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Generally, there are many unnecessary situations within the house that may disappoint visitors coming over. One of these is the pungent smell coming from the mouse urine that is highly concentrated on woods or particle boards. Knowing this, it is important to be familiar with the way on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood surfaces inside the house. Check the simple guide below.
Identification of Mouse Urine and What Does It Smells Like
Initially, you need to determine where the unusual smell originates within the house. Basically, it is the urine of the mouse where its odor comes from. The smell of it is similar to a pungent ammonia-like odor. Generally, once you detect the unusual smell, the next thing to do is to investigate its cause.
Usually, when you do not have pets inside the house, then probably the primary source of the odor is the mice. Check for signs that include its fecal matters like the urine. Keep in mind that the odor of the mice urine is getting stronger as you come close to their hiding place like the kitchen cabinets, attic or dark house corners.
Moreover, check for stains. Basically, mouse urine contains high levels of calcium which may cause white residues once dry. Primarily, this stain is a great indication that the smell generally comes from mouse urine.
Similar to other animals, mice urinate most of the time. Basically, the main components of their urine are the water and urea. The important thing to remember as well is that if the urine stays longer without cleaning or washing, the concentration of the ammonia-like smell gets stronger.
Generally, the primary cause of the stronger mouse urine concentration is the breakdown of urea. The nitrogen-rich urea will be converted to ammonia that releases a pungent odor.
Step-by-step Guide on How to Get Rid of Mouse Urine Smell from Wood
Basically, mice urinate anywhere and on everything. And, knowing this or smelling the mice’s urine fragments will lead you to a major cleaning operation. Here is a guide on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood.
1. Locate the mice urine
Initially, the number one step on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood is to find the place where mice urinate. Generally, start by focusing your searching on places where you know mice have been hiding.
Moreover, you need to prepare the tools that can be helpful in finding the mice’s urine easily. Better to have a UV blacklight torch which can help you to easily detect the urine of rodents.
Additionally, when you want to locate mouse urine in the attic, it is better and easier to use a mousetrap over the area. Aside from that, it is also helpful if you remember where you put those mouse traps.
You may also read How to Clean Attic After Rats Infestation
Furthermore, the most common part of the house where mouse pee always is the particle board or wood surfaces. Once the mice urinate in it, it may make either change the wood texture or its color. This way, you can easily detect where to start your cleaning process.
2. Area ventilation
One way on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood is to open the windows for ventilation. Basically, this is also essential when you are using cleaning equipment. This applies true when you are using bleach.
So, to be able to get rid of both the smell of the cleaning equipment and the mouse urine from the wood, ensure to have a well-ventilated area. As much as possible, try to open all the windows and doors as many as you can. Generally, this will ensure a good airflow within the area.
3. Wear protective gear
When you clean mice infestation, it is a must to protect your health. Another way on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood is to equip yourself with the proper gear in cleaning up the mouse urine.
Keep in mind that rodents like to linger in a dirty and messy environment thus making their urine a carrier of certain diseases. This simply means that wearing proper protective gear when cleaning and getting rid of the smell of mouse urine can lessen the chances of getting in contact with them.
Initially, wear protective gloves, much better if it is a rubber or latex quality. Moreover, also include in your list the respirator mask and a protective coverall. Much better if it is a disposable type. When cleaning up mouse activity and getting rid of its smell, always remember to put your health on top of the priority.
4. Clean the area of mice infestation
Primarily, one important thing on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood is to clean the place where mouse urine is present. Moreover, you should also need to clean up the areas where other mouse activities are really evident. Most likely, below are the essential cleaning tools that you need to clean up and get rid of mouse urine smell from the wood surface in your house.
✔ BLEACH
Basically, bleach is a cleaning agent that is very potent in sterilizing and disinfecting the area. Additionally, the bleach is the most effective cleaning buddy on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood. Again, as a reminder, when using bleach in cleaning up mouse infestation, please make the area well-ventilated.
✔ DISINFECTANT
Aside from bleach, you can also use other disinfectant sprays. Generally, this may be helpful in disinfecting those areas with clear mouse activity but no evidence of urine. Moreover, disinfectant sprays are much healthier when used in a closed area.
Additionally, there are disinfectant sprays that have various scents that are already available in the market. In order to get rid of the smell of the mouse urine, you may try to use this product as an option.
