A mouse died under the floor: how to get rid of the smell, 20 best professional and folk remedies

Few people enjoy being around mice. These rodents spoil clothes, equipment, chew furniture, and get to food. The presence of these small animals in the home is constantly reminded by an unpleasant aroma that lingers on furniture, textiles, and other surfaces. To remove it, it is not enough to kick uninvited guests out of the apartment and ventilate the home. Special preparations or available folk remedies will help clean the room.

How to find the source

To eliminate an unpleasant odor, you must first find its source. This is easy to do if the mouse corpse lies on the floor and is visible to the naked eye. But very often rodents die in hard-to-reach places. How to find the source of the smell in this case?

In old furniture

Rodents can make a nest or simply hide in old furniture. If the smell comes from the sofa, you need to unfold it and carefully inspect it. A dead mouse may end up under removable parts of the body or under the upholstery; to find the corpse, the boards must be unscrewed and the upholstery removed or torn off.

Under the baseboard

Mice that run into an apartment can climb into the gap between the wall and the baseboard and die there. In order to find the corpse of a rodent in such a shelter, you need to dismantle the baseboards.

In the ventilation

A favorite place for mice to hide is ventilation. If the rodent died there, the smell will spread throughout the room.

In a bag of cereals or flour

Animals are attracted to food storage areas. If cereals or flour are not stored in sealed containers, but in bags or bags, mice gnaw through the fabric and get inside.

Folk remedies will help get rid of the smell of a dead mouse

When mice die under the floor, it is not necessary to go to the store and buy special expensive products. Time-tested folk remedies will help get rid of the pungent odor. The most effective ones are listed below.

Vinegar treatment

When you need to treat not only the floor, but also furniture, you should use nine percent table vinegar. This tool has several advantages. On the one hand, it allows you to effectively get rid of a specific odor, on the other hand, it will not harm home furnishings. Also, vinegar does not need to be washed off after application.

Potassium permanganate solution

In a situation where it is necessary to treat a dark-colored floor covering, you can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate. To prepare it, you need to dissolve three or four crystals of potassium permanganate in a liter of water. The pinkish liquid will not only help get rid of the smell of a dead mouse, but will also kill all pathogenic microorganisms.

Hydrogen peroxide treatment

If you have to wash light-colored surfaces on which a mouse has died, it is better to use the product available in every first aid kit - peroxide. To eliminate the unpleasant odor, you will need to generously pour active liquid onto the problem area. The next day the procedure will have to be repeated.

Chlorine treatment

If a mouse has recently died under the floor, and you need to get rid of the rather strong smell of decaying flesh, it is best to use caustic substances that contain chlorine. Such products can remove even the most corrosive odors. One of the most common chlorine-containing cleaners is Bleach. To get rid of the pungent smell with its help, you need to do the following:

pour a liter of clean cool water and White into a small basin, and mix the ingredients thoroughly;
thoroughly treat the floor, baseboards, and hard-to-reach places with the resulting liquid;
leave the product for deep effects for three to four days;
after the specified time - carry out general cleaning of the room.

Ventilation

If a mouse died under the floor in summer or spring, you can try to get rid of the intense odor by regular ventilation. To do this, you will need to open all the doors and windows wide, creating a real draft. The room should remain in this condition for at least a week. Of course, such a method is unlikely to be suitable for getting rid of mouse odor in your home. However, it can be used to clean a summer house or barn.

It is worth noting that if none of the remedies discussed above helped get rid of the cadaverous odor, you should contact a specialized organization that provides cleaning services. A professional will quickly find the place where the mouse died and eliminate all related problems.

What to do if you can't find it

In a private home, rodents can hide and die in a crack in the wall, under the floor, or in another hard-to-reach place. If the smell is felt, but the mouse corpse is not visible, experience-tested observations will help at least reduce the search area. What to pay attention to:

The smell intensifies as you approach the epicenter.
A decomposing dead rat can be found by tracking the trajectory of the flies.
The corpse can be found by drops of liquid released from it.
If you have a dog, it will become anxious around a dead mouse.

Preventive measures

To prevent the appearance of mouse odor, preventive measures should be taken:

carry out general cleaning of premises (including hard-to-reach places);
after removing rodents that were previously in the house, it is worth disinfecting the rooms using one of the above methods;
systematically ventilate the room, avoiding air stagnation;
periodically dry bedding, carpeting and soft toys;
place around the house scents that are unpleasant to mice, such as tar (it is contained in Vishnevsky’s ointment);
use wood ash as a deterrent, spreading it in areas where rodents are likely to pass;
place ultrasonic repellers;
get a cat at home.

Basic ways to eliminate odor

First of all, to eliminate the smell, you need to remove its source. But even after this, you can feel its remnants due to the fact that it has managed to be absorbed into the surfaces of walls, floors, furniture and textiles. How to get rid of the scent completely?

Vinegar

Vinegar perfectly eliminates mouse odor while disinfecting surfaces. The product is used to treat walls, floors, furniture, and textiles. A solution of 1 part vinegar and 5 parts water is sprayed with a spray bottle.

