Mice nesting can cause catastrophic harm and a huge mess. Mice build their homes with anything. It can be expensive to build a home in stored equipment throughout the winter.
Mice gnaw through everything to build winter nests. Equipment wiring and insulation. Cloth and leather car seats, cardboard, plastic and even your gas grill's propane hose.
What prevents mice from nesting in your equipment in winter? Mice are diligent in finding winter homes, but they avoid those that smell bad. The most unpleasant fragrances for mice are peppermint and cinnamon.
Water, peppermint, and cinnamon oil should be properly mixed. No heating is needed before using water. The smell may fade after chilling. Fill your spray bottle with oil-water mixture and start working!
Drench cotton balls or rags and spritz with the solution. Winter requires monthly spraying of rags and cotton balls. This preserves the scent all winter.
There are many great commercial protection sprays and pouches produced with natural chemicals if you don't want to manufacture your own. Pure oil is mixed in sprays or sachets.
Car, mower, and equipment engine compartments are ideal for the pouches. This spray can protect the same surfaces or equipment undersides against mice climbing up and in.