Cleaning Up After Rats and Mice: The CDC's Steps
Droppings behind the stove or in the garage storage need cleaning, but the way you do it matters. The CDC warns that sweeping or vacuuming droppings, urine or nests can stir up germs into the air. Here's the CDC's method.
Get Ready
Open the windows and doors and leave for 30 minutes so the space airs out. Put on rubber or plastic gloves. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant, or mix a fresh batch of one part bleach to nine parts water.
Clean It Up
Here's the order:
- Spray droppings and urine until they're very wet
- Wait five minutes, or as long as the product label says
- Wipe up with paper towels and throw them in a covered trash can
- Mop or wipe the surface with disinfectant
- Wash the gloves while they're on, peel them off, then scrub your hands with soap and warm water
Dead Mice, Dead Rats and Nests
Rodents often carry fleas, so the CDC suggests wearing insect repellent. Spray the nest or dead rodent and the area around it, let it soak five minutes, then put it in a plastic bag, seal it and put that bag inside another. A reusable snap trap can be soaked in disinfectant for five minutes, emptied, rinsed and dried.
Fabric, Carpet and Papers
Bedding and clothes go in a hot wash. For rugs and couches, the CDC points to a commercial disinfectant shampoo or a steam cleaner. Papers and books can go out in the sun for a few hours, or get set aside somewhere rodent-free for three weeks or more. Bigger jobs like a crawl space or a whole attic are covered on our cleanup service page.
Questions We Get
Is a dust mask enough?
The CDC's main advice is to air the space out and wet everything down so you don't raise dust. For a heavy mess, hire it out.