The pungent smell of vinegar disappears after some time; you can improve the aroma in the room with essential oils, most often lavender, mint or pine are used.

Manganese

Potassium permanganate is a widely used folk remedy for disinfection. Treating all washable surfaces with a sponge and a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate will not only help get rid of unpleasant odors and disinfect objects, but will also repel rodents, preventing their return.

Chlorine

Chlorine-containing preparations will not only help remove the odor, but also disinfect the room. To get rid of odors, use a sponge soaked in the product to treat all washable items. We must not forget that chlorine fumes are toxic, so it is not recommended to use the liquid in an apartment where there are small children or pets.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide will remove odor not only from the room, but also from clothes:

Wet cleaning is carried out with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (800 ml), dishwashing liquid (100 ml), soda (120 g), prepared immediately before treatment.
The unpleasant smell will be removed from clothes if you soak them before washing for a couple of hours in water with the addition of hydrogen peroxide, the components are taken in a ratio of 6 to 1.
Surfaces in the room can be treated with hydrogen peroxide using a spray bottle. This measure is applied after cleaning with a chlorine-containing agent to eliminate the remaining pathogens.

Absorbents

Absorbents are good at removing the smell of dead mice. To be effective, they must be placed in close proximity to the source. The vast majority of purchased products in the form of powders, tablets and aerosols only mask the problem rather than eliminate it. Among the available means, good absorbents are salt, lime and soda.

Salt

Salt can be used in living areas to absorb unpleasant odors. It is enough to sprinkle the substance on the source or simply place a fabric bag with absorbent on a shelf. Salt has the ability to absorb moisture and unpleasant odors, and also lightly disinfect the air.

Lime

Lime is used to get rid of odors in non-residential premises. An even, dense layer of absorbent is applied to the site where the rodent dies. The substance eliminates aroma and also destroys bacteria, acting as a kind of filter.

Soda

Soda, like salt, can be used in living rooms. The absorbent absorbs the smell of a dead mouse, in addition, particles of organic tissue. This way the room is disinfected.

Aroma sticks

Incense sticks must be set on fire and carried through all the rooms. The smell is chosen to be pleasant, as it will be absorbed into the wallpaper and will be felt for some time after treatment.

Ozone installations

Ozone is used to clean the room from rats by professional services, for which they use special devices that generate ozone. The ozone unit not only expels rodents, but also eliminates unpleasant odors, and also purifies the air from harmful, toxic substances and impurities.

The big advantage of using ozone is that it does not leave any odors or marks on furniture, clothing, carpets or walls.

Professional products

To disinfect premises and eliminate unpleasant odors, you can use professional sprays, liquids and powders. When working with them, we must not forget about personal protective equipment.

"Lizafin"

"Lizafin" is a potent biocide. The product is concentrated and must be mixed with water before use. Incompatible with soap solutions and synthetic detergents. "Lizafin" is economically used, effectively disinfects surfaces, and does not cause skin irritation when diluted.

"Medifox Des"

The disinfectant liquid has an antimicrobial and cleaning effect. Retains its properties during freezing and subsequent thawing. "Mediafox Dez" kills germs and removes odors.

"Chlorapin"

“Chlorapin” is a chlorine-containing agent used for disinfection, available in the form of powder or tablets. Wipe all surfaces and hard furniture with a rag soaked in a solution of Chlorapin, and after treatment, wash off with water.

Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator

The universal exterminator is designed to combat traces of domestic animals: stains and odors of organic origin. The spray is convenient to apply by spraying the product onto the problem area. You can add liquid to water and wash the floor or wipe other surfaces.

Ventilation

Ventilation is the most affordable way to treat a room against unpleasant odors. A room in which you smell a dead mouse needs to be ventilated. It is advisable to create a draft and leave the room. Fans will help speed up weathering.

Removing traces of urine and cadaveric rot from surfaces

Having identified the source of unpleasant odors, you can begin to neutralize it. The smell of urine and droppings carries the same danger to the inhabitants of the house as a decaying rodent. Therefore, the treatment is carried out in a similar way, using less aggressive drugs.

When removing mouse odor, you can’t do without general cleaning.

Concentrated urine from mice not only has a foul odor, but can also carry hantaviruses. They are distributed by rodents. To date, no vaccine has been found against it, and in a third of cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, patients do not survive. Therefore, the seriousness of its prevention is not worth talking about.

How to treat the surface depends on the materials from which they are made. Any characteristic stains found on a wooden surface should not be heavily moistened, since urine will be absorbed into the wood along with the preparation. It is better to use a powdered absorbent, and then a spray that neutralizes odors.

It is more difficult to remove stains from drywall, therefore, having determined the extent of the contamination, you need to either cut out a part or replace the entire sheet. How to eliminate the smell if chipboard is damaged? You can try to save the damaged part of the furniture. To do this, thoroughly wipe the contaminated areas with alcohol and treat with a chemical neutralizer.

Essential oils

Aromatic herbs are a good help in the fight against both the mice themselves and the smell of dead animals, but the smell of dried plants is subtle and quickly disappears, so it is better to use essential oils. The most commonly used oils are peppermint, lavender, and coniferous trees. The product is applied to a cotton ball and left in the problem area.

