WHAT ARE RODENT DROPPINGS?
Typically, you’ll find rodent droppings near food sources. If you notice unusual litter near your pantry, kitchen cabinets, or trash cans, you may be looking at rat or mouse droppings.
Mouse droppings, or mouse poop, are small, dark brown particles of fecal material about the size of grains of rice. Mouse residues are usually slightly tapered at the ends.
Rat droppings can be found in many places, but they are slightly larger than mouse droppings. They are shiny, black, and brown in colour and are not tapered at the ends.
Rats and mice are known to carry more than 35 different disease-causing pathogens, many of which are airborne. Here are some of the infectious diseases carried by rats and mouse droppings that can endanger you and your home.
- Hantavirus
- Salmonellosis
- Rat-bite Fever
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
- Bubonic Plague
- Tularemia
HOW TO GET RID OF RODENT DROPPINGS?
Even after the rodent problem is eliminated, rodent droppings continue to host pathogens. When you notice mouse droppings it can be tempting to quickly sweep them up and throw them out.
Contact a professional pest control company before you start cleaning. If you don’t get rid of a rodent nest completely, you’ll find more waste in no time.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO CLEAN RODENT DROPPINGS?
To safely clean and dispose of rodent droppings, you need the right supplies and equipment. Here is a list of what you need,
Rubber gloves, plastic bags, paper towels or rags you don’t mind throwing away, vacuum cleaner, broom and dustpan, bucket and mop, a mask or face covering, spray bottle, fabric steamer cleaning solution made with one part bleach to ten parts water.
HOW TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS CONTAMINATED WITH DROPPINGS?
- First, you’ll need to remove the rodent droppings
- Next, spray the area down with your bleach disinfectant
- After the area has soaked, wipe up any excess solution
- Treat fabrics with hot water or steam
- Clean up your place after the process
Remember you can always contact your local pest controller if you are unsure how to proceed with clean up.