If you have just evicted a mouse from your home, your work has only just begun. Now comes the task of cleaning up the remaining mess. In their absence, mice can leave lingering germs in their urine and faeces, including life-threatening illnesses such as hantavirus, leptospirosis and salmonellosis to name just a few.
Male mice have a terrible habit of using their urine to mark their territory. However, unlike other symptoms of infestation such as droppings and chewed holes, the unpleasant smell of urine tends to linger well after you eradicate the pests. Fear not, because in this article we will teach you how to get rid of those horrible mice smells for good. So, grab a pair of rubber gloves and disinfectant and read on for some all-important suggestions and safe clean-up procedures.
Get Your Gloves On
We know that you want to get your home clean and sparkling again as fast as possible, but it is important to take precautions when cleaning up after mice. Equip yourself with rubber or plastic gloves, a face mask and work goggles when removing mouse-related odours. This may seem a little over-the-top but you can never be too cautious when removing mouse-related odours and this equipment will also protect you from any harmful bacteria, fumes and potentially harsh chemical ingredients. Never try to clean mouse-tainted areas with your bare hands as you risk spreading disease.
Fresh Air
Whenever you are cleaning your home, it is important to increase airflow to help reduce the fumes building up during the cleaning process. Opening all of your windows and external vents is vital when ridding your house of mouse-odours as the fresh air will help to dissipate the smell, making it more bearable while you get rid of it completely.
Spray
Spray any droppings, urine, or nests leftover from your mouse with a strong disinfectant, being sure to soak everything thoroughly through. Place all debris in a sealed bag and then dispose of it outside the house. We recommend that you disinfect any areas where the mice have lingered to be sure that the germs are killed off completely. Be systematic and thorough. Clean any and all areas where you think the mouse has been active. Look under appliances and furnishings. You can never be too careful when ridding yourself of a mouse infestation.
Go Over-the-Top
Even though the surfaces in your home may look clean, it is extremely likely that a mouse has contaminated them. Mice urinate to claim their territory and they often track through their own urine and all around your house, carrying germs on the bottoms of their feet. If you discover they have been foraging in your kitchen, the likelihood is they have been skittering all over your counter tops and exploring your cabinets. Clean absolutely everything you think they could have possibly encountered, you do not want to risk sickness of any kind.
Top Tip: To avoid contamination as you make your way around the house, spray your gloves with disinfectant periodically, especially before handling clean surfaces such as doorknobs and cabinet handles.
Mop
Mop hard floors with a combination of household disinfectant, detergent and water to help reduce rodent odours and prep hard surfaces for the application of other odour-reducing products. Bio-enzymatic pet odour removers help break down the urine that causes the smell. If you do not own any pet odour remover, white distilled vinegar does the job just as well.
When mopping, use a disposable mop head and paper towels or sponges that you can discard afterwards. Be generous with disinfectant. Go the extra mile by shampooing and steam cleaning your carpets, upholstery and area rugs just to be sure that the house germs are completely gone.
Air Freshener
After disinfecting and cleaning like mad, your house will likely be overpowered by the smell of disinfectant. Keep your windows open to help circulate the air while you spray airborne odour eliminator in all rooms of your house. Unlike standard fragrance sprays, these sprays will remove the odour on contact rather than masking it, ridding your home of the smell of mice forever.
Disinfect Everything
After you have gathered everything up and disinfected everything in sight, it is time to get yourself cleaned up. Be sure to throw away your gloves, and wash your hands thoroughly with hot soapy water once you have finished cleaning. We would also recommend taking a hot shower and changing into clean clothes – washing your dirty clothes in hot water and detergent to kill any remaining bacteria.
Conclusion
If you would like further information on mice and how to prevent them, check out our article on mice prevention. If you have a mouse problem, please do not hesitate to call us. We would be more than happy to rid you of mice and help you live free from pests.
