Rodents like mice can carry diseases, viruses and bacteria. That is why it's important to clean up and decontaminate affected areas after you've rid your house of the pests.
When decontaminating, avoid disturbing dust particles or mouse droppings. Deer mice are among the main carriers of hantivirus. Found in the animal's droppings, urine and saliva, it can be deadly and is transmitted to humans via airborne particles.
How to identify mouse droppings
On average, a single mouse produces between 50 and 80 droppings per day. Those are very small (3 to 8 mm in length), dark-coloured and rice grain-shaped. Fresh droppings are shiny, soft and dark-coloured, which means rodents have been active recently. If the droppings are hard and softer in colour, it means they were produced over 3 days before.
Steps to clean up mouse droppings
1. Before cleaning the infested area
Aerate the place for 30 minutes by opening doors and windows. Leave the area during that time.
2. Have the right equipment
Buy a Class N 100 (high efficiency) respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Make sure it's well adjusted and use it until you're finished. Buy disposable rubber gloves, disposable overshoes or rubber boots.
3. Disinfect
Spray disinfectant such as a mix of Javel water and water on the urine and droppings, using a low pressure stream. Leave on for 10 minutes. Use paper towels to pick up the urine and droppings, and then discard everything.
Clean the floors and counters again with disinfectant. If possible, discard the mop or cloth you used.
Throw away all contaminated products as well as your cleaning equipment. Each garbage bag must be closed tightly and put in another bag. Place outside in a tightly sealed garbage can.
4. Aerate the area
The newly cleaned area must be exposed to fresh air and sunlight for a few hours.
5. Wash hands thoroughly
Use soap and water or hand sanitizer.
What to avoid
Do not sweep or vacuum mouse droppings and do not remove them before humidifying them first.
Here are our tips to prevent mouse infestations
Your home is infested by mice? Here are our tips!
