When you notice mice droppings on or inside your couch, it’s time to clean and disinfect thoroughly and properly to prevent potentially serious illness; but learning how to clean a couch after mice starts with the cleanup process.
The cleanup begins with spotting signs of mice around the home and then using a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water solution to tackle the problem. Don’t forget to sanitize after the cleanup is done, and wear an N-95 mask and gloves during the cleaning process to keep yourself protected.
Let’s jump into spotting the signs of mice around the home, and then the individual steps to clean up your couch after mice.
Signs Of Mice Around The Home
Mice like to hide in dark spaces, usually close to food. But, even a little crumb you dropped while sitting on the couch to watch TV before heading to bed is enough to draw a mouse to it for an all-night feast. Before attempting to clean up their droppings, it’s a good idea to first get rid of the infestation problem. Start by setting out traps.
Maybe you’ve noticed nighttime scratching noises, or your pets have started acting strange. Some great clues that you have a mouse problem include spotting droppings, smelling a foul odor from their urine, or noticing strange scratches or holes – not those you would associate with general wear and tear.
If you find shredded cushion stuffing or an actual mouse nest, you know for sure there is an issue.
Droppings
One obvious tell-tale sign of mice around the home is their droppings. Mice droppings are small and black when wet, turning grayish as they dry. They are usually less than ¼ inch and pointed on both ends. New droppings are shiny and putty-like. Old droppings are hard and crumbly.Foul Odor
Another sign that mice have been around the home is urine odors. Their urine smells like a strong musky smell.
Holes, Scratches, Nests, and Runways
Gnawed holes that are about the size of a dime, or rub and gnaw or scratch marks are a couple of other signs that mice are nearby. Also, look for rodent runways or nests.
Shredded Material
Mice tend to shred paper or other pliable materials, like stuffing inside a couch cushion. If you find small balls of fluff or paper literally in shreds, it’s a good indication that a mouse is nearby and trying to make a nest. The polyester fiberfill that is inside most couch cushions makes an ideal material for nest building.
Nighttime Noises
Another indication that you have a mice problem is if you hear scampering noises, typically at night since they are nocturnal animals.
Pet Acting Strange
Also, observe your pets for unusual behavior. A dog might start barking incessantly for seemingly no reason whatsoever. A cat might start pawing crazily under furniture or behind large appliances.
Dangers of Mice Droppings
The thought of having mice running around or hiding inside your couch and leaving droppings is not a pleasant one. But, besides the squeamish feeling of having a mouse, there are serious health reasons to make sure your home is free of mice.
Mainly, their droppings can cause health issues with the risk of contracting an illness that could even result in death. In fact, mice are known to carry more than 35 diseases that can affect humans.
Some of the more worrisome health-related issues that mice droppings have the potential of leaving behind include:
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. While the chance of getting this disease is rare, it’s not unheard of. Cleaning with a bleach solution will kill Hantavirus as will boiling for 5 minutes. Hantavirus can live for 2 to 3 days on mice droppings. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, muscle aches especially in thighs, hips, back, or shoulders, headaches, dizziness, chills, abdominal problems, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.
- Salmonella is a dangerous bacterium that mice can transmit. Salmonella is usually transmitted through food items being contaminated.
- Encephalitis is another disease that mice can carry and transmit to humans. Encephalitis is inflammation of the active tissues of the brain, or the swelling of the lining of the brain, caused by an infection.
Removing Mice Droppings From Couch: Step By Step
The main thing to remember is to avoid letting the dust from dried droppings get into the air. If you inhale this dust, you could be exposing yourself to disease.
Do not sweep or vacuum up mouse droppings since it could cause virus particles to go into the air. If you vacuum up the droppings, be sure to use a HEPA filter vacuum, and wear a mask when you empty it outside.
For the best way to remove mice droppings from a couch, follow this helpful step-by-step guide:
1. Protection
Wear rubber, latex, or vinyl gloves and an N-95 mask to keep from making contact with skin and the droppings or inhaling the droppings dust which could harbor bacteria or dangerous viruses.
2. Remove Covers
If your couch has removable covers that are machine washable, start by removing them and throwing them in the wash using antibacterial detergent. Hang them in the sunlight to dry.
3. Improve Ventilation
Open up windows to make sure your house has good ventilation and fresh air before you start cleaning.
4. Clean The Droppings
Spray the droppings and urine with a bleach and water solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. If you are afraid the solution will take colors out of your couch’s fabric, use a disinfectant spray intended for upholstery.
After you spray the droppings, urine, and any rodent nest that may be hiding in the couch, let it set fully immersed in the solution, and soak for at least 5 minutes.
It is important to soak the droppings to make them wet which will prevent producing germ and virus-containing dust to be transmitted into the air.
For a leather couch, mix half a cup of olive oil with ¼ cup of vinegar and spray it on the couch.
If you don’t want to spray a fabric couch, you can also take a clean cloth and dip it into the water and bleach solution and use it to spot clean the area. You could also use a phenol-type spray like Lysol. Wipe down all plastic parts of the sofa with the chlorine solution.
For wooden or other natural materials, check with the manufacturer’s website for cleaning tips.
5. Remove Droppings and/or Dead Mice
With gloves on, grab a paper towel to pick up droppings and any nests or even dead mice that may be there. Dispose of them in an outside garbage can with a lid.
6. Clean blankets and Pillowcases
Wash any blankets or pillowcases that were sitting on the couch in the washing machine. The detergent will sanitize them well. But, to be safe, also dry them thoroughly in a dryer.
7. Remove Gloves and Clean Hands
Dispose of the gloves, or make sure they are washed thoroughly if they are not disposable. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, or use rubbing alcohol or a waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
8. Disinfect
After the droppings and urine have been removed, disinfect the area. Use an upholstery shampoo. Or, to avoid color fading on couch cushions, you can steam clean it.
Don’t Forget To Sanitize
After you have cleaned and disinfected, it is important to sanitize the couch after mice have been there. Wear gloves and a face mask for this process as well. Although, it’s a good idea to put on a fresh pair of gloves after disinfecting the area and handling droppings.
Take a piece of cloth and dip it into a sanitizer and begin to clean the couch after the droppings have been removed.
If any Hantavirus was released into the air, it can hang around for 2 to 3 days. It is important to sanitize the area. One way is to use ultraviolet rays.
Finally, use a spray mist or a peppermint essential oil blend to make the couch smell nice and fresh. The peppermint will keep mice at bay in the future as well as freshen up the couch.
Alternatively, dip a cotton ball in peppermint oil, and place it under and in the corners of your couch. Mice don’t like the smell of peppermint. Cloves and pepper also work as a mouse deterrent.
Final Thoughts
If you notice signs that mice have been in or on your couch, it’s time to learn how to clean a couch after mice. Take time to clean, disinfect, and sanitize it properly, so nobody gets sick from exposure to mice droppings. Also, take the necessary steps to make sure no mice ever return.