If your home is anything like mine, it’s constantly under attack by all sorts of critters. One of the most pesky of these critters is the humble mouse. Mice are not only pesky, but they’re also dirty, leaving behind droppings wherever they go. If you’re dealing with a mouse infestation, you’re probably wondering how to clean up all those droppings. Here’s a quick and easy guide to getting rid of mouse droppings from your carpet.
How do you know if it’s mouse droppings?
Droppings from mice are usually about the size of a nickel. They’re usually dark in color, but can sometimes be brown or even yellow. The droppings will usually have traces of urine in them as well. If you see small pellets that are roughly the size of grains of rice, those are also droppings, though these are likely from rats. While the appearance of the droppings might be obvious, you might need to get a specialist in to properly identify the creature that left them behind.
How to clean mouse droppings from carpet?
Carpet flooring is a favorite haunt of mice, as it provides them with warmth and protection as well as a convenient location to leave their droppings. If these droppings are left unattended, they can spread diseases and even trigger asthma attacks for anyone who spends time in the room where they’re found. It’s important to properly clean up mouse droppings whenever you find them.
Disinfect the area.
The droppings are dirty, not only carrying bacteria but other contaminants as well. These include viruses that can cause flu or even hepatitis. Your first step should be to thoroughly disinfect the area with a cleaner that kills viruses and bacteria, such as Clorox Clean-Up.
Scrub the carpet.
To get rid of the droppings themselves, scrub the carpet with a pad or brush that has stiff bristles, like a scrub brush. This will work the droppings out from beneath the carpet’s surface.
Use a vacuum.
Once you have scrubbed the droppings out of the carpet, you can use your vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean the carpet area. Make sure your vacuum is equipped with a HEPA filter, as you don’t want to just push the bacteria and contaminants around your house.
Check again.
Once you have disinfected and scrubbed the carpet and vacuumed up the droppings, check the area again. You want to make sure that everything has been cleared out; otherwise, you’ll just have to repeat the process again in a few days.
Final Thoughts
Mice droppings aren’t just unsightly; they’re a completely unnecessary burden on your house and health. Make sure to take the proper steps to clean up mouse droppings whenever you find them. This includes disinfecting and scrubbing the carpet as well as vacuuming the area.
Should you find a cluster of droppings or see evidence that there is a mouse or several mice in your house, take a look at our how to clean mouse droppings from sofa article for tips on keeping them out of your living space. You should also look at your house’s structure to make sure it isn’t attracting mice. Finally, make sure all pets are kept indoors as this can also prevent mice from coming into your yard. With these tips, you can keep your house clean and safe from mouse infestations.
