How to Keep Pests Out of Your RV While it’s in Storage

RV Life

Unless you plan to live in your RV all winter, it is officially time to put your RV away for the season, and that means doing certain things to make sure the rig is ready for storage.

To be honest, we don’t typically store our RV for the entire winter since it is our home. That said, we have put it in storage for a few weeks at a time on multiple occasions, so I know the drill. You’ll need to winterize the plumbing, disconnect the batteries, and of course, do what you can to prevent pests from taking over while you’re gone.

That last step can be tricky. Pests are sneaky and can squeeze into the tiniest of holes and gaps, making it darn near impossible to block them out entirely. Unfortunately, pests can also tear things up in an RV pretty quickly.

Luckily, we have somehow managed to keep a (mostly) pest-free home for the decade we’ve been RVing. Here’s how we keep them away while we’re away.

Remove all Food

First and foremost, it is important to remove any and all food from your RV. This includes canned goods, which can freeze and burst. Leaving food in your RV is basically inviting pests in—something you definitely don’t want to do—so even though it’s a pain in the neck when our RV kitchen is our only kitchen, we always make a point of removing food before storing the rig.

While you’re at it, you might also want to remove all clothing and linens. While these things are less likely than food to attract pests, mice and rats do like to use fabric to build cozy nests to keep warm during the winter. If you do end up with pests, any fabric you leave lying around is likely to be torn up.

Fill all Entry Points

Now that you’ve removed anything that might invite unwelcome visitors, let’s look at ways to actively keep them away. The first step to doing this? Filling all possible entry points with steel wool.

This is a tedious task to be sure, but it is one of the most effective ways to make sure rodents can’t get into your RV. Look for any and all holes or cracks. Check both the inside and the outside of the RV, making a point of crawling under the RV, as this is where entry points often are. Remember, mice can squeeze through incredibly small holes, so you really do have to fill EVERY crack.

Choose Enclosed Storage

While it is no guarantee, you are less likely to end up with pests (especially bugs) if you park in an enclosed storage spot. Honestly, even just parking in a paved spot and away from fields where mice tend to live can help. Essentially, you want to put your RV as far away from the natural habitats of these pests as possible, and putting walls between your RV and the pests habitats is a major bonus.

Consider an RV Cover

Of course, not everyone can afford enclosed storage. In this case, I recommend parking on pavement and considering an RV cover. While this won’t block potential entry points into your home-on-wheel completely, it might make it more difficult for pests to get in.

Just make sure that whatever cover you choose is made specifically for covering an RV and fits your RV properly. Regular tarps can’t breathe properly and are likely to lead to mold and other issues. Meanwhile, a cover that is too large probably won’t do much to keep rain or pests at bay.

Make Use of Deterrents

You’ve covered all entry points and moved your RV away from where the pests live. The next thing to do is put out at least one deterrent. We’ve used cotton balls covered with peppermint oil, and while I can’t promise they did anything, we did not come back to pests. We’ve also used Grandpa Gus’s Extra Strength Mouse Repellent Pouches. They had a super strong smell, but also seemed to do the job.

Other options I’ve heard of people employing include Ultrasonic Rodent Repellers and lights set up under the RV, which is said to repel mice since they are nocturnal. I can’t attest to either of these methods, but they might be worth trying in conjunction with one of the options above.

Set Traps

Obviously, the goal is to avoid having pests entirely. That said, it doesn’t hurt to set a few traps just in case. You could of course use traditional snap traps. Sticky traps are also an option, though I don’t use them because they’re inhumane.

Another option is to set up a DIY bucket mouse trap. I like this idea because it traps the mice in such a way that you shouldn’t return to a horrible smell if you don’t check on the RV for a week or so.

One option I do NOT recommend is poison. Poisoning mice or rats is a bad idea because they don’t die immediately after eating the poison, meaning they usually end up dying behind a wall or somewhere equally difficult to reach. This means your RV smells awful for weeks or months.

Check on the Rig Regularly

Last but not least, make sure to check on your rig regularly. Once a week is ideal if possible. When you visit, make sure to check the cabinets, drawers, and storage bays for signs of pests. You’ll also want to check any traps you’ve set and make sure your deterrents are still working.

Visiting regularly may seem like a hassle, but it’s well worthwhile if it means catching a pest infestation early on so you can nip it in the bud.

That’s it! Follow these steps and you should be able to keep the pests out of your RV for the duration of the winter. That said, if you do end up with pests, the regular check-ins and traps will help get rid of them ASAP, ensuring your rig is ready for camping as soon as you are.