How Do I Disinfect Areas Where Mice Were Active?

For floors, countertops, cabinets, drawers, and plastic, glass, or metal containers, CDC's method is to first wet-wipe up droppings and urine — spray until very wet, soak 5 minutes, wipe with paper towels — then mop or wipe the surface itself with a general-purpose household disinfectant or a fresh 1:9 bleach solution (1.5 cups bleach per gallon of water). This always follows the 30-minute air-out step for enclosed spaces, and never involves dry-sweeping or vacuuming first.

Fabrics behave differently than hard surfaces: launder contaminated bedding, clothing, and stuffed animals in hot water with detergent, drying on high heat or in the sun. Shampoo or steam-clean carpets and upholstery with a commercial disinfectant. For books, papers, and other non-washable items, leave them in sunlight for several hours or isolate them in a rodent-free indoor space for at least three weeks — six preferred — since UV light and time help inactivate the virus.

CDC is specific that contaminated exposed insulation should be bagged for removal, not disinfected in place — it can't be reliably cleaned. Move potentially contaminated storage boxes outside into sunlight to sort, working upwind so dust doesn't blow toward your face, and discard cardboard that's visibly soiled. If mice reached HVAC ductwork, contact a professional service rather than attempting DIY disinfection.