Rodents in the hood

Imagine this scenario:  It is a cold winter morning and you are running late for an important meeting.  You jump in your car that has been parked outside for the weekend and turn the key.  The car won’t start.  You open up the hood of your car and to your shock and horror you are confronted with chewed wires and rodent droppings.  Your car is undrivable and you are looking at hundreds of dollars in repairs.

During winter rodents can be attracted to the warmth and insulation of your car’s engine.  They will make their nest in the engine and use it as a storage site for their food.  They are capable of eating through an entire main wiring in the engine bay of your car. They can rip up your car upholstery for their nests as well as the insulation in the cars engine.

If you have not yet had a rodent infestation in your vehicle, here are a few tips that might be able to prevent it from happening.

• Leave the hood of your car up:
  • Rodents are seeking a warm dark place for their nest

• Close it up:
  • Make sure that all doors and windows are closed.

• Pet food:
  • Do not leave uneaten pet food outside. Rats will store the pet food into all the empty spaces in your car such as the air vent and glove compartment.

• Rodent hiding places:
  • Remove any thick shrubs that are in close proximity to your car where rodents can hide.
  • Clear any foliage away from around your car.
  • If your car is parked in a garage block any entrances that the rats could use to enter the garage.

• Bad odour:
  • There are certain smells that repel rats that you can use in your engine such as; peppermint oil, cat litter, cat and dog hair and red pepper.

• Keep it clean:
  • Keep your car clean from any food or rubbish items such at paper, cups, tissues and fast food packets.

• Keep it moving:
  • Don’t let the car sit for long periods of time without using it. Drive it around every so often.

If a rodent has died inside the engine.  You will smell immediately when turning on your car as the smell will come through your air vent.

It is extremely important to note that you should not remove the rodent or it’s droppings without the proper precautions as rodents and their droppings carry disease.

When you begin cleaning, it is important that you do not stir up dust by sweeping or vacuuming up droppings, urine, or nesting materials.

Do not handle the rodent or it’s droppings with your bare hands, you must wear rubber gloves as well as a mask to avoid inhaling any air borne illnesses that are associated with rodent droppings.

• Mix up a bleach solution with 1 part bleach plus 10 parts water.
• Spray the solution on the rodent urine and droppings.
• Pick up the rodent, urine and droppings and put into a plastic garbage bag.
• Clean the area with paper towels and the bleach solution, dispose in a plastic garbage bag.
• Throw the bag’s away in an outside garbage bin.
• Remove your gloves and mask and dispose of them.
• Wash your hands well with antibacterial soap.

If you are really concerned it is an idea to bring in a professional cleaner to do the job for you and Sydney’s Best Pest Control can recommend general cleaners as well to get the job done first time correctly and safely.

If you have an issue with rodents call us today on 1800 819 189 or visit our website!