I heard that peppermint oil (essential oil) deters mice, if you want to try something natural.

Prevention is better than treatment. Do you have traps out and about?

Zero Odor found at Bed, Bath & Beyond is what I think you're looking for, Patricia. It's fabulous but I'm not sure its effects will last long enough to remove that yucky dead mouse aroma. Your DH would have to use it on a continual basis throughout the "deterioration" process. It, also, will have no deterrent properties. But...if your DH can stand the smell of moth balls...mice usually run the other way when they smell the camphor...as well as peppermint oil. But Elmer is right. Prevention is the best way to go but while you're doing that...you can try my above recommendations. The moth balls worked for me.

put some irish spring soap slivers in there

I agree, Socks. It's not safe to breathe the moth ball camphor aroma...but...I didn't mean he should use it in his vehicle as an odor eliminator. I meant that moth balls will deter mice from coming into the area in which his vehicle is parked/stored/garaged in an effort to prevent a recurrence of another mouse dying inside his vehicle.

Winter, do a Google search on moth ball fumes and the toxicity. You may change your mind about using them in that manner; I hope you do.

Rhizo...I know how toxic they are. I don't use them in any environment where I would be breathing in their fumes...and I certainly wasn't suggesting that Patricia DH should do that...or that he should put them into his vehicle. I use moth balls as a deterrent in an environment that doesn't affect my lungs. Mice don't like them anymore than we do and they will stay away from an area where they are spread around. When one has an infestation of these rodents, any deterrent that works outside of the home where the little darlings make their entry is a welcomed product.

Nature's Miracle is pretty good.

You are right it's Odoban.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/OdoBan-Odor-Disinfectant-Eucalyptus-1-Gallon-Concentrate-32-oz-Ready-to-Use/182732522

Also available at Lowes. It is awesome stuff and kills pretty much all bacteria and viruses.

Try Norwex order eliminator, works great and non toxic.

On the linked page about Odoban, the manufacturer said:

"OdoBan® is a disinfectant for hard, nonporous surfaces, but it does not kill all germs associated with rodent waste, such as the Hantavirus. "

It also says "OdoBan cleans, disinfects, sanitizes and deodorizes all precleaned hard, nonporous household surfaces."

That also means it doesn't kill bacteria/viruses, etc., in the air when sprayed. Only on contact on clean, non-porous surfaces after the passage of some time.

We parked my truck outside the garage and had chipmunks nesting in the AC. We live trapped them. Relocated them.

I've been meaning to thank Raven for the Odo-Ban recommendation. I paid $9.98 at Sam's Club for the quart spray bottle and gallon of concentrate bundled together.

You are welcome Alisande. It was recommended by fema and the professional remediation teams for use in the toxic areas of Harvey flood disaster. It even kills the aids virus. The list of what all it kills is extremely long and listed with the product. It is an excellent product. But of course no one is forcing anyone to use it.

Thank you all. This is a vehicle parked outside that is seldom used. He just had the blower motor replaced due to rodent damage, brought it home and two days later they had moved back in and did more damage. I know the rodents follow scent trails so they will move into areas other rodents have occupied. We are trying to find ways to keep them out.

I don't think it's likely anyone will encounter the AIDS virus on their counters or floors.

Bleach diluted in water, using a recommended concentration for what you want to accomplish, is a very effective disinfectant too. As with any disinfectant (and this cited product too), it requires surface contact for a minute or two to be effective.

What you are smelling with moth balls is not camphor. Camphor is one of the ingredients in Vicks and if it was dangerous for most to breath it would not be in it.

Thank you, maifleur. It was the fastest and easiest descriptive word I could think of at the time I made the post. Being 80 has its drawbacks once in a while...and last night displayed one of them. Please...do post the correct aroma that moth balls emit. I do know the fumes aren't healthy and would never advise someone to breathe them in or put the moth balls inside their home.

Once bleach is diluted, the disinfecting property is only good for 24 hours. After that, you need to mix a fresh batch. Doesn't say that on the bottle of bleach, but that was taught in nursing schools and also maintained by all health facilities I worked at.

True, and I remember reading that even in the bottle, the half life at best is about 6 months. At which point it's best to discard it (safely) and replace it with a fresh bottle.

The characteristic bleach smell of unmixed, still in the bottle chemical is the sign it's still active.

When I said: put some irish spring soap slivers in there

I meant, as a preventative. I read, mice don't like the smell. You can even put slivers in the air vents....

:)

Moni

Smellsbegone is the best. Amazon carries it.