If you’ve noticed a funky smell lately, and have recently set out traps or poison bait, you may be in need of learning how to get rid of dead mouse smell.
Mice, one of the most common house-hold pests, are known for escaping away into walls, cracks, and crevices after eating poison bait or being wounded by traps.
Once these critters have crawled off and died somewhere, you’ll know it due to the obnoxious smell of dead mouse.
Here’s how to get rid of dead mouse smell.
What Does Dead Mouse Smell Like?
The stench is something reminiscent of sulfur, rotten flesh, and methane gas. Definitely not an odor that you simply don’t notice if it’s around.
Rodents of other species, aside from mice, also give off an extremely similar smell. So, if you haven’t noticed any mice or rats, you will be left guessing which sort of rotting rodents you’re playing hide and seek with.
That said, if you’re noticing such an odor, there is little guess-work as to what the source of the horrible aroma is; dead mouse smell.
Steps To Getting Rid Of Dead Mouse Smell
The only genuine fix for dead mouse smell is getting rid of the actual dead mouse itself. Only then will you be able to properly disinfect and deodorize the area.
Here are a few easy to follow steps outlining how to get rid of dead mouse smell:
1. Prepare To Get Rid Of That Dead Mouse Smell
To safely and properly prepare for getting rid of dead mouse smell, you will need to wear rubber gloves (at the very least). It is also suggested to utilize a nose or face mask as well as clothing that you can throw away when finished getting rid of the dead mouse smell once and for good.
While preparing, you can also prepare a disinfectant spray to use. The most affordable solution to mix at home consists of 90 percent water and 10 percent bleach.
2. Find And Remove The Dead Mouse
When searching for the mouse, merely follow your nose. If that doesn’t work, look around for claw marks, entry holes, and stains leading in or out of the area (sometimes rodents may leak body fluids, fecal matter, urine, or blood on their way “out”).
Also, keep in mind that dead pests can spawn hosts of additional pests such as flies and maggots. So, if you’re having a hard time finding the dead rodent, these bugs may be an indicator. In these cases, literally cutting, removing, and replacing sections of the wall or floor may be necessary.
When you do find the mouse, wear gloves, spray it with disinfectant, and then pick it up and put it into a Ziploc or plastic garbage bag. In turn, place this bag into another bag to seal up the smell.
3. Disinfect The Area
Before and after removing the dead mouse, use your disinfectant solution to thoroughly spray the area.
Once the mouse is bagged up, and the area is sprayed down with disinfected, use old towels (or paper towels – something you can throw away) and wipe everything down carefully.
Take particular care to remove all visible traces as they may contain diseases, urine, blood, and/or feces.
4. Properly Dispose Of Rat And Related Garbage
Place your dirty towels, clothes, and gloves in an additional bag, and carry the whole lot to your rubbish can outside. Make sure to put the lid on them when you do.
The last thing you want is a stray cat or dog dragging them out into the neighborhood, releasing the odor, and possibly poisoning themselves and other local wildlife. You may also burn or bury the rodent and cleaning items.
The choice is yours. But, whatever you do, make sure you have properly disposed of the rodent and tainted garbage.
5. Clean Up The Area (And Yourself)
When the dead mouse and garbage from removing it and cleaning it up has been disposed of, you need to immediately clean yourself. If you haven’t already tossed your clothes at this point, at the very least put them in a plastic bag to be washed by themselves.
You’ll also want to wash your hands in hot soapy water for at least 20 to 30 seconds (up to the elbows) whether you wore gloves or not. However, it is highly recommended to take a quick shower or otherwise bath yourself entirely.
6. Deodorize The Area As Needed
Don’t be surprised if the dead mouse smells try to linger, especially if you weren’t aware of your dead little friend until he’d been bloated and rotting for days (or weeks).
Opening windows and doors, turning fans on high, mopping with scented cleaning solutions, and sprinkling or spraying strong deodorizer is the best you can do. It still may take a few hours (or days) for the smell to completely disappear, however.
Final Thoughts On Dead Mouse Smell
Dead mouse smell is an odor usually noticed too late to avoid. That said, learning how to get rid of dead mouse smell isn’t all that hard of a task.
Is getting rid of dead mice and their funky smell a gross job? Yes, it can be.
But, is it a hard one? Not hardly.