Honestly, I’ve had the same experience—peppermint oil just made my basement smell festive, but the mice didn’t seem to care. Steel wool’s been my go-to too, though I’ll admit it’s a pain to keep checking every possible gap. The dryer vent is a classic weak spot... they’re like tiny Houdinis. Hang in there, you’re definitely not alone in this. Homeownership really is just plugging holes half the time, isn’t it?
Steel wool’s been my main defense too, but I swear, every time I think I’ve sealed every gap, I find some new little entry point. I even caught one squeezing through a spot I thought was way too small—turns out they can flatten themselves more than I realized. I’ve read about people using expanding foam with steel wool mixed in, but I’m a bit wary of the foam breaking down over time. Has anyone tried those ultrasonic plug-ins? Part of me thinks they’re just snake oil, but curious if anyone’s seen actual results.
Title: Keeping The Critters Out: Weird But Effective Tricks?
I’ve always been skeptical about those ultrasonic plug-ins, honestly. Tried them in a rental once—didn’t notice any difference, and the mice seemed just as happy as ever. If you’re worried about foam breaking down, have you looked into copper mesh? It’s a bit pricier than steel wool, but it doesn’t rust or degrade the same way. I usually pack it into gaps, then use a little caulk to hold it in place. Not the prettiest, but it’s held up for me.
Title: Keeping The Critters Out: Weird But Effective Tricks?
Copper mesh is a solid move—I've specified it for a few projects where rodents were a recurring nightmare. One client had a 1920s bungalow with more holes than Swiss cheese, and the copper mesh + caulk combo actually did the trick. I will say, if you use too much caulk, you end up with these weird lumpy blobs everywhere... but hey, better than mouse droppings in the pantry. Never had much luck with those plug-ins either. Sometimes the old-school fixes just work better.
Sometimes the old-school fixes just work better.
I tend to agree—mechanical barriers like copper mesh are hard to beat for actual exclusion. I’ve seen folks try ultrasonic plug-ins, but in my experience, those are more placebo than solution. For older properties, I’ve also had some success with hardware cloth, especially in crawlspaces. It’s not pretty, but it’s effective. The aesthetics can be a challenge, though, especially if you’re dealing with visible areas. Sometimes you have to weigh function over form.