I don't think I personally have come across a thread like this so here goes.

I've been having lots of problems with mice getting into my garage and wrecking havoc on my paint. General inspection shows that there are no obvious holes/gaps that mice could come into. Frankly, I don't know what the attraction is.

Alternative methods (getting a car cover) I'd rather do without. My garage is not sealed and insulated, but I do plan to in the spring/summer 05. I just don't have the time now. I also do plan on getting a paint respray (next 18-24mos) but with this problem, I've been toying around with the idea of getting white instead.

I've heard moth ***** worked. I'm currently using that method but I'm not sure as to the results.

Does anybody know a good way to prevent mice from scratching the paint without resorting to getting an exterminator?

This has been an aggravating problem for me. Everytime I open up the garage door on a sunny day, I see all these scratches :'(

Thanks.

 

Get a cat

12345

 

I think you're nuts dude. Mice??? Could it just be swirls from improper wash technique? I can't see why mice would want to swarm your car.

 

Make sure there is no food under the seats or anywhere else inside the car. If there isn't any food in the car, I don't see why the mice would be interested in getting in your car...or scratching it.

 

My garage is full of meece. They live in the split wood pile inside it. There's virtually no way to "mouse proof" a garage. They're going to get in at the edge of the garage door. It only takes a small crack and they're in.

I'm betting that when the sun is at the right angle its revealing swirls and small surface scratches in your clear coat.

CM

 

We use sheets of Bounce to winterize our boats. The mice chew up the carpet and interior otherwise. They hate the smell I guess. Just set a box or two in your garage and they probably won't come around. If that doesn't work you'll need to spread the sheets around but then you'll have to live with the smell too.

 

Hahahaha. No I'm serious

I can definitely tell what my swirl marks and surface scratches look like. It's definitely not the prettiest when I park at an open parking lot on a sunny day.

I scoured the garage and found mice droppings, so it can't just be me. Most of these scratches are very distinct. They are a series of lines and many of them aren't straight across, many are noticeably wavy in design.

Also, the most serious of the scratches, by the left rear fender, are reasonably deep ones that expose right into the white (primer coat). Unless I was washing with a brick the entire time, I couldn't have done them. The worst scratches caused by myself were the ones between the driver's front and driver's rear door. Happened from my belt/jacket zippers banging against the paint when I get in. Even those don't expose the primer coat.

I wash with 2 buckets and 3 gloves. I try to minimize micro-marring as best I can.

My car is kept immaculate inside. I don't allow food or drinks. It continues to maintain the factory smell since I got it.

The cat idea would be nice, but I won't be doing them a favour by leaving them inside an uninsulated garage every night at this time of year. Besides, cats already have done their share of damage to my paint; caught 1 sleeping on the hood and other parading around from end to end Even the glass on the driver's sides have some scratches

 

Thanks for the tip Broaner.

I've got plenty of Snuggle sheets laying around. I'll do that right now. I don't find these smells offensive at all, even the moth *****..

 

How about mouse traps at possible entry points into your garage?

 

I suggest that you stop transporting large amounts of cheese in your car.

 

Cats do scratch your car too. I parked my car at friend's garage, was scratched by Rakoon or Cat.


I suggest that to fill those garage hole with cement( Home Depot has those pre-mixed cement costs $9 a bag approx) and after you up those holes, nail a thin iron or steel plate(Home Depot also has it). I think the mice can no long sneak in those holes and scratch your baby.

Since your garage is not sealed....mmmm....i think the best way is to get those 1/2 motor gate.

 

mouse traps and bait.....

 

I'd also invest in a paraffin based rodenticide. Go to a local exterminator supply store and put it in areas they are known to hide or frequent. They will eat it and croak 3 days later.

 

Thanks guys for the extra tips. I'll try the rodenticide before I start zinging heads

Wcasskicker,
My garage is sealed, just not insulated or drywalled. It's an attached garage so I suppose there may be some small gaps they could squeeze through.

 

This is one of the oddest and funniest post i ever read about paint damage cause by mice. Seriously.......what kind of vermin infestion you got going up north? I guess the mice just wanted to break into your car and take it for a joy ride while leaving a note behind says "Dear Owner of the Maxima, Me and several of the rat pack took the Kar" Signed Mouse.

 

cat is the answer just get it declawed it wont scratch but it sure can still kill

 

He must live with the rats of Nimh. Can't blame them for wanting to drive it. are they attracted to the heat, or what? this is weird

but then you have to search for where the stench is coming from

yeah that would suck to have cat scratches too.

traps with cotton and PB works the best. just caught 5 in my closet (old farm house). problem every winter since cat died.

 

Hahahahaha you guys

Did I really make it sound worse than it is?

There's probably only 1 or 2 getting into the garage. It's a single car garage and there's really nothing inside so finding any corpses won't be a problem

Anyways, since the extra mothballs and fabric softeners went in, I haven't noticed any new scratches. Maybe it's just the colder weather. Who knew mothballs and snuggle sheets smelled so great

 

Colder weather drives them inside even more. My method works. Remove the mothballs because I'm very confidant in my method. After many years of storing boats for 7+ months, not one bit of carpet or vinyl has been chewed up. Fabric softener rocks!