Tried the “pest block” foam on a couple projects—honestly, it’s only as good as what you back it with. On its own, rodents still chew through, just maybe a little slower. If you combine it with mesh or copper wool, it’s decent. As for painting hardware cloth, I’ve seen folks use spray paint to match trim and it actually doesn’t look half bad from a distance, but up close, yeah... still hardware cloth. Function over form most days.
Title: Keeping The Critters Out: Weird But Effective Tricks?
I hear you on the pest block foam. I tried it in my crawlspace a couple years back, thinking it’d be a quick fix, but those little mice just laughed at me. They chewed right through it in a week. Ended up stuffing steel wool in there and then foaming over that, which actually did the trick for a while. I’ve also used leftover bits of wire mesh from an old chicken coop project—definitely not pretty, but it’s sturdy and keeps everything out except maybe the most determined squirrel.
On the hardware cloth front, I get wanting to make it look nice, but honestly, after a few months, the paint starts to chip or fade anyway. I’ve seen folks try to wrap it with wood trim or even use reclaimed barn wood to cover the edges, which looks a bit more intentional. Not exactly invisible, but at least it blends in better with the house. Function’s gotta come first, though. I’d rather have ugly mesh than another winter of chasing mice out of the pantry.
One thing that surprised me was using peppermint oil around entry points. I was skeptical, but after dabbing some on cotton balls and tucking them into corners, I noticed way fewer signs of critters. Maybe they just hate the smell? It’s not a miracle cure, but it’s cheap and smells a heck of a lot better than mothballs.
I guess there’s always a trade-off between making things look good and actually keeping pests out. If anyone’s cracked the code on making hardware cloth look like part of the architecture, I’d love to see it... until then, I’ll stick with my patchwork solutions and hope the mice stay outside where they belong.
Peppermint oil is a classic—my place smelled like a candy cane factory for a month, but it did seem to help. I’m with you on hardware cloth over looks. I’ve had luck using cedar trim to cover the edges, since it weathers well and doesn’t look too out of place. Not invisible, but it beats chasing mice at 2am. If only the critters appreciated good design, right?
Cedar trim is a smart move—blends in better than most materials and definitely holds up. I’ve always wondered about the long-term effectiveness of peppermint oil, though. Did you notice if the mice got used to it after a while, or did it keep working? I’ve tried ultrasonic repellents on a couple of properties, but honestly, results were mixed at best. Curious if anyone’s had luck combining different deterrents, or if it just ends up being overkill.
Curious if anyone’s had luck combining different deterrents, or if it just ends up being overkill.
Here’s what’s worked for me over the years:
- Peppermint oil: It’s decent at first, but honestly, the effect fades fast. Mice seem to get used to it after a couple weeks, especially if you don’t reapply often. I’d call it a temporary fix, not a long-term solution.
- Ultrasonic repellents: Same boat as you—mixed results. Sometimes they seem to help, sometimes the mice just ignore them. I wouldn’t rely on these alone.
- Cedar trim: Solid choice. Lasts, looks good, and actually seems to deter critters a bit.
- Combo approach: I’ve layered things before—steel wool in gaps, peppermint oil as a backup, and traps as a last line. It’s not really overkill if you’re dealing with a stubborn problem. The key is sealing up entry points first, then using deterrents as insurance.
Honestly, nothing beats good old-fashioned exclusion—find where they’re getting in and block it off. Everything else is just backup.