Getting the mouse population under control in your home is just the first step in putting this issue behind you for good.  The next step is to properly and carefully clean up the mess that was left behind. Mice are filthy creatures who commonly carry diseases. If you had a mouse problem in your home, there is certain to be significant amounts of urine, feces, and saliva left behind. It’s important to deal with this promptly.

Take a look at this video to see how much of a mess mice made in this attic in a few short months:

 

 

 Mice also pick on the hormonal scent of their peers, therefore the quicker you neutralize any odors, the less likely new rodents will pick up on the scent and head towards the comfort of your home.  

 

 Keep reading to find out all you need to safely clean up mouse droppings and all associated contaminants.

 

3 Steps for Safe Cleaning

 

Ventilate:

  •  Before cleaning the area, it is advised to properly ventilate the area. Simply open all available doors and windows and vacate the area for as long as possible (minimum 30 min). his will allow any potential airborne contaminants to clear out, as well as make the space more bearable to work in.

 

Clean the Droppings/Urine:

 * Do not sweep or vacuum mess left by mice – you do not want to stir up any dust due to possible contaminants *

Mouse poop ranges in size from 3/16 to ¼ inch long — similar to a grain of rice, with pointed ends and color varying from blackish brown to gray depending on how old it is and the diet of the mouse.

 Follow these steps to safely clean up the mess:

  •  Wear latex or rubber gloves to protect your skin. It is also strongly advised to wear a mask as well.
  • Spray affected areas with a disinfectant solution. A diluted bleach or peroxide solution is most common. Dilute with water at a 10-1 ratio (water to solution).
  • Pick up any visible excrement or mess with paper towels. This will prevent anything from becoming airborne.

 This part of the process is the most delicate and potentially dangerous part of the cleaning up process. After this is complete all dangerous bacteria will have been dealt with. It is important to follow the above steps and proceed cautiously through these steps. Serious diseases such as hantavirus and salmonella are contracted through mouse excrement.  

 

 

Disinfect Area:

 Once the physical mess has been cleared away, the area is ready for a thorough clean and disinfecting. It’s important to be thorough:

  •  Mop floors with the same solution you used in earlier steps, also clean countertops and any other potentially affected area.
  • Wash any bedding, pillows, drawers, utensils, and items that may have been accessible to the mouse population.
  • Steam clean and shampoo carpets, upholstery and furniture.
  • Throw out any food items that may have been contaminated. If in doubt, best to be safe and just dispose of the times(s).

 And now the job is done. The mice are gone and your home is clean of any trace they ever even existed. Congratulations.

 

 Where Will Find Evidence

 

  Mice are more afraid of us than we are of them. Therefore it stands to reason that these little critters will occupy the parts of the home we are least likely to be in. Attics, walls, and basements are perennial favorites. However, once we are asleep or out of the house, all bets are off. These industrious pests will show up in the kitchen bathroom, bedroom or wherever if no one is round.

 The quickest way to determine if you are hosting a population of rodents in your home is to take a quick look in your attic. If you do have a mouse problem you will be able to see tunnels through your insulation as well as excrement.

 The second most common area will be your basement and crawl spaces. Isolated areas away from the main action in the house.

 If you suspect you have a mouse infestation in your home, call a humane prevention company in your area for an estimate. Poison and traps are completely ineffective if your goal is to rid yourself of the problem entirely.

 How could a few traps and some poison deter mice from continuing to enter your home?

 

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