Coffee beans

Coffee beans are an excellent absorbent. To neutralize the smell of a dead mouse, coffee beans are laid out near the source in bulk or placed in a cotton bag. Dry coffee grounds have the same effect.

Formalin

Formalin, or formaldehyde, is used by pathologists to neutralize cadaveric odor. The substance will also help to cope with the stench of a dead mouse. It should be remembered that the compound is quite toxic, and use it at home with great caution.

Burdock vs rats

The placement of burdock thorns in rat habitats is determined by its extreme tenacity. As you run over these thorns, you literally become weighed down with them - and tearing burdocks off even from fabric, not to mention the fur of rodents, is an extremely difficult task. In addition to being difficult, getting rid of fur from burdock is also a very painful task, since rats do not have fingers, and they are forced to chew it off with their teeth.

The effectiveness of this method is quite controversial - after all, rats are known to be very smart animals. Having gotten into trouble with a burdock once, the second time they will simply bypass it. However, one time is usually enough for a rat stuck in a burdock trap to lose the desire to roam around in places completely covered with thorns for a long time. You can consolidate the effect with the help of poison for rats, which can be used to treat burdock - by gnawing it, the rodent will eat the poison and finally leave the terrorized house/basement alone.

Ways to drive out mice

In order not to face the problem of eliminating the smell of a dead mouse under the floor, it is best to try to get rid of rodents in advance, as soon as signs of their vital activity are noticed. There are many ways to do this, both with the help of folk remedies and with the involvement of professionals.

Mousetraps

Mousetraps come in a variety of designs. Bait is placed inside, which is changed periodically, after which the trap is placed in the place where the mouse droppings were found. The disadvantage of mousetraps is that they provide only a single catch, without helping to massively solve the problem in the case of a large number of pests.

Poisons

Poisons can help get rid of an entire mouse population. The poison is placed in a place accessible to mice, but inaccessible to pets and children, and left for some time. The disadvantage of mouse baiting is that the carcasses must be collected for disposal, and some rodents may end up in inaccessible areas. In addition, with this method of disposal, cats often suffer because they catch and eat poisoned prey.

Deratization service

Deratization specialists get rid of rodents using mechanical, biological, and chemical methods. The issues of deratization in urban apartment buildings are dealt with by the housing office and housing cooperatives; the need to carry out treatment against rodents can be reported to the SES and Rospotrebnadzor. To exterminate mice in a village or country house, they turn to the services of private companies.

Ultrasound

Ultrasonic repellers are one of the most modern methods of rodent control. The principle of operation of the device is based on the fact that it constantly emits ultrasound of a certain frequency, which is not perceived by the human ear, but causes great discomfort to mice and rats. Animals themselves leave the room in which the repeller is installed, obeying the instinct of self-preservation.

Household chemicals or how to get rid of mouse smell forever

However, the power of folk remedies is as poor as a church mouse, and in most cases it will only be possible to minimize and mask, rather than remove, the odor. The solution will be professional tools - household chemicals in the form of deodorizing and antibacterial solutions. They are classified as follows:

Absorbents for local elimination of stench. If the location of the dead rodents is known, you can add baking soda, salt or lime. This ensures surface disinfection and minimizes unpleasant odors.

Important: carbon-based absorbents will not help combat odors from rodents.

Chemical disinfectants in the form of an aerosol or concentrate for mixing with water. They contain formaldehyde, which is why they are dangerous to the health of any living beings - from newborns and pets to adult household members

May damage wood coverings and furniture.

Air ionizers. Devices that carry absorbents or chemical impurities throughout the room.

The pillar among the variety of products is the German product “Dufta”. And for good reason: it combines the high efficiency of chemical disinfectants with maximum health safety.

Fact: if after treatment the smell appears again, then this is a sign that the rodents have not left the house or apartment. All that remains is to return to deratization, seal all the cracks and repeat the procedures.

Features of processing various surfaces

The biggest problem arises when treating porous surfaces, as they tend to absorb odors. This feature is taken into account when disinfecting various materials.

Chipboard

Before processing, the chipboard must be freed from dust and dirt and degreased, and then a disinfectant must be applied on both sides. The final stage is to protect the surface with sealant or polish.

Drywall

If the drywall is soaked through, it is impossible to remove the smell from it. It will be easier to throw away the damaged sheet and replace it with a new one.

Natural wood

The wooden surface is cleaned in several stages:

First of all, use any absorbent to remove residual liquid; for this purpose, cover the surface with an even, dense layer for some time.
After removing the absorbent, the affected area is disinfected using folk remedies such as vinegar or potassium permanganate, or professional sprays.
Finally, the wood is treated with sealant or polish.

Why is he dangerous?

It is especially dangerous for allergy sufferers and people with bronchial asthma. Mice are carriers of various diseases (for example, typhoid fever). Pathogenic microorganisms are present in their excrement. This smell attracts flies, which contribute to the spread of pathogenic microbes. If you do not begin to solve the problem, the situation may worsen.

Important! Mouse odor is easily absorbed into wooden surfaces.

What diseases do mice carry and how can you get infected from them? Read more in the article here.