A dead mouse smell is impossible to cope with because you can’t get rid of it using conventional cleaning techniques. That’s why today, we’ll show you how to clear out this foul smell by following the proper measures. By the end of this blog, you’ll know the proper steps for dealing with these situations.
What Does a Dead Mouse Smell Like, and Where Does It Come From?
In most cases, a dead mouse smell comes from a mix of different gases, such as methane, sulfur dioxide, thiols, ammonia, and pyruvic acid. These gases often come from the decomposing tissue of all types of dead rodents, such as mice or rats.
While the odor of dead animals attracts animals such as vultures, it is often repulsive for people. Not only that, but this smell can often take over your entire home, even if it comes from small dead mice. For this reason, you should be aware of the common locations the smell might originate from, which we’ll talk about next.
How to Locate a Dead Rodent in Your Home
While the scent alone isn’t harmful to people, other things might pose a threat to humans. For instance, the dead mouse can become the ideal place for bacteria to thrive. Not only that, but it can also make the experience of being in your home unpleasant.
Unfortunately, air freshening products and room deodorizers might not be enough to mask the smell. That’s why you must first identify the source of the problem. By doing so, you can then proceed with disposing of the dead animal effectively.
When having a foul odor in one of your rooms, be sure to look for the following signs of a mouse infestation:
- Trimmings of wall margins
- Tiny paw prints
- Sunflower kernel-sized droppings, usually collected in small clusters. If there’s a dead mouse, the droppings may be dried and dull brown.
- Streaks on the kitchen countertops and around the sides of the walls
Moreover, track the scent to the where it’s most intense. This step will help you get a picture of where the dead mouse might be if there’s no visual evidence of a mouse infestation.
Lastly, if you can’t find the body after looking out for these signs, then it may be in an air vent, a wall cavity, the attic, air ducts, your home’s crawl space, or the enclosed underside of a kitchen table. These locations tend to be mouse hotspots since they are enclosed, small, and dark.
How to Get Rid of the Dead Mouse Smell in Your Home
The most efficient way to get rid of the scent of a dead rat is to scrape its body, clean the places where it nested, then use fans and deodorizers to dry out your home. Once you’ve found the body and any evidence of the mouse’s presence, such as droppings and stripes, take the following steps:
- Be sure to be wearing gloves, a mask, and other protective gear.
- Make a 10 percent bleach/90 percent water solution.
- Place the dead body in two Ziploc bags and seal them both.
- Spray the affected spot with the solvent, wipe it off with paper towels, and eliminate any stains, prints, and feces.
- Place paper towels in a sealable plastic bag.
- Repeat steps 4 to 6 if you wish.
- Remove your gloves and work clothing and thoroughly wash your hands with soap for five minutes before showering.
- Open the windows and turn on some fans to ventilate your home.
If the stench still persists after following these steps, then you’ll want to call professional pest control services or any type of rodent control company to help you out.
Now that you know the main pointers on locating and getting rid of a dead mouse smell, it’s time for you to implement them.
Remember that you can count on Eves House Cleaning for expert cleaning services. We use hospital-grade disinfectant solutions when cleaning our clients’ places. Be sure to contact us in case you have any questions or need professional assistance!
