How to Clean Up After Rodent Infestations

 

How to Clean Up After Rodent Infestations

The Dangers of Rodent Droppings

Rodent infestations can be extremely dangerous. Both rats and mice are known for carrying and spreading over 35 dangerous diseases including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, Lassa Fever, Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis, Salmonellosis, and even Yersinia Pestis (the black plague). As they slink through homes, they leave behind a variety of grime and excrements. Unfortunately, their urinations and droppings can be infected with these diseases as well as other pathogens that can make you and your family life threateningly ill.

Cleaning Prep

Cleaning rodent excrements puts you in direct contact with these dangerous diseases, which is why it is extra important to take precautions. This begins with arming yourself with the proper tools and protective gear, which includes:

• Non-absorbent gloves such as rubber, latex, or vinyl to protect your hands.
• A face mask to protect yourself from any airborne particles from the excrements as well as the fumes from any cleaning chemicals.
• A powerful disinfectant or bleach. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions prior to use.
• Paper towels or disposable rags (you do not want to reuse the cleaning apparatus)
• Plastic bags (2) for sealing the collected excrements and soiled cleaning materials.

In addition to your personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies, you will want to be sure there is proper ventilation in the area by opening windows and, if possible, allow the room to air out for roughly 30 minutes prior to cleaning to allow anything airborne to dissipate. After the room has aired out, you can begin cleaning the area.

Steps for Safe Cleaning

1. Using the disinfectant/cleaning solution of your choice, saturate the unsanitary areas and allow to sit for 5 minutes for the disinfectant to take effect. (**Do not use ceiling or floor fans.)
2. After the 5 minutes has passed, use paper towels or disposable rags, carefully pick up the droppings and/or wipe up the area.
3. Dispose of droppings and used towels/rags into a plastic bag.
4. Once droppings and urine have been removed, saturate the area again with the cleaner ad leave for another 5 minutes.
5. Wipe off the surfaces again ensuring that no excrements or areas have been missed, and disinfect any items un the area that may have been in contact with the rodents.
6. Shampoo and/or steam clean carpets and upholstery, and thoroughly wash any contaminated bedding, blankets, clothing, etc. with heat.
7. After cleaning all areas, carefully remove gloves and dispose of both them and the bag of used cleaning materials into a secondary bag and seal it.
8. Dispose of the double bagged excrements in a covered trash can outside of the home.
9. Remove clothing and change into something fresh, placing the used clothing immediately into the wash.
10. Allow ventilation in the room for another 15-30 minutes after cleaning.

Mistakes to Avoid

Cleaning up after rodents can be tricky. Be sure to avoid any of these mistakes that can put you and your family at more risk.

• Be sure not to turn on any fans to air out the room as this can cause the pathogens on the excrements to become airborne.
• Do not sweep or vacuum. Just like fans, this can make pathogens airborne.
• Clean and treat the areas contaminated by rodent excrements as soon as possible. Allowing them to fester greatly increases the risks to you and your family’s health and wellbeing.
• Be sure not to mix the use of different cleaning chemicals unless it is confirmed by manufacturers that there are no negative interactions between products.

Rodent Removal

Unfortunately, when rodents are infesting your home, you may be in a seemingly endless battle with cleaning and, the longer the problem persists, the more at risk you and your family are of catching dangerous diseases from the invaders. Avoid a marathon of cleaning and protect your family by calling in your Pointe Pest Control extermination experts at the first sign of a rodent problem. We will help you rid your home for rodents for good so you can stop constantly cleaning.

Citations

Cleaning Up After Pet Rodents to Reduce the Risk of Seoul Virus Infection (2017) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/outbreaks/seoul-virus/cleaning-up-pet-rodents.html (Accessed: November 9, 2021). Cleaning Up After Rodents (2019) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/cleaning/index.html (Accessed: November 9, 2021). Diseases Directly Transmitted by Rodents (2017) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases & The Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/diseases/direct.html (Accessed: November 2021). Hanatavirus – 7 steps to safe clean-up of mouse droppings … (no date) Alberta Health Services. Available at: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/Advisories/ne-pha-hantavirus-protection.pdf (Accessed: November 9, 2021).