Aside from damage to property and health problems, one problem homeowners commonly face during a rodent infestation is the smell of dead mice. The foul odor from the decomposing body reeks throughout the entire home, causing several problems and nuisances for those who experience them.
So how do you get rid of a dead mouse’s smell? Here are some methods you can try out effectively get rid of the foul odor:
- Dispose of dead mice properly
- Use proper cleaning methods and tools
- Air out your home
- Call for professional services
How to Get Rid of Dead Mouse Smell
A dead mouse smell is a difficult situation to deal with because it can’t be simply solved using traditional cleaning methods. There are several steps you have to take before you can effectively remove the bad odor. Some tips on eliminating a dead animal’s smell are the following:
1. Dispose of Dead Mice Properly
When you find a dead mouse in your property, it’s important to dispose of the dead carcass immediately and properly. Disposing dead mice properly helps eliminate the smell coming from their dead body and helps prevent other problems as well. The following steps ensure that you have properly disposed of the dead rodents:
- Wear gloves and protective gear like masks and goggles to prevent cross-contamination and catching diseases.
- Spray the dead animal and the infested area with a disinfectant or a bleach and water solution.
- Place the dead rodent inside a plastic bag.
- If there are any rodent droppings or nesting sites, you may place these items inside the bag as well.
- Seal the plastic bag properly. Don’t push out any extra air inside the bag since viruses can stir up in the air and cause health problems.
- Place the sealed bag inside another plastic bag and also seal the second bag properly.
- Throw away the plastic bag with the dead body in a trash can. You may also segregate it from other non-biodegradable or recyclable items.
- Wash gloved hands with soap and water then dispose of the used gloves properly.
- Wash your hands with soap and water again and spray disinfectant on your hands.
2. Use Proper Cleaning Methods and Tools
After disposing of the dead rodent’s body, you want to clean up and deodorize any contaminated areas of the house. Here are some products or items you can use to deodorize and sanitize the infested area:
- Vinegar: To use vinegar as a deodorizer, fill up several cups with vinegar and place them around the home. This absorbs the dead animal’s foul odor and makes the area smell better. Take note that this might leave a vinegar scent around your home, but the scent is usually tolerable and can be eliminated in a few days by airing out your home.
- Baking Soda: Baking soda is another kitchen ingredient that’s great for deodorizing the dead rodent’s smell. Create this deodorizer by mixing baking soda inside a spray bottle and regularly spray the area.
- Bleach: You can also use a bleach solution to deodorize the foul odor from the animal’s decomposing animal. To make this bleach solution, mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water and let the solution sit in the contaminated area for 10-15 minutes before wiping it down.
- Charcoal: Place some charcoal briquettes around the house to eliminate the foul odor. It’s better to choose natural briquettes that have no additives instead. There are also charcoal deodorizer bags you can purchase to filter the dead animal’s scent from the air.
- Commercial Disinfectant: Choose a commercial disinfectant that’s recommended for the area you’re cleaning. For example, if you’re cleaning hardwood floors, then choose a product that’s recommended for cleaning hardwood floors. Before using any product, carefully read the instruction label to prevent any unwanted problems or accidents.
3. Air Out Your Home
Before and after cleaning your property from a dead rat or mouse smell, it’s important to air out your home to let the air ventilate. Open doors and windows to allow fresh air to come inside the house and prevent any air pollutants from harming humans and pets.
To make airing out your home easier and more effective in eliminating the foul odor, you may place an electric fan near the open doors and windows to blow the air out. Place another fan in the other end of the room to help circulate the air going inside the room. You may also install an air-ventilation system to better circulate air and eliminate the foul odor.
4. Call for Professional Services
Calling for professional services is a great way to eliminate any remaining dead mouse or rat smells. You can call for professional cleaning services once you’re sure that there are no remaining rats inside the property. They thoroughly clean the house, going through all areas including crevices and crawl spaces. You can also call for professional rodent control since they are able to eliminate the rodents in hard to reach locations like inside the walls. They also help clean up any rodent droppings and urine the pests leave behind.
How to Identify the Dead Mouse Smell
When a mouse or rat dies in enclosed locations like inside the walls or attics, it’s difficult to determine where the foul odor is coming from. The reason why a decomposing body emits a pungent smell is because when it dies, it creates a “mixture” of toxic gases. Toxic gases like sulfur dioxide, methane, and ammonia create the scent while the body decomposes.
Rodent Control at Positive Pest Management
One of the best and most effective methods to eliminate the smell of dead mice is to call for rodent control services. Positive Pest Management guarantees to eliminate rodents and help clean up the mess they leave behind. We serve the New York City area and Nassau County Long Island.
Our team is more than eager to answer any questions or inquiries to help serve you better. We promise to provide the best service possible to eliminate the problem quickly and effectively. You may give us a call today to know how we can help you.
Learn more: How Do Mice Get In the House?
