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Store Your Stuff with Peace of Mind
(ARA) - Every change of season, our stuff comes in and out of storage. In the springtime, we put the snowmobile, winter clothes, blankets and jackets away and bring out the patio furniture, garden equipment and outdoor toys. Come summer, boats and jet skis join the fray. Then as winter approaches, we do a switcheroo.
Ever stopped to think about what happens to your stuff while it's in storage? Unless you've taken steps to keep them away, mice and other rodents may be nesting and having their babies inside your favorite jacket, chewing through the wires on your snowmobile, and making a mess of just about everything else you have in storage -- which is not a nice thought.
Rodents can cause many problems. They spread disease through their urine, droppings and hair, and because they are capable of gnawing a range of materials, often cause structural damage to property by chewing through wires, wood and even plastic.
"When I moved onto a farm, I was disgusted by the idea of dirty little mice running all over the place -- walking on the countertops, hiding in the tractors just waiting to jump out at me. I had to find a way to get rid of them," says Kari Warberg of Stanley, N.D. Because she suffers from allergies, using moth balls to keep them away was not an option and she didn't want to spray poison and then have to dispose of dead mice.
"I'm an environmentalist and wanted to come up with a solution that wouldn't harm people or animals," says Warberg. She did a little research then started experimenting with the same essential oils she had used to turn wildflowers into potpourri. Once she found the perfect mix that wasn't offensive to humans but was a big turn off for mice, she began marketing it as Fresh Cab. The product, which contains an all natural blend of corn cob chips, plant and herbal extracts, recently received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be labeled as a botanical rodent repellent.
The pouches are safe to use around children and pets, but although the scent is pleasant -- it is strong. Warberg says most people tend to use them in out of the way places, like under the kitchen sink, in the back of the closet, in the garage, and in storage areas. "When the rodents go into an area protected by Fresh Cab, their instincts tell them to leave at once. Because their sense of smell is thrown off, they can't smell food and water, or sense predators, so they don't feel safe."
Since coming on the market nearly a decade ago, Fresh Cab has received endorsements from members of the Good Sam Club, the world's largest RV owner's association and Care2.com, an online community for people who want to make a difference. In an article she wrote for the site, Annie Berthold-Bond says "Getting rid of mice without poisoning or killing them is very hard… Plugging up holes had helped the most until we discovered Fresh Cab… I have eight pouches in the basement and eight in the attic. I am hopeful that the squirrels will stay out of the attic and mice out of the basement."
Fresh Cab is available in home improvement, hardware, farm and home stores across the country. For a store locator log on to www.cranecreekgardens.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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