Cleaning Up After Mice & Other Rodents

Use These Tips for Cleaning Up the Mess & Damage Left Behind by Mice & Other Rodents

Mice are very small and there are several ways they can get into a home or business.

These rodents are also a danger, not just because of the damage they can cause, but also because the several diseases they carry may be harmful if spread to humans.

If you believe your home or business has a mouse infestation, there are a few things you can do to handle the problem yourself.

Begin by eliminating the mice from the home or business using rodent traps and sealing any entry points.

Be sure to check traps daily. If a week passes with no rodents caught, this will signify that the mice have most likely left the area.

And if the job is too big or hard to handle yourself, you know you can call us to get it done quickly and efficiently.

How to Clean Up After Mice Infestations

Once you know the mice are gone (and for good), you can now go about cleaning the area.

These steps will result in a disinfected area that will ensure you and your family are safe and healthy.

While cleaning up after mice, be sure to wear rubber, latex, or vinyl gloves. When the job is complete, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands.

You should also consider wearing a respirator, eye protection such as safety goggles, and use a HEPA filter in your vacuum while cleaning up after mice.

Remove Dead Rodents & Nests

Spray the dead rodent or nest with disinfectant/bleach mixture and let soak for at least 5 minutes. There are different steps to take to get rid of mice in your walls.

While wearing protective gloves, double bag the rodent(s) or nest(s) in tightly sealed plastic bags. The bag should then be placed into a covered trash can that is emptied on a consistent basis.

This process is very important and needs to be handled with caution as mice and other rodents have been known to transmit diseases to humans.

Diseases mice spread include Hantavirus, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, and of course — the plague.

Ventilate the Area

Before cleaning the area, open doors and windows to allow fresh air to flow into the area.

Use cross-ventilation and leave the area for at least 30 minutes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this will ensure that the droppings are no longer infectious and are safe to remove.

Keep the area ventilated while cleaning.

Remove Mouse Droppings & Urine

Avoid sweeping or vacuuming to prevent creating dust-like matter.

Be sure to wear rubber, latex, or vinyl gloves when cleaning urine and droppings to avoid a potential infection or contracting a virus spread by rodents.

To clean the areas impacted by urine and droppings, spray the area with a mixture of water and bleach, then let it soak for at least 5 minutes.

The concentration mixture should be 1-part bleach to 10 parts water.

Next, use a paper towel to wipe up the urine and droppings, then immediately place in the garbage.

Clean & Disinfect Entire Area

Once the urine and feces have been removed, the remaining areas will need to be cleaned.

Use a disinfectant or bleach solution to mop floors and clean countertops, etc.

Upholstered furniture and carpets that have been exposed to rodents should be steam cleaned or shampooed.

Wash all clothing and bedding that could have been exposed to mice urine or droppings in hot water.

Cleaning Basements, Attics & Storage Areas

For proper ventilation, fans will be a big help in these types stuffy or windowless areas.

Insulation with evidence of mouse urine or droppings should be removed and placed in plastic garbage bags.

The floor, trimming, and walls that have been contaminated should be cleaned with disinfectant spray.

Move contaminated boxes outside and into direct sunlight. Any cardboard boxes with evidence of urine or droppings from mice or other rodents should be thrown away.

Plastic, glass, or metal containers can be sanitized with disinfectant spray and wiped with paper towels.

Some items stored in contaminated boxes can be wiped off using disinfectant spray.

Depending on the severity of the contamination, other items such as books and documents should be left outside in the sunshine for an extended period of time.

Leaving an infected item in sunlight for several hours will help to reduce the risk of an infectious virus.

Importance of Using Professional Rodent Clean Up Services

Mice infestations are a common occurrence. But especially throughout the Northeast, including in the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.

These whiskered rodents are more than happy to move into homes and offices where there is a supply of food or water, warmth, and protection from the elements.

In many cases, business owners and homeowners have found mouse removal to be quite difficult to handle on their own.

In the event of a heavy mice infestation, contact mice and rodent control professionals to ensure proper handling of the issue.

Catseye Pest Control provides consumers with proper mouse removal as well as cleaning up after mice that have contaminated the home or office.

Mouse removal and cleanup is only part of the process. To prevent a future rodent infestation, it is essential to seal all points of entry.

To do so, Catseye offers Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems, a state-of-the-art exclusion product that keeps unwanted rodents and wildlife out of homes, businesses, and other structures for good. Our permanent pest and rodent-exclusion system protects homes, businesses, and other structures.

This long-term solution will protect your investment from being taken over by nuisance wildlife like mice and other rodents.

To learn more, contact our pest and wildlife professionals today.