How to Clean and Disinfest After Rat or Mouse Infestation

How to Clean Areas Contaminated by Mouse Droppings

Removal of mice droppings, nesting materials and mouse urine are best performed by Orkin Pest Management Professionals who use equipment, materials and safety clothing designed for the removal and clean-up of mouse debris. Since rodent droppings may transmit dangerous bacteria and diseases, our Orkin experts are trained in the most effective and safest methods to help protect your home.

Only some kinds of mice and rats can transmit the virus that causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). In North America, these are the deer mouse, the white-footed mouse, the rice rat, and the cotton rat. Other rodents such as house mice, roof rats and Norway rats are not known to transmit HPS to people but may transmit other bacteria and viruses, including the Salmonella bacteria. 

What Do Mouse Droppings Look Like?

Mouse droppings are spindle-shaped and are approximately the size of a grain of rice. Diseases can be transmitted by exposure to mouse and rat droppings, as well as their urine, saliva, and nesting materials. As a result, cleaning efforts following

Safety Equipment for Pest and Rodent Control

Those handling contaminated items should wear protective clothing that can be laundered or use disposable Tyvek protective clothing. In addition, a HEPA-equipped respirator should be used correctly. Removal of mouse droppings, nest materials and urine will require the use of protective gloves, long sleeved shirt, long pants, a hat, eye protection and a N95 or comparable face mask. When cleaning is complete, clothing must be washed separately from other laundry.  When finished, wash hands with soap & water or use an alcohol hand sanitizer.

When removing protective clothing, be sure to take off protective clothing before removing the HEPA-equipped respirator so there is no respirator contact to any viral or bacterial particles that might remain on the protective clothing. Before removing gloves, spray them with a disinfectant or bleach solution; afterwards, wash hands with soap and warm water after the gloves have been completely removed.

How to Safely Clean Mouse Droppings

Surfaces infested by mice should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Dampen the urine, droppings and nesting materials with a commercial disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and let soak at least 5 minutes. If using a commercial disinfectant, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the label for dilution, disinfection time and safe use.

Mouse droppings and related debris should be carefully handled using sturdy, nonabsorbent gloves, paper towels or cleaning rags and then placed in trash bags. After rodent droppings, urine and nesting materials have been removed, disinfect other items or areas that might have been contaminated. After removal of droppings and debris, your Orkin Specialist may recommend mopping using a disinfectant compound or steam cleaning where there is evidence of rodent exposure.

Vacuuming Up Mouse Droppings

Do not sweep or vacuum to remove droppings or nesting material until they are soaked with a commercial disinfectant or bleach mixture. If this isn’t carefully done, the possible result may be spreading disease-laden particles throughout your home.

How to Clean Mouse Droppings From Carpet

If there’s only a few droppings to remove, try using an adhesive cardboard pad and paper towels to pick them up. Any items that were in direct contact with the droppings should be placed in a plastic bag within another plastic bag. After removing droppings, shampoo carpets with an approved, commercial-grade disinfectant or a commercial-grade steam cleaner and be sure to read the product label to determine there will be no damage to the carpets.

How to Clean Rodent Droppings Off of Hardwood Floors

Similar to carpet clean-up, mouse dropping removal on wood floors is best done by using an adhesive pad or a moist paper towel. While using a disinfectant is also a beneficial step, be sure to read the product label to ensure there will be no damage to the wood.

How to Clean Mouse Droppings on Clothing

Remove mouse droppings from clothing using paper towels or adhesive pads, then dispose of in a plastic garbage bag which is placed inside another plastic garbage bag. Use a laundry detergent that also includes a disinfectant and wash at the high heat setting. When washing colored clothing, test the clothing to ensure it is “color-safe” before washing. Lastly, remove protective gloves and wash your hands with soap and water. You can also use this process to get rid of urine stains on baby clothes and other clothing items that are kept in drawers.

Mouse Poop in Cupboard

In search of food and shelter, mice can often be found in cupboards, pantries, and other closets that may contain food items. In addition to safe rodent disinfection and disposal methods, any foods that have been chewed by mice or are infested by insects must also be disposed of. If possible, remove and clean the cupboard shelves with soap and disinfectant since insects may also be hiding inside cracks and crevices within cupboards.

Mouse Poop in Garage

The garage is usually the part of the house where most mouse nesting sites are located. To get rid of mice in your garage, all openings that might provide mice access inside should be sealed and excluded. Rather than make this a do-it-yourself, it’s best contact a pest expert to do the job.

How to Dispose of Dead Rodents and Mouse Droppings

Place waste in a garbage bag and place that bag into a second plastic bag, then seal. Dispose of trash bags in designated refuse containers or covered, outdoor garbage bins. Disposal of dead rodents should involve spraying the rodent with a disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and putting the dead rodent in a tightly sealed plastic bag. Place that bag in a second plastic bag and seal. Throw the bag into a covered trash container that is not on your property. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after disposing of waste.

To determine where and how mice are getting into your home and how best to control rodent infestations, contact an Orkin Pest Management Professional.