If you have a rat infestation, it is imperative that the area be cleansed and disinfected in order to stop further disease transmission or pest invasion. As this process may be complex, professional assistance should be sought for this task.
As part of your cleaning efforts, be on the lookout for droppings as these indicate an active infestation.
Ventilate the Attic
Rats can cause immense damage to your property when they gain entry to your attic, from chewing cardboard boxes and insulation to wiring that leads to serious structural problems in your home.
Rats can spread diseases to your home and pose serious health threats for both humans and pets alike. Rats may carry deadly viruses like Hantavirus, Plague or Salmonellosis if they come into contact with people.
After discovering an infestation of rats in your attic, it’s essential that it is cleaned and disinfected to avoid infections from spreading further and protect both family members and pets from disease-causing agents left behind by rats. Doing this will ensure their presence will have minimal repercussions for everyone in the household and home.
Before opening windows or creating cross ventilation in order to rid yourself of stagnant air in your attic, opening them and creating cross ventilation can help dispel smelly gases as well. It will help eliminate odors.
Prepare a Disinfectant
Rats can carry diseases that spread quickly and spoil food in your home, so if they have entered your attic you must clean and disinfect to ensure no further infestations take place in future.
Before beginning the cleaning process, be sure to wear gloves and a face mask as well as apply a solution of bleach and water or disinfectant spray.
This will reduce any dust or waste created during the vacuuming and sweeping of droppings or urine.
Once you have removed all rodents and nesting materials, replace any insulation exposed in the attic which has become contaminated and dispose of all contaminated waste in plastic garbage bags.
Examine any stored materials or furniture for signs of chewed spots, tooth marks or woodchips to gain an idea of the extent of your rat problem.
Remove All Items
Rats commonly utilize attics as nesting sites and shelter, especially roof rats who are adept climbers and most likely to invade your home.
After discovering that there are rats in your attic, make sure that all items are removed from the area. If it contains insulation, remove any potentially contaminated materials and store it in plastic bins until disposal can take place.
Before vacuuming or sweeping, inspect any areas where rodent droppings or urine have been found. Before doing either of these, dampen these areas with disinfectant spray before vacuuming or sweeping.
Rubber gloves and overalls should be worn to reduce the risk of inhaling dust, rodent saliva or other microscopic pathogens.
Cleaning involves discovering dead rodents or nests which need to be cleared away safely and removed promptly. Wear rubber gloves when handling these materials and dispose of them in an appropriate trash bag.
Clean the Area
Rats can introduce dangerous pathogens into your home through excreting feces and urine containing diseases such as Hantavirus. If there is an infestation in your attic, it is imperative that it is thoroughly disinfected as quickly as possible.
First step of cleaning should be removing rat droppings and urine with disinfectant solution.
Spray the area with a mixture of water and bleach (or another commercial disinfectant) for five minutes before wiping it off with paper towels.
Do not vacuum or sweep the area as this may release harmful particles into the air and contribute to further contamination. Instead, use a paper towel to collect droppings and dispose of them properly using trash collection services.
Once all droppings and urine have been cleared from your attic, it is time to disinfect it. Clean all floors, countertops and furniture that has come into contact with rodents in this process.