How To Keep Rodents out of Your Car | Houston Volkswagen Dealership
5 Tips To Keep Rodents Away from Your Volkswagen in Houston, TX
Rodents' teeth never stop growing. In order to keep them from getting too long, mice, rats, and other pests have to gnaw frequently. A favorite target is the wires in the engine of an automobile.
While expert technicians at the Archer Volkswagen service department will be glad to help you with all kinds of car problems, we think you'll be better served by avoiding rodents in the first place. In fact, we have a variety of helpful information pages on how to keep your VW in great shape, including this page on how to keep rodents away! Below, you'll find five helpful tips on how to keep pests where they belong: far from your beloved VW!
5. Drive Your Volkswagen Regularly
Whether you have an old Volkswagen Type 2 bus that you've been tinkering with or a brand new Volkswagen Golf R that you take to the track on the weekends, a VW that sits around most days is an attractive place for rodents. It's quiet, dark, and cool, with plenty of space to build a nest and lots of wires to gnaw. Plus, the pests can brag to their other rat buddies who have to settle for living in abandoned Toyotas and Fords.
The best remedy is to drive your Volkswagen regularly--every day, if you can. An engine is a much less inviting space if it suddenly gets hot and loud. Mice and rats who have settled in will get the message loud and clear: this isn't a safe place to make a home. The less time they have to settle in and build nests, the less time they'll have to gnaw on wires.
4. Move Your Vehicle Away from Pet Food (or Vice Versa)
It's no secret that mice and rats love dog food and cat food. They'll stash it anywhere they can. If your car is right next to a big bin of pet food, chances are it'll look like a nice place to keep pilfered vittles. While they're there, they may find that gnawing on the wires is a good way to keep busy. If your pet food is stored far away from your vehicle, rodents are much less likely to be a problem for the vehicle.
3. Place Traps Around the Car
It may be primitive and messy, but setting traps around your vehicle can also be effective. If the traps seem to work and the number of rodents slows down, you may be in luck. However, if trap after trap keeps catching or killing mice and rats, it may be time to consider calling in a licensed pest control expert.
2. Protect Your Car with Rodent Repellent
There are a number of rodent repellents on the market that can help keep vermin from your engine. Though various strong-smelling sprays are commonly suggested, they can wear off quickly. Instead, it may be a good idea to try some capsaicin tape. While it looks like regular tape, it's laced with spicy capsaicin that will give mice and rats a nasty shock. We just ask one favor: if you use this tape around your engine, please let your technician know the next time you come in for service! That way, they'll know that they'll need to handle it with care.
In addition to taste deterrents, some people have had success with powdered fox urine. Spreading this near your car can trick rats and mice into thinking that a predatory fox is nearby.
1. Call In the Pros
If you're experiencing persistent problems with pesky pests, it's a good time to let the experts handle things. After all, a licensed and registered exterminator will know exactly how to get rid of your problem. What's more, they can give you tips on how to properly seal up your garage to dissuade future invasions.