Storing possessions in garage - how to repel mice

[ladyslattern]

We are moving out for major works to be done in the house. I had hoped to put all our stuff in lidded plastic crates in the garage but the cost of these is going to be extortionate, and they're so flimsy they are hard to reuse. I've looked into hiring but that's not cheap either. I'm minded to put textiles into vacuum bags. Is there anything I can do to deter mice from hibernating in my funerals coat and spare duvets etc.

You can deter them a bit with strong smells - mint, put olbas oil on cotton wool etc, or chuck chilli powder about the place. But it would need redoing a lot, and it is FAR from failsafe. Storage facilities are peppered with rodent traps for a reason!

Also they hate being disturbed, so going in there and moving stuff about, then changing the strong smell would be a good idea.

Have you looked at places like B&M for crates? Surely you could use them after for storage, or sell them on?

How long are you planning to store stuff and have you stored stuff in there previously?

Just by way of warning, I stored all my worldly goods for two months in a friend's garage and lost most of it to mould - I thought it would be fine it being summer

Could you consider one of storage places like Easy Store (I might have made that name up) Big Yellow etc.
I did when moving and I was able to get a month by month contract. The space I had was about the size of a garage and cost around £70 per month (I think) but it allowed us to de-clutter the house for selling.

Some of the storage places advertise first month for £1

Surely plastic crates are a fraction of the cost of your building works? You just have to buy these or pay for storage at Big Yellow or similar. Mice will chew through flimsy packaging so you need to spend I’m afraid.