Winterizing--rodent deterent

[sailor55330]

A few years ago, a friend told me that he always puts an abundance of fabric softner sheets in the boat in the winter as a rodent deterent. He even kept his fishing boat in the woods one year and he claimed it worked. I had never heard of this, but I can tell you that since I did it, I have not seen one sign of the little buggers. Not a dropping, no nibbling, nothing (and the boat smells nice in the spring). Has anyone ever heard of this? For $1.00 worth of fabric softners, It seems like cheap insurance. I put a couple on the floor, one or two in every storage compartment and a couple in the engine compartment. I don't put them on any fabric. Curious if anyone else has ever heard of this.

[akorcovelos]

yep, we live near lots of agricultural land/woods and I put them in everything before winter, even the cars in the garage (summer only cars) and they work great. No idea why the little buggers don't like the fresh laundry smell, but in my experience it works. I have some neighbors that use moth balls, but the smell alone is a deal breaker for me. I put a few cups of them in my shed where I keep the UTV and lawn equipment, but it's ventilated enough that I don't smell it in the spring.

[Big Block Power]

Yep I used bounced fire at least 10 years. Yep smells good in the spring. I keep them in there all year.

[CD262]

We use them in our camper for the winter, and we are surrounded by fields. Also, we cut up Irish Spring soap bars and put them at any major opening. Have never had a rodent in the camper (or boat for that matter).

[kas232ca]

I got a check engine light on my last Audi. Took it to the dealer and they said a rodent had chewed through a sensor wire. Not a huge repair. The service advisor said that occasionally, it is so bad they have to replace the whole electrical harness on some cars. $$$$. I use the dryer sheets now.

[Big Block Power]

Yep I used bounced fire at least 10 years. Yep smells good in the spring. I keep them in there all year.

Just don't start the fire in the boat.

[CaptainTom]

My marina suggests and sells Fresh Cab:



I used them for a couple of years before I heard of the dryer sheet method, which I switched to. Both smell good. We've had a couple of raccoons destroy boats over the winter here in North Texas. Varmin damage was excluded from my Geico and Markel boat insurance policies. Interestingly, freeze damage was.

[AsLan7]

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We do the same. Bounce fabric softener sheets in all cup holders any time our boat has the cover on. Works like a charm. Smells great too.

[liquid]

I've always been a mouth balls guy but methinks I might switch to dryer sheets.

[NautiGirl]

I've always been a mouth balls guy but methinks I might switch to dryer sheets.

Your nose will thank you!

My aunt put down moth balls at the lake house after finding a couple snakes in the garage...we aren't just talking about a few here and there....BAGS of them at every corner...house smelled awful. We all had headaches from it. A year later, moth balls are gone and you can still smell them.

BTW, snakes hate the smell of Cinnamon...or so the interwebz say...that's much more pleasant.

[liquid]

I've always been a mouth balls guy but methinks I might switch to dryer sheets.

Your nose will thank you!

My aunt put down moth balls at the lake house after finding a couple snakes in the garage...we aren't just talking about a few here and there....BAGS of them at every corner...house smelled awful. We all had headaches from it. A year later, moth balls are gone and you can still smell them.

BTW, snakes hate the smell of Cinnamon...or so the interwebz say...that's much more pleasant.

...and the turtles prefer?

[Bfun220]

Mint oil is suppose to work well.

[AsLan7]

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We used to stuff panty hose pieces into the outside hull openings. Now we also use dryer sheets for those too.

[Ytmsn]

Maybe my rats are a different breed? Last summer I had something getting in and chewing stuff up in vehicles. I had heard about the dryer sheets, and put an abundant amount under the hoods. The freakin thing shredded them and used them for his nest.

I put some stuff called Just One Bite out. A day later, He daid. It turned out he was about the size of a small cat. But it took a week or so to find him. Eww...

I still use the sheets though. I think they work great for mice.

[TechieTechie]

I have older BMWs that are stored for the winter. Dryer sheets abound. However, it did not keep one of the stoopid critters from eating a hole thru the wires going into my DME (main electrical panel).

YT, thank you for the recommendation on Just One Bite...will be buying some soon.