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CDC recommends that you NOT vacuum or sweep rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials. These actions can cause tiny droplets containing viruses to get into the air.

cdc.gov - Clean Up! | Rodents - CDC

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If you have mice or rats in or around your home or vehicle, it is important to clean up all urine, droppings, dead rodents, and nesting materials safely. If you develop an illness and are concerned that it may be due to a rodent-borne disease, talk to a healthcare provider and inform them of any exposure you may have had to rodents and/or their droppings and urine. Diseases are mainly spread to people from rodents when they breathe in contaminated air. CDC recommends that you NOT vacuum or sweep rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials. These actions can cause tiny droplets containing viruses to get into the air. If you swept or vacuumed during rodent clean up prior to reading this guidance, we recommend contacting your local or state health department for information about rodent-borne disease incidence in your area.

Evidence of a rodent infestation.

Prepare to clean up after rodents

ALWAYS take precautions when cleaning to reduce your risk of getting sick. Before you begin cleaning, prepare by gathering the proper equipment. Use a preferred disinfectant: General-purpose household disinfectant cleaning product (confirm the word “Disinfectant” is included on the label), or Bleach solution made with 1.5 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water (or 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Make bleach solution fresh before use. Wear rubber or plastic gloves. Additional precautions should be used for cleaning homes or buildings with heavy rodent infestation. If you have questions about your specific situation, contact your local health department.

Clean up rodent urine and droppings

Step 1: Put on rubber or plastic gloves.

Step 2: Spray urine and droppings with bleach solution or disinfectant until very wet. Let it soak for 5 minutes. Step 3: Use paper towels to wipe up the urine or droppings and cleaning product. Step 4: Throw the paper towels in a covered garbage can that is regularly emptied. Step 5: Mop or sponge the area with a disinfectant. Clean all hard surfaces including floors, countertops, cabinets, and drawers. Follow instructions below to clean and disinfect other types of surfaces. Step 6: Wash gloved hands with soap and water or a disinfectant before removing gloves. Step 7: Wash hands with soap and warm water after removing gloves or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled.

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Clean up dead rodents or rodent nests

Fleas are common on rodents. Consider using insect repellent (for example DEET or other EPA registered repellents) on clothing, shoes, and hands to reduce the risk of flea bites and minimize exposure to fleaborne disease while picking up dead rodents.

Step 1: Wear rubber or plastic gloves.

Step 2: Spray the dead mouse, rat, nest, and surrounding area with a disinfectant. Let it soak for 5 minutes. Step 3: Place the dead rodent or nesting materials in a plastic bag along with any used traps, unless you plan to reuse the trap. Step 4: Tie the ends of the bag together in a knot to seal the bag. Place the full bag in a second plastic bag and seal that bag by tying the ends together in a knot. Step 5: Throw the bag into a covered garbage can that is regularly emptied or contact your state health department for information on other ways to throw away dead mice and rats. Step 6: Wash gloved hands with soap and water or a disinfectant before removing gloves. Step 7: Wash hands with soap and warm water after removing gloves or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled.

If you plan to reuse the trap

Traditional snap traps can be reused. If you plan to reuse the trap, submerge the trap with the rodent in disinfectant (using a bucket) for 5 minutes while wearing rubber gloves. Remove the rodent from the trap by holding the trap over a plastic bag and lifting the metal bar. Let the rodent drop in the bag. Rinse the trap well with water to remove the scent of the disinfectant and let it dry completely. Follow steps 4-6 mentioned above by double bagging the rodent, disposing of the bag, and washing your gloves and hands.

cdc.gov - Clean Up! | Rodents - CDC