How to Clean Up Mouse Droppings Safely, the CDC Method

Do not sweep or vacuum mouse droppings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says to spray them until very wet with disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution, wait 5 minutes, and wipe them up with paper towels. The sections below follow CDC's method in order and explain why the order matters.

1. Why the method matters

CDC says diseases spread from rodents to people mainly when people breathe in contaminated air. Its hantavirus guidance explains how: when fresh urine, droppings, or nesting materials from an infected rodent are stirred up, the virus can get into the air. It can also spread when saliva, urine, or feces gets into cuts in the skin or into the eyes, nose, or mouth.

That is why the whole method is built around wetting first and never stirring things up dry.

2. The two rules before you start

Do not sweep or vacuum. CDC says not to vacuum or sweep rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials, because it can put tiny droplets containing viruses into the air. If you already vacuumed, CDC says to follow the cleanup guidance from that point.

Wear gloves. CDC says to wear rubber or plastic gloves. Heavier infestations call for additional precautions.

3. Pick your disinfectant

CDC gives two options:

• a general-purpose household disinfectant, confirming the word "disinfectant" is on the label, or
• a bleach solution: 1.5 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water (CDC also describes it as 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). CDC says to make it fresh before use.

For a smaller batch, halve both amounts: 3/4 cup of bleach in a half gallon of water.

4. Cleaning up urine and droppings: CDC's 7 steps

1. Put on rubber or plastic gloves.
2. Spray the urine and droppings with the bleach solution or an EPA-registered disinfectant until very wet. Let it soak for 5 minutes, or as long as the disinfectant label directs.
3. Wipe up the droppings, urine, and cleaning product with paper towels.
4. Throw the paper towels into a covered garbage can that is emptied regularly.
5. Mop or sponge the area with disinfectant. Clean all hard surfaces, including floors, countertops, cabinets, and drawers.
6. Wash your gloved hands with soap and water or disinfectant before removing the gloves.
7. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after removing gloves. CDC says an alcohol-based hand rub works when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled.

5. Dead rodents and nests

CDC notes fleas are common on rodents, so it suggests considering an EPA-registered insect repellent, such as one with DEET, on clothing, shoes, and hands before picking up dead rodents or nesting material. Then:

1. Wear gloves.
2. Spray the dead rodent, nest, and the area around it with disinfectant, and let it soak 5 minutes or per the label.
3. Place the rodent or nesting material, along with any used traps, in a plastic bag.
4. Tie the bag shut, put it inside a second plastic bag, and tie that one too.
5. Throw it into a covered garbage can that is emptied regularly, or ask your state health department about other disposal options.
6. Wash gloved hands, remove gloves, and wash hands again.

Reusing a snap trap? CDC says to submerge the trap with the rodent in disinfectant for 5 minutes while wearing gloves, drop the rodent into a plastic bag by lifting the metal bar, rinse the trap well with water to remove the disinfectant scent, and let it dry completely.

6. Soft items and things you cannot wipe

CDC's guidance for other surfaces, after droppings are removed:

• Bedding, clothing, and stuffed animals: launder with hot water and detergent, then machine dry on high or hang in the sun.
• Carpets and upholstery: shampoo with a commercial disinfectant, or use a commercial-grade steam cleaner or shampoo.
• Books, papers, and other items that cannot be cleaned with liquid: leave them outdoors in sunlight for several hours, or in an indoor area free of rodents for a minimum of three weeks (CDC strongly suggests six weeks).

7. Check the car, too

CDC's guidance covers vehicles as well. If you find nesting material in a car's air intake system, CDC says to remove both the nest and the air filter, throw the nest away, and install a new filter. It also says not to leave food anywhere in the car, since it attracts rodents.

8. Stop the next round

CDC's hantavirus page calls rodent control the primary strategy for prevention, and says wild rodents near people should be controlled and excluded from homes. Cleaning handles what is already there; sealing entry points and removing food sources keeps it from happening again. A good routine is to recheck the same spots a week after cleaning. Fresh droppings mean mice are still getting in.

9. Key takeaways

• Do not sweep or vacuum droppings; CDC says that can put virus-containing droplets into the air.
• Use a labeled disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution of 1.5 cups bleach per gallon of water.
• Spray until very wet, wait 5 minutes, then wipe with paper towels and bag them in a covered trash can.
• Double-bag dead rodents and nests, and wash gloved hands before taking gloves off.
• Launder soft items hot, sun or isolate items you cannot wipe, and focus on keeping rodents out.