What To Do After A Rodent Infestation
A rodent infestation isn't gone as soon as the last pest is eliminated. There are steps you must take after an infestation to both ensure your home is hygienic and ensure that the pests don't return again.
Prevent Future Problems
Prevention is always the first order of business once you have the current infestation eradicated. Your exterminator will help you determine the most likely points of entry that were used by the rodents when they first infested your homes. Holes in the siding or foundation, gaps around window and door frames, and pass-through points in the siding (such as where utilities enter the home) are the most common access points. Once the access points are found, they can be repaired or screened off with a tight metal mesh that a rodent will be unable to chew through. Your exterminator may also recommend moving mulch and wood piles away from the home to discourage rodents in the future.
Locate All Possible Nesting Areas
Rodents don't enter your home simply to feed; they also come in so they can nest and breed. There are certain signs that can help lead you to these nesting areas, which your exterminator can show you. Urine and dropping trails, particularly along baseboards, are one common indicator. Rodents are also drawn to hidden areas, particularly those that already contain fabrics or papers to nest in, such as the backs of closets, inside little-used drawers, or in basement storage areas. Rodent droppings also have a musty-sour odor, so you can use your nose to help find old nests.
Clean and Disinfect
Once you know where the rodents have been, you can start the cleanup process. Rodent droppings and nesting materials can carry diseases that affect humans and pets, so wear gloves, eye protection, and a face mask when cleaning up after these pests. Remove all droppings and nesting materials. Then, use a strong disinfectant, preferably one that contains bleach or that features antibacterial and antiviral properties, to thoroughly clean the area. Fabrics can be laundered and hard surface can be disinfected, but papers may need to be disposed of.
Develop a Monitoring System
Rodents will often come back to a home that has been infested before, so you need to monitor for re-entry. It's much easier to handle a rodent problem before the pests get settled and start breeding again. Your exterminator can recommend the best monitoring traps to use, as well as help you find the key location to place the traps.
Contact a rodent treatment service for more advice.
