Rodent Droppings Cleanup and Sanitizing in El Paso
Droppings, urine and nests left by mice and rats need careful cleanup, especially where deer mice have been. A technician does it with the method the CDC recommends.
Droppings Cleanup in El Paso: the short version
Rodent droppings cleanup is the job of removing droppings, urine and nesting material and disinfecting what they touched. It sounds simple. The risk is in how it is done. The CDC warns that sweeping or vacuuming rodent urine, droppings or nests can put virus particles into the air, and the deer mouse, common around El Paso, is the main hantavirus carrier in the United States.
This page covers cleanup in living spaces, garages, sheds, cabinets, closets and storage rooms. Attic work, which often means removing insulation, is on our attic cleanup page.
What a thorough job includes
Here is the CDC routine, which any provider should follow or improve on.
- Open doors and windows for 30 minutes before cleaning, and stay out of the space while it airs
- Wear rubber or plastic gloves, plus a respirator for heavy messes or closed spaces
- Mix fresh bleach solution, 1.5 cups of household bleach per gallon of water, or use a registered disinfectant
- Spray droppings, urine spots and nests until soaked and let them sit 5 minutes
- Wipe up with paper towels, bag the waste, then bag that bag and put it in a covered trash can
- Disinfect counters, shelves, floors and anything the rodents ran across, then wash gloved hands and then bare hands
Droppings Cleanup step by step
- Stop the sourceCleanup goes after trapping and sealing. Cleaning while mice still run the space means doing it twice.
- Air it outDoors and windows open for 30 minutes. In a closed garage or shed, the technician may run fans pointed outward.
- Soak everythingDroppings, urine stains and nests are sprayed until wet and left to sit for at least 5 minutes, or as the disinfectant label says.
- Remove and bagWaste is wiped up, sealed in a plastic bag, then in a second bag, and placed in a covered can.
- Disinfect surfacesHard surfaces get a second pass. Stored items get sorted: what can be cleaned, what should be thrown out.
- Wash upGloves are washed before they come off, then hands with soap and warm water.
Why it is harder in El Paso
El Paso is dry, and dry droppings break up easily. A garage or storage shed that has been closed for months, with deer mouse nests in boxes, is the kind of space the CDC's warnings are written for. Texas Tech's Mammals of Texas says deer mice tend to live in old cabins and buildings and advises caution when cleaning them.
Woodrat middens add volume. A pack rat nest can hold a lot of droppings and urine-soaked material, and deer mice sometimes share the same cover. Middens should be wetted and bagged, never raked or shoveled dry.
Hantavirus is uncommon in Texas, and a 2014 Texas Department of State Health Services release counted 39 confirmed cases statewide since 1993. The CDC reports that symptoms show up 1 to 8 weeks after exposure and that about 38 percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die. If you get a fever and muscle aches after cleaning up after rodents, tell a doctor about the exposure.
Where cleanup is needed most in El Paso homes
Garages, storage sheds, and closets that hold seasonal gear are the usual spots, since they stay closed and quiet. Kitchen cabinets under the sink come next. Evaporative cooler closets, water heater closets and the space behind a washer and dryer also collect droppings. If you have a cabin, a camper or an RV that sits through the winter, open it carefully in spring and follow the full CDC routine before you sweep or vacuum anything.
Stored items deserve a look too. Cardboard boxes on a garage floor are a favorite nest site. Move contents into lidded plastic bins after cleanup and throw away nesting material in a sealed bag.
Before you start
Make sure trapping is finished and pets and kids are out of the area. Have gloves, paper towels, bags, a spray bottle and fresh bleach solution ready.
Droppings Cleanup: common questions
Can I clean up mouse droppings myself?
For a small amount in a ventilated space, yes, using the CDC method: air out, gloves, soak with bleach solution for 5 minutes, wipe, double-bag. Hire help for heavy messes, closed sheds or attics.
What bleach mix should I use?
The CDC says 1.5 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water, or 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, mixed fresh.
Is vacuuming ever okay?
Not for droppings, urine or nests. The CDC says not to sweep or vacuum them.
What about droppings on stored clothes or papers?
Washable items can be laundered in hot water with detergent after the area is cleaned. Ask the technician about items that cannot be washed.
When should I see a doctor?
If you develop fever, fatigue and muscle aches within a few weeks of cleaning up after rodents, see a doctor and mention the exposure.
Should I throw away stored items with droppings on them?
Hard items can be disinfected. Cardboard, paper and fabric that cannot be washed are usually better bagged and thrown away. Wash fabric items in hot water with detergent.
Related reading
Attic Rodent Cleanup
Droppings, nests and soiled insulation removed from attics and disinfected.
See attic rodent cleanup →Mouse Control
House mice and deer mice removed, gaps sealed, droppings cleaned up safely.
See mouse control →Pack Rat Control
Desert woodrats out of garages, sheds and cars, with middens cleared and gaps closed.
See pack rat control →