In an age when people are looking for household solutions at all opportunities, remedies such as moth balls, peppermint oil, and dryer sheets have been commonly mentioned as being effective for rat deterrents. The vast majority of websites that talk about methods for keeping rats out of cars will have at least a few people raving about how well these solutions work by themselves. In reality, these cases are far and few between. If you are using only one of these remedies, you are really doing yourself a disservice and are setting yourself up for failure (and more $$ loss). The chances that any single one of these methods will work by themselves is pretty dismal.
Why can’t we use just mothballs, peppermint oil, or dryer sheets by themselves?
There are many reasons why these are low probability attempts. Rats are going into your car for mainly 3 reasons: Nesting, Chewing on Wires to Trim Teeth, and Food (i.e. soy based wiring). Implementing just a smell-based solution is only just making them feel a little uncomfortable. Imagine this scenario:
You need to go into your kitchen to get food, but your dog just crapped on the floor. Sure it smells but is that going to prevent you from going in there and grabbing the food real quick then leaving. You will just spend less time in the kitchen.
Rats need to continually be chewing on things to keep their teeth trimmed or else they won’t be able to survive. If the teeth are getting long and they know of an excellent safe spot that just smells bad, that isn’t going to deter them.
I would argue that in the cases in which moth balls, peppermint oil, and dryer sheets have worked by themselves was due to ideal placement which, in effect, made the rat feel unsafe. Rats mark their “safe spots” with urine and if the smell of the moth balls, peppermint oil and dryer sheets has intervened with that so that the rat can’t detect their urine and they will feel unsafe.
This is exactly why leaving your hood up on your car is such a simple and effective method. Rats have evolved to stay hidden as much as possible and they don’t like the feeling of being exposed. Leaving your hood up makes the rat feel unsafe. If you combine this with introducing confusing smells, shining bright lights into the engine compartment, and blasting ultrasonics noise, you will compound the effect. Ultimately, the rat will be so uncomfortable to the point where they will find themselves somewhere else to hang out.
For more information on my calculated probability of success for individually using moth balls, peppermint oil, and dryer sheets, please see the article titled “What 1,300+ Comments say about How to Keep Rodents Out Of Your Car?”
Any questions/comments, please add below!
-Rat King Dave
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Is pepper spray effective as the sole squirrel deterrent?
If so, how do you make it and where do you spray it; how often?
Thanks!
Hi Carmine! I wouldn’t suggest using any one specific solution to treat a rodent problem for your car. To be honest I am not sure what the success rates are for pepper spray for squirrels. Theoretically it makes sense, but I just don’t know and I’m sorry for that. I mentioned this in a few other comments that I will be updating the site to make it more clear that I don’t have any personal experience with protecting cars from squirrels. Anything suggested is based on thorough research, but is not backed up by experience. It is important to me to disclose this and I apologize if I steered anyone wrong with any suggestions made on this site regarding squirrels. With that said, I have heard good results with the haveaheart traps though you need to check your States rules for trapping squirrels to make sure it is legal. I am not sure what sprays may be best, but I would probably go with a predator urine. A pepper spray couldn’t hurt either. Sorry I can’t be more helpful here! Appreciate the comment though!