Rodent infestations are unpleasant. When mice and rats share your space, they can ruin your belongings, transmit disease and even startle you as they come out of their nests to find food. It is important to eliminate the problem as soon as possible and once you do, you may think the hard part is over. However, it may not be long before you start noticing an odor that is almost as offensive as the infestation. Rodents often move to the walls and rafters when they are dying and it does not take long for their corpses to begin to stink. So, how do you get rid of the smell? You can start by trying out the tips below.

Find the Rodent

Before you can eliminate the smell of a dead rodent that is permeating your home, you first have to find the source. Look for signs of rodent activity including paw prints along the edges of walls, droppings, and greasy streaks along countertops or wall edges. After finding these signs, you can locate where the rodent may have gone to try and locate their corpse.

If you do not find any of these signs, you will have to determine what area of the house has the most concentrated odor. Once you find where the odor is strongest, look for the corpse of the rodent. If you cannot find one, the rodent may be in the attic, wall cavity, or crawlspace.

In the event that you do not find a corpse, you have the option of opening some walls up to locate the body. This is quite costly and not practical for everyone. When this is the case, the only option may be to wait for the odor to dissipate on its own, which could take several weeks.

Clean the Area

If you were able to locate where the rodent was in your home, the next step is to remove it and clean the area. You must do this very carefully, as rodent feces is very hazardous to the health of humans. The steps to take when cleaning the area are as follows:

Wear rubber gloves, work clothes you do not mind disposing of, and a mask that covers your mouth and nose.
Make a solution that is 10 percent bleach and 90 percent water.
Place the corpse inside one resealable bag and then place that bag inside of another resealable bag. Place the corpse inside of a garbage bag.
Spray the bleach solution over any area you believe there was rodent activity.
Clean the area using paper towels, making sure to remove prints, marks, and other signs of activity.
Place used paper towels in the garbage bag and repeat cleaning with the bleach solution until there are no more signs of rodents.
Remove rubber gloves and work clothes and place these inside the garbage bag.
Wash hands for at least five minutes and take a shower.

If the above steps do not completely eliminate the odor, you will have to repeat them all again, beginning with locating the rodent and then cleaning the entire area.

Air Out the Space

After removing the animal and cleaning the area, it is important to open the windows and try to air out the space. This step is even more important if you have cleaned thoroughly and still smell a lingering odor. Opening the windows will ventilate the space and dissipate the odor faster. Fans are sometimes helpful to create a cross breeze that will move through the space even more quickly.

If the odor was particularly offensive or potent, you may also need to spray a room deodorizer in the space. Use a spray that is all-natural if possible, and spray lightly in small amounts until the odor is completely gone.

Call a Rodent Control Expert

The first step in eliminating a mice or rat infestation is to contact a rodent control specialist that can remove the problem from your home. While doing this, they will also identify the areas where the rodents are nesting and have likely died so cleanup is easier afterward.

If you have a problem with mice and rats, do not share your space with them for another day. At Pointe Pest Control, we will not only get rid of the rodents for you, but also provide the advice you need so you do not live with the aftermath of rodents any longer than you have to. Call us today at (866) 633-1573 to request a quote and to learn more about how we can help.