I’m right there with you on hardware cloth—it’s a pain to work with, but it’s the only thing I’ve found that really holds up over time. The steel wool and caulk trick seems like a stopgap at best; in my experience, it rusts and breaks down way too quickly. As for ultrasonic repellers, I’ve seen mixed results. Maybe they work for some pests, but I haven’t noticed any real difference when I’ve tried them. Honestly, nothing beats a solid physical barrier and making sure you’re not leaving out anything that attracts them in the first place.
The steel wool and caulk trick seems like a stopgap at best; in my experience, it rusts and breaks down way too quickly.
Had the same issue under my porch a couple years back. Tried the steel wool method and it looked solid for maybe a season, but by spring, mice had found their way through the gaps where it had rusted out. Ended up spending a weekend cursing at hardware cloth, but it’s held up ever since. As for ultrasonic things—total waste in my place. I swear the squirrels just got bolder. Physical barriers and keeping food sealed has been the only combo that works here.
Hardware cloth really is the way to go, even if it’s a pain to install. I tried using expanding foam with steel mesh mixed in, thinking it’d last longer, but rodents just chewed right through the foam part. If you’re on a budget, galvanized hardware cloth isn’t that expensive per square foot and holds up for years. Just make sure to overlap the seams and secure it tight—otherwise mice will find any weakness. Never had much luck with sprays or repellents either... they just seem like temporary fixes at best.
Title: Keeping the critters out: weird but effective tricks?
Funny you mention hardware cloth—I’ve had to retrofit a few crawlspaces with it after mice found their way in through gaps I didn’t even know existed. One time, I tried using that spray foam too, thinking it’d be a quick fix. Next season, found little tunnels chewed right through it... lesson learned. Hardware cloth is tedious, but if you take the time to bend it around corners and really staple it down, it’s pretty much bulletproof. I’ve seen folks try ultrasonic repellents, but honestly, never saw any difference. Sometimes old-school just works better.
One time, I tried using that spray foam too, thinking it’d be a quick fix. Next season, found little tunnels chewed right through it... lesson learned.
That’s been my experience too—rodents seem to treat spray foam like an appetizer. Hardware cloth really is the gold standard, even if it’s a pain to install. I’ve seen folks swear by peppermint oil or dryer sheets, but honestly, nothing beats physically blocking them out. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most reliable.