The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Cleaning up after mouse infestation

The mice got into my 1950 3600 and used the headliner as a place to put the stuffing from the seat and to poop and pee. I have pulled the headliner out and see that there is light rust in the metal above the windshield which I am guessing is mostly from their mess. I think I can wire wheel most of it off but there is a trough like thing that I will not be able to get inside of. I imagine that the mice pooped and pee'd in this part as well and while I made a vacuum cleaner attachment to clean the droppings out, I do not want to leave the metal in there unprotected. Is there a product that I can use to coat this area?

Also, I plan to stuff some stainless steel chore boy pot scrubbers in the pillars to keep the critters out of there in the future. Anybody have any comments on that? Thanks for any advice!

As far as keeping them out, it's best to take measure to keep them out of the truck entirely rather than just the pillars. What o mean is good sealing and when it's in storage having mouse repellents outside as well as mousetraps.

The rust is from all the acid in their droppings, or mess, as you called it. I always just vacuum, pressure wash, etc. As best I can. And use a mask when you're cleaning the mess.

I dont know of product to coat the area, can you spray rust converter in there?

Have been storing my '54, 3600 in the barn for a year and a half
now. Kept a box of moth balls in the cab all that time. The
other day I had reason to look inside for something and noticed
a spot on the head liner just south of where the mirror mounts.
I didn't have the nerve to poke at it for fear of what I'd find.
I didn't notice it before, but then again I really haven't had a
chance to do a lot to the truck since I brought it home.
I will be doing the whole truck one day, if I live long enough
so it's no big deal but I'm curious now whether they were in
there before I got the truck or since I've had it in storage.
Or if it was mice at all or maybe just a wet spot from
a windshield seal leaking.

DG

When we pulled my '38 out of the barn where she'd rested for over 20 years I discovered that it had been the home and potty for tiny creatures too. As you discovered it's impossible to get into every nook and cranny. I cleaned the best I could but still had some smell, especially in the summer. It took a couple of years but the smell eventually fades. The only way I know to eliminate it completely is to do a body off & dip the body.

Which I'm planning on doing with mine Richard. Dipped the front
clip on the '50 and am gonna do the cab if I ever get a break.
It's like getting fresh sheet metal still preserves every detail
like the tooling marks from the stamping dies and such. A lot
different than blasting.

DG

What is it about headliners that they like? Like said before it took nearly a yr to get all the smell out.
After I ripped out everything to do w/the ruined headliner I sprayed the areas I couldn't reach w/a rust inhibitor. I don't recall the brand but I got it at Tractor Supply. It seemed to neutralize the "waste" residue just like it did the rust.
Good luck
Dave

Cats can't get at them inside the headliner.

Snakes can.

I found a snake skin up there with the mouse nest.

Gazz,

An old Chevy looks like a perfect condo to vermin, and the headliner and header panel are the penthouse suites.

I implemented a two stage strategy to hinder their success: one was to fabricate a "mouse baffle" at the front body mount area as there is nothing to stop an enterprising mouse from climbing up through the side kick panel to gain access to the a-pillar (on a deco model). Secondly, I used a small piece of 20 ga sheet metal that is perforated with ~3/16 holes and fitted it into the a-pillar from below, and attached it with adhesive caulk. I think the scrubbing pad idea would work, but be mindful to not impede water/drainage flow from condensation.

Oh, I suppose I actually have a three pronged approach as I also have a mouser cat and dogs.

I can send you some images of my remedy, and think I still have some of the perforated metal if you are interested.

*****Always wear a mask or respirator when cleaning up rodent waste...Hantavirus is a bad way to die.*****

Paul

I've heard where moth balls are suppose to repel mice. But I had some in my car and the mice chewed on the moth balls!!!

I don't know what the answer is?? The stainless steel pot scrubbers aren't going to hurt anything....

John

I honestly think they can get through anything if they want to bad enough. I had a buddy who worked construction for decades, every facet of it, but he specialized in concrete and he swore they could actually chew through concrete given enough time and will power. I brought in 5 vehicles from very heavy woods and it was amazing how many rode the car hauler and stayed in their condo. I was killing them left and right with the pressure washer, I'd stun them enough that I could run up and stomp them to death. Some, it would kill outright. One long wheel base Apache was just gone from rat pee, all up around the windshield, floorpans/cab corners, everything just eat up for the acid from their pee. I went through several gallons of Purple Power and stuff like that and tore out all the interior that was gone anyway, to keep them as dry and vermin free in storage as possible. Really about the best thing is roaming feral cats or sticky traps with peanut butter or hot dog chunks stuck in the middle.

They won't hurt anything, but if the mice get in far enough to reach the pot scrubbers it's already too late.

Moth balls "expire", I wonder if that's what happened with yours? Here moth balls and WD-40 work very well as repellents.

But you gotta catch then in the act before you can spray them with the WD-40, don't cha????

DG

Spray any possible entries with WD-40, that's more for long-term storage usually.

Thanks for all the comments! I have a barn on my property and the mice really like it so there are quite a few around. I have since acquired a cat and he is doing a very good job it seems. Before the cat, I tried the mothballs, sticky traps, regular traps with peanut butter and never caught a one. I did manage to get a couple that had made a home in my Kennedy tool chest and another few that thought the vacuum cleaner hose would make a good nest. The cat seems to be the best deterrent though. Thanks for the offer of the perforated metal but I do have some as well as some bronze screen material.
Last year I went to change the air cleaner in my 2004 Siverado and found that the mice had started to nest in there! I used bits of the aluminum expanded metal from the old air cleaner to make some barriers and that seems to work pretty well.

Yes I live on a mouse farm too...it is a constant battle with them. It is one of the trade offs living in a rural area. Good luck.

My parents don't have cats on their acreage (on account of all the vehicles), but my dad uses homemade traps that work very well. Take a 5 gallon pail and put grain or birdseed in the bottom, enough to cover the bottom. Then put a stick up the side of the pail. They run up, fall in, and then can't get back out. Then you deal with them or they'll get hungry and dry up. If you have a cat or dog they enjoy playing with the prisoners before they dispose of them.

Spray the cab with a good germicidal spray to kill all those nasty little bugs that can make you sick or even possibly kill you.

I always have mouse poison in my shop and garage. I use those little pouches that emit a smell (can't recall the name right now) that mice don't like, and I put them in my cars and trucks when left sitting. I buy it all at Menard's. I justify any costs to replaceing one seat cover, or one headliner, or one heater motor replacement.

Can ya run out an take a look at the name of the repellent you
got at Menards, someone here might want to try it, taint no
good without a name.

DG