Mice infestations are not only a nuisance but can also pose serious health risks. Their droppings, urine, saliva, and hair can cause allergies and spread diseases such as Hantavirus, Salmonellosis, and Plague. After successfully exterminating mice from your premises, the cleanup process comes next. It’s an equally important step to ensure that your living space is safe and habitable again. To do a thorough and effective cleaning job, follow the steps we are about to highlight in this article.
Firstly, equip yourself with the right personal protection. Before starting the cleanup process, it’s important to understand that exposure to mouse droppings, urine and nesting materials can pose serious health risks. Therefore, it’s essential to invest in protective gear to protect yourself during the cleaning process. A pair of rubber, latex, or vinyl gloves is basic. You should also consider using a face respirator to prevent the inhalation of dust or airborne pathogens from the mouse droppings or urine. Cover your clothing with disposable overalls and ensure you have rubber boots or disposable shoe covers. Remember, safety always comes first!
For the actual cleanup, begin by ventilating the affected area. Open windows and doors to allow fresh air in, then leave the area for 30 minutes. Ventilation helps to disperse possible airborne pathogens. Next, refrain from sweeping or vacuuming the mouse droppings or nests. This process could stir up dust that you may unknowingly breathe in. Instead, use a solution made of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water to dampen the mouse droppings, nests, and surrounding areas, allowing them to soak for at least 5 minutes. This will kill bacteria and viruses present. At this point, you can use a paper towel or rag to pick up the waste and dispose of it in a plastic bag. Seal the bag and put it in a covered outdoor trash can.
After picking up the waste, begin the deep cleaning process. Wipe down the area with the same bleach solution or a commercial disinfectant, focusing particularly on areas where you observed any nests, droppings or urine stains. Items like bedding, rugs and curtains should be washed in hot water, and if any are highly contaminated, disposing of them may be the best course of action. Scrub and disinfect hard surfaces such as floors, countertops, walls, and cupboards. If you have any carpets or upholstered furniture that have been affected, they should be steam-cleaned.
Cleaning up doesn’t stop at your living quarters only. Check other areas such as the garage, loft, shed, and garden, especially if you had noticed mouse activity in these areas. Dispose of any infested items or nests found in these areas. Be sure to use a face mask and gloves for protection. If there are any large-sized items that you can’t clean, it might be more beneficial to hire a professional exterminator who also has cleaning services.
The last step involves preventing a re-infestation by sealing up any potential entry points around your premises. Mice can squeeze through cracks as small as a quarter of an inch, so be sure to seal up around windows, doors, pipes and utility cables, cracks in walls and floors, and plugs and drains.
In summary, it is not only crucial to properly exterminate rodents, but it is equally important to clean up effectively after a mouse infestation. The entire process may seem quite daunting and for that reason, it might benefit some people to hire a professional exterminator and cleaning service to ensure the job is done effectively and safely.