How to Get Rid of the Dead Mouse Smell
The smell of a dead mouse is one of the foulest and offensive odors one could live with.
It is, after all, the body of a living organism decaying.
There are bound to be some odors that are overwhelming and hard to tolerate.
What's worse is that these odors can also release bacteria that not only make the odor worse but also make you quite sick.
In a nutshell, the odor is not something you want to inhale.
The following are some of the ways in which you can get rid of the smell of a dead mouse.
Find the Source
The most important step, before you proceed to take any other measures, is to locate the source of the smell.
Finding the corpse of the dead mouse is extremely important to eliminate the source for good. Once the decaying body has been disposed of, the smell will automatically become less overwhelming and will be much easier to eliminate.
Once you have located the dead mouse, you need to get rid of the corpse. This will need certain safety precautions as you could contract an infection if the corpse is not handled properly.
- Slip on a pair of plastic or rubber gloves before handling the corpse.
- Put on a nose mask and wear clothes that you can get rid of without any hassle.
- Place the corpse (scoop it up with a dusting pan) into two Ziploc bags.
- Mix a solution of 10 percent bleach and 90 percent water, then scrub the infected area down with it.
- Place the Ziploc bag and all other materials you used to wipe the place down in a tightly-sealed garbage bag.
- Dispose of everything involved in the process, including your gloves and work clothes.
- Wash your hands meticulously and take a shower to disinfect completely.
Odor Removing Bags
Odor removing bags are essentially absorbents that will soak in the overwhelming odor of a dead mouse.
These bags are especially useful if you know the location of the corpse but are not able to retrieve it. Perhaps it is inside a pipe or in a narrow crawl space that you cannot reach.
In that case, odor removing bags can absorb the odor from the decomposing body. Even if you cannot put the bag right at the site of the corpse, even if you hang it near or above it and close the door, within hours the odor will start dissipating.
You may have to repeat this a few times and hang the number of bags depending on the size of the room.
Gradually, the odor will pass in a few days as the corpse dries up and does not emit the offensive smell. This method is strictly for when you cannot reach the corpse.
If it is possible, it is extremely important to get rid of the dead mouse.
White Vinegar
Using white vinegar is an easy and effective way to clear out a room of the stench.
White vinegar has a strong odor of its own and has properties that can get rid of and neutralize odor-causing bacteria.
If you place an uncovered bowl of white vinegar where the odor is the strongest and then close the door, the white vinegar will eventually evaporate, killing the bacteria in the air that is causing the odor. Not only does it work as a room freshener, but it is also a disinfectant that can neutralize the harmful bacteria that the corpse of a decaying mouse will emit.
You can repeat these steps with the bowl of white vinegar until the corpse decays fully or, you can find and dispose of the corpse before starting the vinegar treatment. If you wait for the corpse to decay on its own, it might take more than two weeks, depending on the size of the rodent.
Sprays
Now, these are not room freshener sprays.
Avoid, at any cost, spraying room fresheners to neutralize the odor as you may end up triggering a chemical reaction that makes the smell even worse.
The sprays being referred to here are special disinfectants that are useful for getting rid of organic smells like cat urine and other putrid smells. These sprays have properties that can get rid of organic smells, the smell of dead mice being one such category of odors.
Acetic Acid + Chlorine + Formalin
A great combination that you can create at home to get rid of putrid smells is a mix of acetic acid, chlorine, and formalin.
The acetic acid or formaldehyde can neutralize the strong and offensive odor. Since these chemicals can be extremely toxic when used casually at home, without adequate precautions, a more diluted version in 30 percent vinegar concentrate should do the trick.
If you do end up working with the chemicals (though it best advised that you use their diluted properties instead), ensure you wear appropriate gloves and masks so you do not end up injuring yourself or causing yourself further harm.
Rat Sorb
Rat Sorb is a special product that has a strong citrus smell mixed with other kinds of essential oils.
The solution is extremely concentrated so you will need to dilute it before you use it in the room.
Use it at a ratio of two or three drops for every 10 ounces of water. Apply the solution to cotton balls and place them in the areas where the odor seems to be emanating from or is the most intense. Change the cotton balls out regularly to keep a sustained effect of the solution.
Final Thoughts
As is evident from all the methods described above, the greatest emphasis is on getting rid of the corpse before you attempt to remove the odor.
Eliminating the body is the most effective way of getting rid of the odor as well. However, in cases where it is not possible to get rid of the corpse, there are a few different methods that allow you to live in your home without inhaling the offensive odor.
How to Get Rid of the Dead Mouse Smell
Source: https://www.x-pest.com/how-to-get-rid-of-dead-mouse-smell/