Cleaning After Finding Mouse

Hanta Virus is the most common disease mice can carry. Although, it isn't commonly passed to humans--since we know so much about it now. Never sweep up droppings, use a mask and a wet towel. Trap them (I know this is inhumane, but peanut butter in a gluestrip trap is the one most recommended), bag and actually leave (sealed) in the garage for a few weeks (if anyone gets sick, the doctor will want the rodent). Finally, cleaning items requires bleach. If you suspect the mouse has run in a certain area of your home, spray with a bleach/water mixture. Rule of thumb...books: trash them (if they are SUPER important to you--you can place them outdoors in the sun for a week, no research if this actually kills the virus), clothing: wash in hot water with regular detergent, glassware/silver: spray with bleach solution.
Do all of this while wearing protective gear: Gloves, a mask and long sleeve shirt and pants. Upon removal of clothing, immediately wash in hot water with detergent. Throw mask/gloves away in a sealed bag.
* symptoms: flu like, mostly respiratory symptoms occur, including a fever. This can occur up to 1 week post-exposure. Here in the MO/KS area, there have been many cases. You can call the Health Department with any more concerns.

You can also review info at the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/cleaning_up/index.htm

I have an MPH (Master of Public Health) and focused on disease transmission human-to-human. Hanta Virus is not able to pass from human to human...therefore, if someone in the household was infected, quarentine isn't necessary.

Another thing--you might want to contact a pest control service. They have "green" products they can surround your home with that creates a barrier. It's not 100% effective, but does reduce the incidence of rodents in the home.

Other ways of avoiding future infestations: seal all food products (dog food in a sealed rubbermaid), no food on the floors, all garbage cans should have a top to seal them (they can smell garbage up to 500 feet away!), and consistently have traps out in dark areas (cabinets, closets, basements, garages, etc).

Good luck...let me know how it goes. Not to mean to scare you, the incidence rate of Hanta Virus in healthy individuals who are not immuno-suppressed is low. It's usually the elderly or other immuno-suppressed persons who wind up infected. But...you're right to be worried. Just stick to the guidelines above and check out CDC's site. They have an 800 number so you can chat directly with an MPH (public health official) and ask advice...don't hesitate to do so.

Let me know if you need any other info!!!

I hope you find your little guy. We just found out we have one as well. At least, I hope it is only one! We are not finding a lot of evidence lying around. But we have saw him twice. What I don't get is that we have 5 cats! One would think they would chase him out of here!

I'm a fan of watered down bleach for most things. I too keep everything I can in tight containers.

Suzi

Oh honey we had a mouse in our kitchen not that long ago and I had to clean out all of our cabinets and clean everything I just used bleach water

Don't feel so bad! Mice can find their way into anywhere! Mice love dog food so make certain it is cleaned up and stored when the dog is not eating.
Use chlorine bleach when possible during the cleaning (surfaces, white clothes). Also use a disinfectant like Lysol cleaner to wipe down surfaces that cannot be treated with chlorine bleach. Also, wash all baby clothes, blankets, etc. in the warmest possible water for the product.
Best of luck! Sorry for the mice! (Oh by the way, we had a mouse on our finished porch earlier this summer and the trap that worked the best had peanut butter on it)
Have a great day!
K.

It sounds like your critter may have made his favorite spot - a nest in your sentimentals! :( It also sounds like it could possibly be a pack rat if he is hoarding dog food in such big quanitities.

Wash everything in soapy water, bleach what you can and then get it into an airtight rubbermaid style container with a lid that latches tightly would be my suggestion. The carpet I would vacuum really well, and see about hiring a dry carpet cleaner to come take care of the "ick" for you. We live in the country and unfortunately have had trouble with the same thing. Be diligent in your cleaning but don't stress/panic too much about it. I always try to remember that people have been surviving for a LONG LONG time in less than sanitary standards and if you are doing your best it will be good enough! :)

Good Luck!

I know this sounds cruel and inhumane...but if the mouse needs to be exterminated, a cheap way to do it is to put out things that are carbonated, like Efferdent or Pop Rocks. Mice and rats can't burp, so they internally combust upon ingesting carbonation.

The mice find their way into my house every year, and earlier this year. I think it's due to the rain.

I found they like it by my hot water heater, so I keep poison near there where my dogs or son can't get to it.

I use the dog food storage bins with a tight fitting lid. I already keep all opened food products in the cabinet in either storage containers or ziploc bags.

Use bleach and water mixture to clean up and as far as the baby clothes and blankets wash them in the washer and dryer.
I use the thick heavy duty storage bins with a very tight fitting lid and haven't had a problem with the mice getting in them.

Good luck!

I know exactly how you feel F P; it is a horrible feeling just knowing that mice have been over all your stuff. I had a couple of little mice at home too, and their droppings were on several rooms in the house. I just put d-con traps with peanut butter in it and they were trapped. Happily since then I did not see anything else, no any sign. I cleaned up EVERYTHING!
To clean up the droppings, you should never vacuum them, they are corrosive and contain infection, so I sprayed them with Lysol and then I took them with a wet rag (using gloves and a mask, just in case!) after that I washed those toys and other things which were exposed with chlorine or disinfectant. I washed a pair of rugs and spray Lysol everywhere. After that, I keep d-con traps with peanut butter in some areas like the laundry room, and garage, beneath the kitchen sink and some areas in the basement. I have not trapped anything else, and no droppings anymore!
I think you will have to wash all the blankets or clothing a couple of time just to be sure. I threw away some toys and kitchen utensils instead of washing; just the idea of having those little monsters all over my things makes me have goose bumps!
I cleaned everything in the house, closets, rooms, floors, bath, kitchen very deeply and I ventilated everything also.
Mice enter your house through very tiny spaces; I learned that they may get in to your house thru the garage door especially at sunset or dusk, tiny holes.
Keep your dog food in a tightly closed container, the food in your kitchen too, keep the potatoes in an out of reach area, mice love potatoes!
I hope this helps

Alejandra

Call an exterminator to get rid of the mouse. Use disposable gloves and a face mask when cleaning. Careful not to sweep or vacuum up around the droppings as this can cause them to become airborne. Use a damp cloth to remove the droppings instead and dispose of the cloth when you're done removing the droppings. After initial removal of the droppings with a damp cloth, use another clean cloth and clean surfaces with soap and rinse with water. To disinfect surfaces, use a solution of 1/4 cup bleach with a gallon of cool water to wipe down surfaces that will not be affected by bleach. Any items that are dishwasher safe should be sanitized in the dishwasher. Your daughter's clothing items should be washed in hot water if possible (try using color safe bleach). Spot check with a q-tip in an obscure area of the clothing or blanket to make sure it is bleach safe. Her toys should be washed in the dishwasher if they are dishwasher safe. If not, soak them (if they are bleach-safe) in the bleach solution described and triple rinse them.

Remove all food sources by enclosing your dog's food in a tight-lid plastic container. Make sure all your bins are sealed tight. If the lid is loose, make sure to tape it down tight or buy containers with snap-tight lids. Have your carpet shampooed or rent a rug doctor and do it yourself. The most important thing is to remove all food sources. That means putting all boxed or bagged foods in mouse-proof containers and not leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight or any food out on the table such as fresh fruit or baked goods. Once the food source is removed, the mouse has no reason to return. Good luck!