Spring Cleaning Checklist

It’s time to start spring cleaning.  For many people, that means grabbing some cleaning products, rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. However, if you have rodents, you need to take precautions during spring cleaning. If you fail to protect yourself, you could end up with a rodent borne disease. 

Prior to Cleaning

First, you need to stop the infestation so you can clean the area.  You can contact Connors Pest Control to eliminate the mice and rats, or you can use your own traps.  Whichever you choose, seal off all entrances to the area and then start the trapping process.  If you are trapping by yourself, trap for a week to ensure you get all of the rodents. If you have a pest control professional handle the trapping for you, you still need to wait a week after the rodents are caught.  That way, the room will have a chance to air out before you get to work.

Cleaning Day

Before you get down to business, you need to ventilate the room. Open up the doors and windows. This will allow the room to air out, which will keep you from getting sick.  Leave the doors and windows open for a full thirty minutes before you start working.  Don’t rush this step.  Rooms that have been infested with rats and mice are often full of dangerous germs, and thus, you want to cut down on your chance of exposure by airing out the room.

While the room is airing out, make a mixture of bleach and water and put it in a spray bottle.  The mixture should be one part bleach and ten parts water.  You will use this mixture to kill the germs in the room.

Then, put on gloves.  Go into the room and spray rodent waste with the water and bleach solution.  Saturate the waste until you are satisfied it is covered and let it soak for five minutes.  Then, use a paper towel to pick up all of the waste products you sprayed.   Place the paper towels in a trash bag and seal the bag. If there are any dead rodents or nests, spray them and let them soak for five minutes. Then put them in a trash bag. Double bag the trash and take it outside immediately.

After you are done picking everything up, you need to disinfect the entire room.  Spray the room and mop everything.  When you are satisfied the room is clean, take out the garbage and let the room air out for a bit.

Afterwards, make sure the room is properly sealed so you will not have another infestation. 

Additional Cleaning Tips

Use masks for further protection.  People can catch airborne diseases from rodent waste, and thus, it is best to be cautious.

Wash your clothing immediately after you are finished cleaning. You do not want to bring rodent droppings into your home and contaminate your living space.

If you see a live rodent in the area you are cleaning, trap it before you move forward.

Stay on Top of Infestations

Check the area periodically to ensure you do not get another infestation.  If you do get an infestation, contact Connors Pest Control immediately.  Let us handle the problem before it gets out of hand.