A rodent infestation can be distressing, not just because your home has been invaded with uninvited house guests, but because of the mess and potential diseases that these little pests leave in their wake.
For the safety of the household, it’s important that you do a thorough clean after rodents have been evicted. Here’s what you need to do to deep clean your home!
Where to start
It’s important to wear latex, vinyl or rubber gloves for the cleaning process. Never clean rodent-tainted areas with your bare hands. Even though rodents themselves have been disposed of, rodent urine and faeces can have infectious viruses that make humans ill. It’s especially important to focus on cleaning areas where food is prepared and eaten.
Before and after cleaning an area, open doors and windows for 30 minutes to allow the space to be ventilated.
Disinfect thoroughly
Rodent droppings and urine should be sprayed with disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Leave to soak for five to ten minutes, then remove with a paper towel and place in a rubbish bag. It’s important not to stir up dust by sweeping or vacuuming droppings, urine or nesting materials. Microscopic particles can be released into the air where they can be inhaled.
Look for droppings and urine inside kitchen cupboards, on benches, in the pantry, along skirtings and under and behind appliances.
Once droppings are disposed of, clean and disinfect the whole area. Wipe down appliances, cabinet shelves, countertops and other areas with disinfectant.
Avoid cross-contamination with clean surfaces, doorknobs and cabinet handles by spraying gloves periodically with disinfectant.
Contaminated food
If you find signs of rodent damage to packaged food and cereal boxes then these need to be thrown away. Keep undamaged food in sealed plastic containers until you are sure that you don’t have any more rodents.
Steam clean & wash
Your furniture, carpets and rugs may also have been exposed to rodents. For these, it’s best to steam clean or have them professionally shampooed. Affected bedding and clothing should be put through a hot wash cycle.
Dispose safely
After cleaning, remove your gloves and add them to the rubbish bag along with any cleaning materials. Seal the bag, place in a second plastic bag and seal tightly. Put the bags outside in a covered rubbish bin to be collected.
Wash up
Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Change out of your cleaning clothes and put them promptly through a hot wash cycle to kill any germs.
Have a persistent rodent problem? Keep rodents out of your home for good by gettting in touch with Cure All today! We can deal with any issues with precise and specific control methods for long-term rodent solutions.
