Now that I'm finally putting the stock car back together I've encountered a few signs of mouse activity, mostly in the exhaust pipes that have been sitting in on the garage floor. What is the safest way to dispose of mouse nests? I have a respirator and a shop vac, but I don't want to be blowing little mouse turd viruses all over my garage by accident.
Use a HEPA filter in your shop vac. They are available for most vacuums. That will catch the nasties.
Edit to say: I'd probably wipe everything down with a bleach solution.
Get a product called Spray Nine and use it extensively. You can find it at most hardware stores and even some auto parts stores. It is a hardcore cleaner and the bottles even used to say that it kills HIV but they probably took it off for liability reasons.
If you have K&N air filters, you can also use it to clean them instead of the K&N stuff. Smells and works identical but it's far cheaper. Just don't use it too much on dyed fabrics or leather as it will remove the dye.
Definitely use the PPE! Respirator, gloves, eye protection, etc.
Hantavirus is not your only concern.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:It is a hardcore cleaner and the bottles even used to say that it kills HIV but they probably took it off for liability reasons.
Killing HIV is easy, it's killing HIV without killing all of the cells around it that's hard. Don't drink that stuff. :)
codrus (Forum Supporter) said:Pete. (l33t FS) said:It is a hardcore cleaner and the bottles even used to say that it kills HIV but they probably took it off for liability reasons.
Killing HIV is easy, it's killing HIV without killing all of the cells around it that's hard. Don't drink that stuff. :)
HIV can survive for about an hour on a hard surface outside the body.
Hepatitis C can live up to two weeks in the same conditions.
HEPA bag or filter in the vacuum, N95 mask, gloves and eye pro.
Mouse crap is nasty stuff.
This thread reminds me that I need to renew the poison in my garage, and spray some peppermint oil solution around my cars. I hate the persistent, filthy little vermin. I've found nests and other evidence in every single car I own, despite my best efforts at rodent genocide. I should probably think about PPE next time I have to clean up after them - I've just been sucking everything up with a shopvac and moving on.
I should be good on the PPE front, I have a 3M dual filter respirator and goggles and disposable gloves. The HEPA filter makes sense, I assume that's kind of a one time use situation?
Bleach will kill the bugs associated with mouse urine, but you will be introducing chloride to the steel. It will always rust there first, no matter how well you clean and prep.
Use something else if possible
Bing.com/Search: how long does hantavirus survive on surfaces
Hantavirus can survive on surfaces for about two to three days in an average room temperature environment.
Hantavirus is a pretty weak virus, plain soap or alcohol easily kill it. Once all of the mice are killed and their entry access is blocked off, just use a N95 mask and vacuum up the droppings and then wash with a sanitizing spray. I use a pump up garden sprayer with hot water, chlorine safe laundry detergent, and some Chlorine bleach. Do Not Use ammonia based dish soap with bleach, it creates deadly nerve gas.
Related, check out those bucket mouse traps. Very cool idea. Unlike with traps that are one and done for the night, ppl have posted videos of like half a dozen mice climbing the gangplank to their watery demise. Mine has picked up a couple that got too close to the house for comfort. If you leave it outside, be sure to fill the bucket with antifreeze so you don't end up with ice skating mice
/kidding on that last part, sort of
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