✔ VINEGAR
Basically, vinegar is a natural home remedy on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood. Further, vinegar is a great masking agent to cover up the mouse urine odor. However, the smell of vinegar has a strong odor but does not last long.
✔ STEAM CLEAN
Generally, steam cleaning the areas where mice have been urinated may also lead to a chance of eradicating any unnecessary stuff that’s left after. However, steam cleaning is highly recommended for carpets rather than wood surfaces.
Basically, the steam coming from the machine cleaner will go deep down the carpet and guarantee a fuller and deeper cleaning. Yet, one way on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood using a steam cleaner is to work with it together with a scented disinfectant spray.
Moreover, below is a basic step on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood:
➧ Remove dust from the area
Initially, remove the dust from the wood where the mice urinate. Example, you found out that a wood dresser drawer has been infested, then brush out the large wood particles and vacuum them to remove it.
➧ Apply enzymatic cleaners
Generally, enzymatic cleaners are chemical substances that are used to eliminate the urine of any animals. Technically, the enzymatic cleaners work by engulfing the bacteria that are involved in causing the smell in the urine of rodents or other animals.
Moreover, the best way to apply this product as a way on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood is to put a thin layer on the sides of the wood. Additionally, you can also swipe a little amount of the enzymatic cleaner around the area of urine infestation.
Further, in case of major damage on woods, it is advisable to apply the enzymatic cleaner over a towel. Subsequently, place the towel over the area of infestation and put a heavy object over it to press it down. Doing this may allow the wood to absorb and puff up more moisture.
➧ Allow the wood surface to dry
Basically, enzymatic cleaners work naturally and to allow this action, let the infested wood area dry out as it is. Remember that it will dry over normal lighting. So, do not incorporate additional heat or lamps to dry it in a faster way. Moreover, keep in mind that accelerating the process will not make it do its job properly and may lead to a smelly residue.
➧ Do the smell test
Basically, many are not used to doing this step on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood. However, it is needed if you want to make sure that there is no other smell left. Just simply smell the wood surface and check for any lurking smell on it.
In case, there is already no evidence of mouse urine smell, then good, jump to the next step. Meanwhile, if there is still any smell remaining, take another round of doing the step of applying an enzymatic cleaner.
5. Wash any materials near the mouse infestation
Generally, always remember to wash the materials that reside near to the area where the mice urinate. Primarily, it is very essential to cover all those places that have been contaminated with the urine of the rodent.
However, do not just concentrate within the vicinity of the infestation. But, make sure to clean the area within a greater vicinity. Remember, mice can climb anywhere and they can carry the urine on the surface and objects they stepped into, even on clothes.
Basically, steam cleaners are the best tool for cleaning such areas and objects.
6. Take the odor out
Usually, how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood can be easy through the help of some available items.
✔ GROUND COFFEE
Typically, ground coffee is a great absorber of odor. Aside from that it also covers up odors within the general vicinity.
✔ ODOR ABSORBER
Generally, this product is a good choice especially when you are looking for ways on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood surface of a confined area.
✔ AIR FRESHENER
Aside from absorbing the odor of the mouse urine, also think to cover up its odor until such time that the smell of the mouse urine is completely gone. Actually, you may consider using an air freshener, oil burner with peppermint oil or incense sticks as a way on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood surface inside your home.
7. Disposal
Once the cleaning of mouse urine is totally done, always remember to dispose of the gloves and coveralls that you use. This is an essential part of how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood surfaces of the house. Usually, it is advisable to wrap those disposable gears in a trash bag and place it out the garbage can.
Important Reminders on How to Get Rid of Mouse Urine Smell from Wood
In addition to those essential steps on how to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood surfaces inside the house, check these simple reminders.
⨯ Don’t short cut the process
Basically, getting rid of mouse urine smell involves a long cleaning process. Moreover, you’ll also need to bring with you the appropriate equipment and more, more patience. Keep in mind that this is not just a simple job that needs to be done. Generally, when you put this task in a hurry, you will not completely clear out the mouse urine odor.
⨯ Don’t stop in cleaning the area of infestation or the vicinity in case you are not yet sure that you have already removed all the evidence of mouse activity.
Final Words
Basically, finding out mice infestation inside your home entails making necessary measures to get rid of those rodents. The next thing to do and the most important is to get rid of mouse urine smell from wood surfaces of the house like the cabinets and attics where these rodents usually hide. Moreover, it is very essential to clean those mouse activities within the house to ensure the good health of every member of the family.
