Droppings, urine stains and nests can carry germs, and the biggest risk during cleanup is stirring them into the air. The good news is that a safe method is simple. It is built on three ideas: ventilate, wet before you wipe and bag what you remove.
Before you start.
Decide whether the job suits you. A few droppings on a garage shelf is a different job from a soiled attic or a nest inside a wall. If the area is large, hot, tight or hard to reach, a professional is a sensible choice.
- Air out a closed room, shed or attic for at least 30 minutes before you enter.
- Gather rubber or plastic gloves, disinfectant, paper towels and sealable bags.
- Keep children and pets out of the area.
- Skip any dry sweeping or vacuuming plan.
The wet-cleanup sequence.
Follow the steps in order. Each exists for a reason, and skipping one is where problems begin.
- Put on gloves.
- Spray droppings, urine stains and nesting material with disinfectant until thoroughly wet.
- Let it soak for about five minutes.
- Wipe up with paper towels and place them in a sealed bag.
- Mop or wipe the surface with disinfectant.
- Wash your gloved hands, remove the gloves, then wash your bare hands thoroughly.
| Mistake. | Why it matters. | Better step. |
|---|---|---|
| Sweeping dry droppings. | Lifts dust into the air. | Wet first, then wipe. |
| Using a vacuum. | Blows fine particles out of the exhaust. | Use wet paper towels. |
| Skipping gloves. | Skin contact with contaminated material. | Wear rubber or plastic gloves. |
| Wiping before the soak. | Disinfectant needs time. | Wait about five minutes. |
| Open trash bin. | Waste can be disturbed. | Seal the bag before disposal. |
What changes in a hot climate.
Southern Arizona adds a few wrinkles. Summer attics can be dangerously hot, so do not clean one in the heat of the day. Garages and sheds can bake too, and protective gear adds to the heat. Plan cleanup for early morning, take breaks and bring water.
Vail is an unincorporated community in Pima County, and the monsoon months from mid-June through September bring humidity and storms that can move wet material around. After a storm, check sheds and garages before you start cleaning, and let spaces air out as long as you reasonably can.
Dead animals and traps.
If you find a dead rodent, do not touch it with bare hands. Use gloves and a sealed bag, and disinfect the spot. If you find a trap with an animal in it, treat the trap and the animal the same way and wash your hands afterward.
For a smell with no source, see dead rodent removal and odor control. For a contaminated attic or crawl space, attic and crawl space cleanup explains what a professional does.
Tell us the room, the time of night and the sound. Those three details usually point the first visit in the right direction.
Call (888) 686-4821Supplies worth having on hand.
Most of what you need is already in a household cupboard, and none of it is expensive. Gather it before you start so you never have to walk away from a wet area to find something.
- Rubber or plastic gloves, enough to change if one tears.
- A household disinfectant or a bleach solution mixed according to its label.
- Paper towels or disposable rags, not sponges you will reuse.
- Sealable plastic bags and a second bag for the first one.
- A flashlight, so you can see corners and the underside of shelves.
A damp area should be dealt with in one session rather than left open overnight. If you cannot finish, cover the area and keep children and pets away until you can.
After the cleanup.
Cleanup does nothing if animals can return. Once the area is clean, close the gaps. Our exclusion service page describes how, and the safety box on this page repeats the CDC points in a short list.
Cleanup safety, drawn from CDC guidance
Short, practical safety points based on CDC cleanup guidance. They are not medical advice.
- Resist the urge to sweep. Dry droppings crumble into dust that is easy to inhale.
- Air out a closed attic, garage or shed for at least 30 minutes before you go in to work.
- Do not clean bare-handed. Gloves go on before you start and hands get washed when you stop.
- Apply disinfectant until the droppings are thoroughly wet, give it five minutes, and only then pick them up with paper towels.
- Double check that waste is bagged and sealed, and never pick up a dead rodent with bare hands.
- A fever or trouble breathing after rodent cleanup deserves a call to your doctor, with the exposure mentioned up front.
Sources and standards
Two public agencies publish the baseline guidance for this topic. Their pages are linked below.
- US EPA: Restrictions on Rodenticide Products: The EPA's explanation of rodenticide restrictions, useful context for anyone weighing store-bought poison.
- CDC: How to Clean Up After Rodents: Official guidance on handling rodent waste around the home, with gloves, airing out and wet cleanup.