Mice - Does steel wool in mouse holes rust?

[Michigander]

I like the idea of packing steel wool into mouse holes and can understand how this would deter them. However, I wonder if the "wool" would eventually rust out (even if not directly exposed to water but only to moisture in the air).

[kpm]

Yes it will eventually rust with sufficient moisture. I have turned to Great Stuff Pestblock. Seems to work ok.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007TUF0FY

[SSquared]

I think regular steel will rust after a while, at least in humid climates. I used stainless steel wool. Some people have used copper wool. I think I found SS wool on Amazon.

[92landyacht]

You can pick up those stainless steel curly scrubbers at most grocery stores. Even Home Depot sells them:


https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Scotc...4-16/302127063

[rmkrum]

I use this stuff. Stainless steel material does not rust:

https://www.amazon.com/XCLUDER-RODEN...roof+wire+mesh

Easy to install, and still allows some air flow through the material.

[Paprika]

There's an important reason not to use steel wool where it can become damp: it can spontaneously combust.

Rusting gives off heat, like any oxidation reaction. Normally you don't have to worry about this--your steel RV frame isn't going to catch fire, because the amount of heat generated is small compared to the mass of metal. But rusting occurs at the surface of a piece of steel or iron... and thanks to its fine filaments, steel wool has a huge amount of surface area in a small volume, so heat can build up and result in fire. Steel wool burns just fine even when wet; many campers use it for tinder for just that reason.

I know at least one RVer who had steel wool catch fire after using it to stuff potential mouseholes. As others have suggested, use stainless steel, bronze or copper wool/mesh instead.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Coarse furnace filter material from HD...👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by jt240z

You can pick up those stainless steel curly scrubbers at most grocery stores. Even Home Depot sells them:


https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Scotc...4-16/302127063

^X2. My stainless pot scrubbers have been in place for 8 years. No rust and no mice....so far....

[Michigander]

Thanks to all for your replies. I have decided to purchase copper mesh since I have seen some stainless steel rust over time. Maybe it's cheap SS that rusts. Not certain, but copper should last for a loooong time without oxidizing.

[Acheron2010]

I've heard the "cure" is to string a set of LED lights under the camper?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Michigander

Thanks to all for your replies. I have decided to purchase copper mesh since I have seen some stainless steel rust over time. Maybe it's cheap SS that rusts. Not certain, but copper should last for a loooong time without oxidizing.

Copper may not be the best choice...👎


Furnace filters don't rust at all..
Bob
🇺🇸

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by Michigander

Thanks to all for your replies. I have decided to purchase copper mesh since I have seen some stainless steel rust over time. Maybe it's cheap SS that rusts. Not certain, but copper should last for a loooong time without oxidizing.

Just get the coarsest grade of BRASS wool at any home center (Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, etc.).



It will never rust, wont turn green like copper wool, is cost effective & do the same thing as steel wool.



PS - if you're looking for mesh/screen - then get the old school bronze bug screen material at the home center, or a place that does wood framed bronze screens for old home restorations. Coppa in San Pedro CA makes the resto door/window screens, but I don't know if they'll sell just the bronze screen fabric by itself, but should be able to point you to a source to buy some.



Easy Peasy!


Cheers!
Tom
///////

[highfeather]

I use a string of LED lights, about $10 at Harbor Freight, that can be set to blink....which seems to be the best deterrent. Come on at dusk; go off at dawn. I mounted them to a small furniture dolly and put a 2x4 on that as a handle. Slides around anywhich way I want and NO mice or pack rats have been trying to build a nest since.

[tbashin]

Yes. Brass Wool like Tom_T says.

[featherbedder]

The only deterrent i have found is dcon bait bars break in half toss on floor under AS and other stalls in barn & machine shed, also have small bowl dcon pellets in AS, but my AS is inside from Nov. until May. I haven't found way to keep mice from house as I keep snap traps baited yr. around. Living rural field mice hard to stop.

[Sovereign85]

Copper mesh pads, and http://www.touch-n-foam.com/mouseshield.html, do the job quite well. No rust and no pest chew through.

[jimfa440]

Yes, it will rust. Use brass wool, it won't.

[0557]

I use Stainless wool.
Dollar store has it

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by featherbedder

The only deterrent i have found is dcon bait bars break in half toss on floor under AS and other stalls in barn & machine shed, also have small bowl dcon pellets in AS, but my AS is inside from Nov. until May. I haven't found way to keep mice from house as I keep snap traps baited yr. around. Living rural field mice hard to stop.

I use them all over in my garage too - where I keep 2x 1973 & 1974 Porsche 914-2.0's & don't want them in those either! "Belt & Suspenders"!



Cheers!
Tom
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[Johnnyooo]

You can use those stainless steel scrub pads which are like the steel wool pads .. They are also made of copper...