Do’s and Don’ts If You Find Mouse Droppings

At many homes in New York and New Jersey, spotting mouse droppings is often the first indication of a rodent problem. Mouse droppings look like small dark brown pellets that are slightly smaller than a grain of rice. They are pointed at the end.

These droppings can be a source of dangerous illnesses like hantavirus even after mice are removed from the property. The cleaning process must be careful not to release particles containing hantavirus or other bacteria into the air. By following these do’s and don’t’s, you can avoid any dangerous situations after you find mouse droppings.

What to Do After You Find Mouse Droppings

Mouse droppings are most often going to be in the areas where mice are living and around the routes they often travel in your home. Often, these locations are well hidden, which can reduce the risk that you come into contact with them, but also provide a chance for droppings to accumulate before you notice them.

Regularly checking areas around your home such as the inside cupboards, near baseboards, and behind appliances can help you detect a problem early on.

If you do find droppings during one of these searches, you should:

• Immediately Contact a Rodent Control Company – Professionals have the equipment and knowledge to safely clean up mouse droppings without putting your family at risk. They can also handle any necessary mouse extermination.
• Wear Protective Gear – Before you handle rodent droppings, use gloves and consider a mask to reduce the chance that you inhale any disturbed particles in the air.
• Spray a Disinfectant on Droppings – If you will be cleaning mouse droppings yourself, spray any affected areas with disinfectant to help neutralize bacteria and viruses BEFORE you start cleaning them up.
• Dispose of Contaminated Items – Throw out anything that cannot be cleaned, using double plastic bags to keep bacteria sealed inside. Dispose of accumulated droppings in the same way.
• Clean Items and Surfaces – Use bleach diluted in water to wipe down surfaces, wash linens and clothes in hot water, and shampoo carpets. Also wash or throw out any protective equipment you wear.

There are also a few things that you should not do after spotting droppings. First, you should never ignore droppings. You should not use a broom or vacuum to sweep up droppings since they may release bacteria-containing dust into the air. You should also be aware of the symptoms of hantavirus which include fever, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and fatigue.

Knowing how to handle mice and their dropping safely is essential to protecting your family in case of an infestation. But for any instances where you notice more than just a few individual droppings, you should always rely on the professional rat control at 24 Hour Pest Control since we can safely remove rodents and all their traces. Contact us at the first sign of mouse or rat activity in your home.