Attic, Crawl Space and Garage Cleanup After Rodents

Once the rats or mice are gone, there's usually a mess left behind. You'll find droppings and urine stains, shredded nest material, torn-up insulation and sometimes a carcass. In San Francisco that mess is as likely to be under the house or in the garage storage as up in an attic.

Roof rats also have a habit worth knowing. UC IPM says they're loyal to a nest site and may come back if the old nests aren't removed. Leaving the old nests is an invitation.

What Cleanup Covers

For a small area, it's removing droppings and nests by hand, disinfecting and bagging everything. For a bigger problem, it can mean pulling out soiled insulation in an attic or under a floor, treating the area and putting new insulation in. While they're in there, the company should point out chewed wiring and damaged ducts so you can get them repaired.

• Droppings and nests removed and double-bagged
• Affected surfaces disinfected
• Soiled insulation removed and replaced if needed
• Damaged wiring and ducts pointed out

Doing a Small Spot Yourself

Per the CDC: air the space out for half an hour with the doors and windows open. Glove up. Soak every dropping with an EPA-registered disinfectant or fresh bleach solution (1 part bleach, 9 parts water), give it five minutes, and lift it with paper towels. A broom or vacuum puts the dust in the air, so skip both. The cleanup guide has every step.

Garage Storage

Boxes on a garage floor are a favorite nesting spot. The health department tells owners to stack stored items neatly and keep them at least six inches off the ground so you can check for activity. Plastic bins with lids beat cardboard. See garage and basement rodents.

Related: Rodent Exclusion, Roof Rat Control, Garage and Basement Rodents

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