Finding mouse droppings in the kitchen can be a disturbing experience. You think your home is your own, but often critics can move in unannounced. If you have mouse droppings, then it means you have rodent activity. Unfortunately, it’s not the sort of thing that you can just leave and hope it goes away. Mouse droppings can infect you and your family with salmonella and other dangerous pathogens like hantavirus.
So, what should you do if you find mouse droppings on your property? Here is a rundown.
Stay calm
Your first priority is to stay calm and assess the situation. Just because you’ve found some mouse droppings doesn’t mean you necessarily have an out-of-control infestation. Mouse droppings look like small dark pieces of black or brown rice.
They’re usually between a quarter of an eighth and an eighth of an inch long and a little bit pointy at the ends, sometimes with a string connecting them. Usually you find them under cabinets in baseboards or drawers. You can also find them near pantries and food storage areas.
Gear up for safe cleanup
The next thing you need to do is gear up for safe clean-up. Don’t touch the droppings directly. Instead, open the windows and ventilate the area, and then protect yourself with rubber or plastic gloves. An N95 mask is also a good idea to avoid direct contact with any fumes.
Don’t sweep or vacuum dry droppings first. If you do this, it can lead to aerosols in your kitchen and deposits over all of your food preparation areas.
Carefully remove each piece one by one
The best solution is to get pest control to come in and remove droppings professionally. They can also help you eliminate the source of your mouse infestation.
Professionals use specialist techniques to pick up droppings without flinging aerosol particles into your home’s internal atmosphere. Often, what they’ll do is spray the droppings thoroughly with disinfectant and soak them until they’re wet. Once they’ve been soaked for a few minutes, it will kill the pathogens that they contain and then allow them to be safely removed.
The best way to remove droppings is with a paper towel while wearing gloves. You’ll want to double-bag the waste and then put it in the outdoor trash. Then, you’ll want to wipe down all the surfaces, cabinets, floors, and appliances in your kitchen with a disinfectant solution. This further reduces the risk of dangerous viruses and other pathogens from infecting your surfaces.
Remove food and water sources
You’ll want to think about why the mice are in your kitchen in the first place. Remember, like most animals, mice just want three things:
- Food
- Water
- A safe place to stay
If you’re providing these in your kitchen, then they’re much more likely to move in. Solve this problem by storing all of your food in metal, glass or plastic containers. Don’t use cardboard or plastic bags that mice can chew through. If you notice any crumbs in your pantry or on your kitchen floor, clean them up. Always empty your trash bins regularly.