How Do I Clean Up After Mice Safely?

1. 1

   Air out the space

   For any closed-up room, attic, shed, or camp, open all doors and windows for 30 minutes before cleaning to ventilate the space, and leave the area during that time.

   Do not vacuum, sweep, or otherwise disturb droppings during this step.

2. 2

   Glove up and wet the material

   Return wearing rubber or plastic gloves. Spray droppings, urine, and nesting material until very wet with a general-purpose household disinfectant or a fresh 1:9 bleach solution (1.5 cups household bleach per gallon of water).

3. 3

   Soak, wipe, dispose

   Let the solution soak about 5 minutes (or per the disinfectant label), then wipe up with paper towels and discard them in a covered garbage can that's emptied regularly.

4. 4

   Disinfect hard surfaces

   Mop or sponge all hard surfaces — floors, countertops, cabinets, drawers — with disinfectant. Move potentially contaminated storage boxes outside into sunlight to sort.

5. 5

   Handle porous materials separately

   Launder contaminated bedding, clothing, and stuffed animals in hot water and detergent; shampoo or steam-clean carpets and upholstery; leave books and papers in sunlight for several hours or in a rodent-free space for at least three weeks.

   Bag contaminated exposed insulation for removal rather than trying to disinfect it in place.

6. 6

   Wash up

   Wash gloved hands with soap and water or disinfectant before removing gloves, then wash your bare hands thoroughly.

▸Calibrated from: CDC, "How to Clean Up After Rodents" (last reviewed April 8, 2024).