I hear you on the peppermint oil—never worked for me either, just made my basement smell like a candy shop for a bit. I actually tried stuffing dryer sheets in some gaps after reading about it online. Didn’t notice fewer mice, but my crawlspace smelled like fresh laundry for weeks. Has anyone had luck with expanding foam for sealing up odd-shaped holes, or do critters just chew right through that stuff?
Expanding foam seemed like a good idea at first—I used it around some pipes and odd corners in my garage. It definitely filled the gaps, but after a few months, I noticed little chew marks and eventually found bits of foam scattered around. Turns out, mice can get through it if they're determined enough. What worked better for me was stuffing steel wool into the holes before sealing with foam. Not the prettiest fix, but it’s cheap and actually kept them out. Sometimes the low-tech solutions are the most effective...
Title: Keeping the critters out: weird but effective tricks?
Steel wool does seem to be the go-to for a lot of folks, even if it’s not exactly pretty. I’ve tried the foam too and had the same issue—mice just chew right through it like it’s nothing. Ever tried copper mesh? I’ve heard it doesn’t rust like steel wool, but I’m not sure if it’s any better at stopping determined rodents. Still, can’t argue with what works, even if it’s not fancy. Sometimes I wonder if all these “miracle” products are just marketing...
“Ever tried copper mesh? I’ve heard it doesn’t rust like steel wool, but I’m not sure if it’s any better at stopping determined rodents.”
Copper mesh actually holds up a bit better in damp areas, but in my experience, mice will still give it a shot if they’re motivated enough. I get wanting something less ugly than steel wool, though—sometimes you just have to pick your battles between aesthetics and function. At the end of the day, nothing beats a good old-fashioned patch job with actual hardware cloth if you want to keep things looking tidy and critter-proof. The “miracle” stuff always feels a bit gimmicky to me too...
Honestly, hardware cloth is my go-to too. It’s not the prettiest but it actually works and you don’t have to keep redoing it every few months. Copper mesh is a bit pricey for what it is, and I’ve seen mice just chew right through if they’re desperate. I tried stuffing steel wool in some gaps under the sink once, but all it did was rust and make a mess—plus I still heard the little feet at night, so that was a bust.
If you’re on a budget, a combo of caulk and hardware cloth does the trick most times. Might not win any design awards, but at least you’re not shelling out for “miracle” sprays or whatever’s trending on TikTok this week. I’d rather have an ugly patch than another mouse in my cereal...