV, they are likely going to chew through things. Be sure to inspect the mattresses and bedding in the RV to see if you spot holes or chew marks from rodents.

Chewed Food

If you leave food in your RV, inspect the packaging. Mice are likely to chew through the packages to reach the food inside.

Natural Food

Rodents may bring natural food sources inside the RV. If you notice anything out of the ordinary inside your RV, you could have a rodent problem.

Nests

Once rodents decide to take up residence in your RV, they will likely make nests to stay cozy. Look for their nests, particularly around bedding and mattresses.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR RV HAS A RODENT INFESTATION

If mice get in despite your best efforts or before you have a chance to seal up the RV, take care of the situation immediately. Waiting gives the rodents more time to cause damage in your RV.

You also need to do a little more investigation into where the mice are entering the RV. If you already looked for gaps and thought you got them all, do another thorough inspection to find potential entry points you missed. Setting up traps throughout the RV can help narrow down the locations of the gaps. If most mice end up in traps in a particular part of the RV, such as the bathroom, focus on that area when looking for the entry points.

After about a week of no new mice in your traps, you can reasonably assume the infestation is over and you found and sealed the entry points. Waiting a week also ensures any viruses in rodent urine and droppings inside the RV are no longer infectious, so you can safely clean up the RV.

Steps to follow while cleaning RVs to reduce risk of disease or health issues:

Open the windows for 30 minutes to air out the RV before entering.

• Put on rubber or latex gloves before going near the droppings or urine to keep any potential pathogens off your skin.
• Apply disinfectant or a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water on any droppings and urine. Wait five minutes before cleaning up the mess.
• Pick up the droppings with a paper towel. Dispose of the paper towel in a trash bag you can seal.
• Spray nests or dead rodents with disinfectant or the bleach solution. Wait 5 minutes.
• Use a paper towel or rag to pick up the nesting materials or dead rodent, and seal it inside a bag. Place that bag in a second bag for an extra layer of protection.
• Disinfect all hard surfaces in the RV, particularly those areas with evidence of rodent activity, including countertops, floors, drawers and cupboards.
• Steam-clean upholstered or carpeted surfaces.
• Wash bedding and other removable fabrics in hot water.

When you are finished cleaning, carefully remove gloves to avoid touching the outer surfaces with bare skin. Thoroughly wash hands with hot water and soap.

Once the RV is clean, you can assess any damage done by the mice. In some cases, it could be as easy as replacing bedding or mattresses. In other cases, you may need professional repair services to fix damaged wiring, hoses or other parts.

For help getting rid of mice and other pests in your camper and home, contact Pestcheck Pest Control today!