How to Get Rid Of Mice Under Your Hot Tub
By Jennifer Rhodes · Updated
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Hot tubs are incredibly attractive to mice. Why wouldn't they be? Nice, dark location that they can hide in out of sight. Seems like the perfect home if you are a rodent.
Of course, the last thing that anybody really wants is to have mice hanging out around their hot tub. Not only is it unsightly, but mice can end up chewing through the hot tub parts or insulation, or at least cause a bad smell. They need to go.
There are plenty of ways that you can get rid of mice under your hot tub. Some of them are humane, others not quite so much. I want to share a few strategies that other hot tub owners have used to keep those rodents at bay.
Let's jump in!
Deal with any holes or cracks around your hot tub as soon as possible
Mice absolutely love to squeeze into small spaces. Therefore, if there are holes or cracks around your hot tub, they are probably going to try and get in. If you notice anything, even the smallest of gaps, then fill it up.
You will be surprised at how small the spaces that a mouse will be able to squeeze into (think the width of just a pencil)!
At the same time, you may want to keep an eye out for any signs of mice in the area e.g. droppings, scratches, etc. This could indicate that the problem needs to be dealt with in a different way, if they are simply around your spa rather than under it.
Maintain your hot tub water
Some people have found that keeping their hot tub's water clean helps to keep mice at bay.
It seems as if most mice are attracted to hot tubs when the water is a bit smelly and unclean. Keep it in good condition (i.e. regularly filtered and properly balanced), then you should be fine.
In some cases, a good clean may even scare mice that are already in residence away.
Buy a rodent repellent
There are plenty of natural rodent repellents on the market. You can pick one or two of them up and give it a spray around the hot tub.
Some people have also found that adding a dash of peppermint oil to the surrounding area works wonders. For some reason, mice are not big fans of peppermint oil. Most of the natural repellents on the market will incorporate peppermint oil, to an extent:
Another potential option is solar-powered repellent stakes. These work by emitting a sonic vibration which chases away rodents rather than harms them. You could try placing one by each side of your hot tub:
A final option is scent pouches. These are designed for indoor use, but if your hot tub is outdoors, you can always place a few inside the spa cabinet where they are sheltered from the weather:
If you have mice living under your hot tub already, then a rodent repellent should help to drive them out.
Regularly use your hot tub
Mice like peace and quiet. They don't want to be in an area that gets a ton of foot traffic. Therefore, make sure that you use your hot tub as often as possible. If the mice start to see you coming and going from it a lot, then they are much less likely to even bother coming close to the hot tub.
Obviously, things become a little bit more difficult during the winter months. You probably won't be using your hot tub too often then. However, you can still walk around the hot tub every so often. Perhaps give the hot tub a bit of a bang on the side. Make some noise, and it could help to scare the mice away.
Keep food away from the hot tub
Chances are that mice first discovered your hot tub because there was food nearby. They love to be near a food source.
If you have a problem with rodents under your hot tub, then try to avoid eating around the area. Even a few crumbs scattered about could end up being rather attractive to the mice.
If you absolutely insist on eating food around the hot tub, then make sure that it is completely cleared up. This means sweeping or vacuuming the area regularly.
Call in exterminators
While you could probably stick some traps down yourself, we recommend that you call in the exterminators if you are having trouble dealing with the problem yourself.
They will be able to identify the reasons why the mice are getting underneath your hot tub, and they will be able to provide advice on how to deal with the situation.
You don't have to use exterminators that 'kill' mice. There are plenty of exterminators nowadays that will use humane methods.
Yes, an exterminator can be expensive but, in some cases, it is the only way that you will be getting rid of those mice.
The bottom line
Mice under your hot tub is never going to be a good thing. Not only can they destroy the hot tub, but they are rather unhygienic to be around too. Thankfully, using rodent repellent and ensuring that you don't drop food around the hot tub will deal with the problem most of the time. As a last resort, you can always call in the exterminators.
