Whether frying eggs and bacon, grilling sandwiches, or barbecuing, there are, without a doubt, many things you can do on a griddle.
We all love our black stone griddles, the mainstay in our backyard and hands down the best for cooking any time.
Do you know what else loves your griddle? Mice. Of all shapes and sizes, when they notice a large metal structure that offers food and shelter, they jump right in.
Mice are small and fast, which makes them hard to attack. The worst part is that they spread disease, and their droppings are poisonous.
Mice are the deadliest pest that can invade your griddle. But you don’t have to let them ruin your outdoor cooking enjoyment.
The first step in finding a solution to your mice problem is understanding what attracts them to your griddle.
Food sources in your grill, such as meat, grease, crumbs, bones, drink spills, and other things that have dropped around and under your cookware, attract mice.
If you notice their droppings or scratches on or around your griddle, it is a sign that they are nesting inside. Cleaning it and clearing the surrounding space helps keep mice out of your griddle.
Creating a barrier to block their entry points effectively keeps them from accessing your black stone. Next, take a step further and eliminate them using natural remedies that you can find in your kitchen.
We have provided a helpful list of how to keep mice out of your griddle so you can resume your outdoor cooking.
4 Steps To Keep Mice Out of Blackstone Griddle
A mouse infestation is a serious problem, so you should take preventive measures to keep them out of your griddle.
Step #1: Clean Your Blackstone Griddle
Since food is their main attraction, cleaning your black stone griddle thoroughly after giving it a good spin is essential. Mice have a keen sense of smell and won’t hesitate to visit you even at the slightest hint of food.
So it’s imperative to clean your griddle after use and follow these steps:
- First, turn the heat on for a few minutes to soften the residue.
- Switch the heat off.
- Scrape off any dried food with a black stone scraper, a putty knife, a wire brush, or steel wool. Use the side openings on the top to push food scraps and muck.
- Wipe the surface with a paper towel. Avoid using a dishcloth because of the grease.
However, if grease and food residue is still visible on the cooktop surface, take a step further and:
- First, add a few drops of water to the surface.
- Next, use a pumice stone to scrape the surface once more.
- Again, wipe the water and allow the surface to dry.
- Finally, spread a thin layer of oil on the surface.
If you skip these cleaning processes, expect to find unwanted surprises the next time you take the griddle cover off.
Step #2: Clear Your Yard
Cleaning your black stone and ignoring your surroundings is equal to no cleaning at all. Food spills around it or in your backyard will still attract mice. So be sure to clean it.
Mice prefer to build their nests in secluded areas that are quiet, dark, and close to a food source. They hide in soft materials like paper, leaves, or worn-out rags.
A cluttered and messy area attracts mice, and your home might turn into a mouse hotspot if your yard offers a warm, comfortable setting. Clearing yard waste, overgrown bushes, and heaps of rubbish helps control mice by making your property less desirable.
Keeping mice out of your yard can help prevent them from nesting on your black stone. If possible, store it indoors in a place not easily accessible to mice.
Ensure that you seal the trash that you keep in the backyard. Also, feed your pet away from your black stone.
Step #3: Create a Physical Barrier
Cleaning is rarely enough to keep mice off. Even after washing, your black stone cooking surface’s seasoned cooking surface keeps some of its aromas.
Mice will, therefore, still access your grill. They desire food and also somewhere they can turn into a home.
Besides cleaning, covering your black stone when you are not using it, especially for extended periods, will help keep mice out because they find it hard to climb a covered grill top. You can use the cover you bought with your black stone or create one.
Using fabric-lined covers isn’t ideal because their warmth and comfort attract mice. Unfortunately, a mouse can easily rip the fabric and hide inside the lining.
Make a cover out of wood or metal, ensuring the cover fits well and has no openings to let in mice. If you can, wrap your griddle with chicken wire or some other type of mesh, and block any significant openings on the exterior, especially the grease drain hole.
Note: Mice often follow along a wall or fence. Limit the access to your black stone by moving it a few inches away from these surfaces and railings.
Step #4: Use Natural Mouse Deterrents
It is best to use natural repellents since a griddle directly interacts with food. Non-chemical products will protect your black stone from mice and keep it safe for cooking.
Mice have a strong sense of smell, so you can try using that to your advantage and deter them with the scents they hate. Place scented items near the griddle and not directly on its plate, as that might affect your food’s flavor.
The natural products that effectively repel mice include:
1. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus has strong repelling effects against mice and can significantly reduce the likelihood of an infestation. Mix equal parts of eucalyptus oil and water, and spray areas where you’ve stored your griddle.
2. Cayenne Pepper
Just sprinkle some cayenne on your black stone or anywhere you have seen mice or expect them to be.
3. Teabag
Boil water, make tea, let it cool, and strain it in a spray bottle. Spray it around your black stone. You can also place the tea bags all around your griddle.
4. Mint Toothpaste
Rub some toothpaste along the griddle surfaces, on the cover, and in any mouse holes.
5. Clove Oil/Cloves
Lightly soak some cotton balls in clove oil and leave the cotton balls in places where you’ve seen mice, or leave whole cloves around and under the griddle.
6. Dryer Sheets
Stick a dryer sheet in the small strategically on your griddle and replace it after a week.
7. Cinnamon
The strong and spicy aroma of cinnamon is an effective repellent. Stash some cinnamon sticks on the griddle surface, in corners, and underneath.
8. Vinegar
Mix water and vinegar in a spray bottle and mist on any areas around your griddle.
Summary
Finding a mouse on a black stone griddle is not something anyone enjoys. However, understanding what draws mice to your cookware will help you solve your mouse problem.
Your best bet is to clean your griddle and keep the surrounding area as uninhabitable as possible.
Create a physical barrier to seal holes and entry points, and use all the deterrents at your disposal. A clean and mice-free black stone is all we could ever ask for; by considering these steps, you’ll achieve it in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Clean a Black Stone Griddle After a Mouse Infestation?
Using your black stone griddle after a mouse infestation is possible by disinfecting it.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Mix one part of vinegar with four drops of food-surface-safe disinfectant and water in a bucket.
- Remove the griddle parts to make it easier to clean the hard-to-reach areas.
- Use a spatula or scraper to remove food scraps and mice droppings from the griddle top. The griddle tops are steel, so they can withstand scraping.
- Cleanse the entire griddle top by dipping a clean sponge, cloth, or bristle brush in the cleaning solution.
- Rinse with clean water, and dry it with a towel. Allowing it to air dry promotes corrosion.
- Reassemble the black stone, drizzle cooking oil over the surface, and heat it at its highest setting for about 10 minutes to eliminate any remaining bacteria.
Can I Keep a Black Stone Griddle Outside Throughout Winter?
It is best to keep your black stone griddle indoors, beyond the reach of pests and adverse weather.
However, leave the propane tanks outside because they can be dangerous inside. But only with the restriction that the temperatures cannot fall below -44 degrees F.
Anything below that temperature prevents a gas griddle from producing steam.
