Mouse infestations can cause a lot of damage and cost homeowners a lot of money. Whether large or small, a mouse infestation should always be followed by a series of cleaning and decontamination measures.
In this article, our Montreal exterminators show you how to remove the smell of mouse urine and how to clean up mouse droppings. You’ll also learn how to remove the odor from a dead mouse and what to do with a dead mouse.
Why clean and decontaminate after a mouse infestation?
Mice carry a wide range of diseases, viruses and bacteria. Of course, not all pathogens carried by mice are harmful. But some can cause death, like hantavirus, a fearsome virus responsible for serious epidemic infections. So, even though they’re tiny, there’s no doubt that mice are dangerous.
Mice usually transmit their diseases, viruses and bacteria through their urine, droppings or saliva, which they leave all over their path. So a mouse that wanders into your cupboards, onto your counters or elsewhere in the house can easily contaminate your space (upholstery, appliances, surfaces, etc.) and your food, forcing you to throw it in the garbage.
How to recognize mice urine odor
Mouse pee smell has a nauseating odor reminiscent of ammonia. The smell of mouse urine can be persistent, especially in enclosed spaces where they’ve established their territory.
If you perceive this odor in places where mice are likely to hide, such as attics, cellars or storage spaces, it reinforces the possibility that it is indeed mouse urine. Besides, the smell of mouse urine in walls is particularly annoying to get rid of, at least on your own.
To better recognize it, you should know that mouse urine can leave visible traces in the form of small stains or streaks on surfaces.
How to get rid of mouse urine smell
To clean up mouse urine, we recommend the following procedure:
- Mix one (1) part bleach with nine (9) parts water ;
- Spray the mixture onto mouse urine and droppings using a strong stream;
- Leave for 10 minutes;
- Remove mouse urine and droppings by picking them up with a paper towel, then dispose of soiled paper towels in the trash;
- Clean the surface or room a second time with the bleach mixture, then dispose of paper towels, mops or other household equipment in the trash;
- Empty the garbage bag, seal it and place it in another garbage bag for disposal;
- Wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water.
Mouse droppings
Mouse droppings
Mice reproduce at a staggering rate, and each one produces 50 to 80 droppings a day. It’s a safe bet that you’ll see a certain amount of droppings, and that you’ll need to carry out mouse droppings clean-up by cleaning and decontaminating the room.
Mouse droppings are small, elongated droppings, often compared to grains of rice or chocolate chips. When fresh, they are generally dark, ranging from brown to black, but can change color over time. Their texture is initially firm, but they can become dry and crumbly over time.
They can be found along paths that mice often take, near feeding or resting areas. The presence of mouse droppings is a sure sign of infestation and may indicate the extent of the infestation.
It’s important to handle them with care, as they can carry diseases dangerous to humans. Haut du formulaire
How to clean mouse poop safely
- Before you start, make sure you wear disposable rubber gloves and a face mask to protect against airborne particles.
- Be sure to open windows and doors for adequate ventilation of the area to be cleaned.
- Spray droppings with a disinfectant solution or water to moisten them before cleaning. This helps prevent particles from becoming airborne.
- Use wet wipes, paper towels or a dustpan and brush to pick up droppings. Avoid dry sweeping, which can disperse particles into the air.
- Place the droppings and the materials used to pick them up in a sturdy, well-sealed plastic bag.
- Use a dilute bleach solution or household disinfectant to clean the area where the droppings were found. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product label and rinse the area thoroughly after cleaning.
- After cleaning, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Can I vacuum mouse droppings?
Shortly, no. We’ll say it again, because it’s important, but when cleaning up droppings, don’t sweep up mouse droppings or vacuum them up without first spraying them with a disinfectant, such as the bleach solution we’ve introduced. This will avoid releasing harmful particles into the air.
The necessary precautions for decontamination after a mouse infestation
As you’ll have gathered, since this rodent represents a threat to human health, you need to keep mice away as soon as the first signs of infestation appear, either by exterminating them yourself, or by contacting a mouse exterminator. Because it’s only once the infestation has been eradicated or controlled that you can really get down to the business of cleaning and decontamination.
If you want to clean and decontaminate your home yourself after a mouse infestation, we recommend 3 preventive measures.
Air space
Before you start cleaning and decontaminating after a mouse infestation, ventilate the space as best you can. Open doors and windows to ventilate the area for at least 30 minutes. When you ventilate the room, step outside to avoid breathing stale air unnecessarily.
Avoid stirring up dust
As we’ve just seen, mice’s diseases, viruses and bacteria are transmitted through their urine, droppings or saliva. When cleaning, try as far as possible not to stir up dust or mouse droppings. Your health depends on it.
Easier said than done, you may say. But a professional exterminator knows exactly what to do. After all, it’s his job. And it’s precisely for this reason that we recommend that you entrust the job of pest decontamination to him whenever possible.
Wear the right safety equipment
This is a very important point. Never clean a room contaminated by mouse urine, droppings or saliva if you’re not wearing the required safety equipment.
To protect yourself, wear a respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter, such as the N100 respirator. Disposable paper dust masks are ineffective and should not be used to clean and decontaminate areas that have been infested by mice.
In addition to wearing a respirator, be sure to wear disposable rubber gloves, rubber boots and disposable shoe covers.
How do you get rid of mouse pee smell thanks to prevention
Phew… The smell of mouse urine is finally gone. So is the smell of mouse droppings. After such an ordeal, you’ll probably want to avoid the situation at all costs, won’t you?
If so, here are a few quick tips to keep mice at bay so you never have to clean up their urine again:
- Use rodent proofing to prevent mouse infestations;
- Buy mouse traps and place them in strategic locations;
- Keep the inside of your home clean and make your food inaccessible;
- Remove debris lying around the house and trim back branches and vegetation touching the house.
Have your home cleaned and decontaminated by qualified exterminators
In light of this information, you now understand why it’s so important to clean and decontaminate your home after a mouse infestation. Of course, it’s hard work, but it’s worth it. What’s more, it’s necessary to ensure your health and that of the other occupants of your home.
To find out more about the world of mice, we invite you to visit the blog section of our website. And to do business with a mouse exterminator you can trust, contact us. Our team will be delighted to restore your home’s sanitation after a rodent infestation.
We look forward to helping you!
