A woman reported being shocked to find the wiring in her newly purchased Ford Explorer completely destroyed by rodents that managed to get into the hood.
The incident was shared by content creator Shira McManus on her TikTok profile. In her video, she explained that she had to spend a good amount of money to fix the damage.
“This might be the most random video I’ve ever posted. But we just spent $2,000 fixing our Ford Explorer […] new because rodents got in and chewed up a bunch of wires,” she said in the clip.
At the repair shop, she discovered a trick that she decided to share with other internet users. “So, the mechanic told me if you take dryer sheets and wrap them inside the engine compartment and around where the battery is. It will keep the rodents out and stop them from chewing the wires,” McManus explained.
This trick is quite well-known and seems to work to keep rodents away, but with a few caveats. According to the site Candor Pest Control, dryer sheets help repel rodents because of the scent from the fabric softener.
Thus, the effectiveness of the trick will depend on the scent chosen and the frequency of changing the sheets. If you leave the sheet in place for too long, the scent will eventually wear off, losing its repellent action.
On the other hand, it’s important to note that this trick should only be used for cars that are parked for long periods and exposed to the outdoors. If you decide to use this trick in your car, remember to remove the sheets before driving.
According to one internet user in the comments section of the video, if a sheet comes loose due to “vibration or wind,” it could get caught “on a belt or another moving part” of the vehicle, which would cause an even bigger problem.
At the same time, other commenters argued that the sheets could pose fire hazards, as they are exposed to very high temperatures when placed under the hood of a moving vehicle.
At the end of the day, keeping your car clean and, if possible, parking it in an organized area will already help a lot to avoid rodent visits, according to NJ Pest Control. Spraying your car with rodenticides or installing electronic devices that emit ultrasonic sounds can also help keep them away.
@shiramcmanus1983 #CarMaintenance #RodentRepellent #CarEngineTrouble #EngineTrouble #CarHack ♬ original sound – Shira 🍒 All Things Wellness
Photo and video: TikTok @shiramcmanus1983. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
