Why the clean-up deserves your full attention

Finding droppings behind the kickboard or a nest in the loft is unsettling, and the urge to grab a bin bag and finish the job in ten minutes is understandable. Please resist it. Rats and mice can carry leptospirosis (Weil's disease), salmonella, hantavirus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and their droppings, urine and saliva are the usual routes of exposure. The real danger appears when dried droppings are disturbed: sweeping, brushing or vacuuming lifts a fine dust into the air, and you breathe it in. A slow, wet clean-up takes longer but keeps those particles on a cloth, in a sealed bag and out of your lungs.

Before you start: ventilation, kit and containment

Open the windows and leave the room to air for at least thirty minutes before you touch anything. Close the door to the rest of the house, and keep children, pets and anyone pregnant or immunosuppressed well away until you have finished. Put on disposable nitrile or rubber gloves, an FFP2 or FFP3 mask and eye protection, and wear old long-sleeved clothing you can wash at a hot temperature. Have ready:

• Sturdy plastic bags and bin liners, doubled up for waste
• Paper towels and a dedicated cloth you can throw away
• A household disinfectant labelled as effective against viruses and bacteria
• Household bleach, if you prefer to mix your own solution
• A bucket of warm water and a spray bottle

Mix bleach at one part bleach to nine parts water, make it fresh each time, and never combine it with ammonia-based cleaners — the resulting gas is genuinely dangerous.

Removing droppings and nesting material without raising dust

Never dry-sweep and never use an ordinary vacuum cleaner on rodent mess. Instead, spray the droppings, nesting material and surrounding surface until they are thoroughly damp, then leave the disinfectant to work for about ten minutes. Pick everything up with paper towels, folding them inward as you go, and place it straight into your doubled bag. Nesting material — shredded paper, loft insulation, fabric offcuts — should be handled the same way, sprayed first and bagged without shaking it about.

Work from the far corner of the room back towards the door, so you are not walking through areas you have already cleaned. Wear gloves throughout, and try not to touch your face. If you find dead rodents, spray them too, lift them with a plastic bag turned inside out or a shovel reserved for the job, and seal them away in the same way.

Disinfecting surfaces, tools and fabric properly

Cleaning and disinfecting are two separate steps. Wipe away visible dirt and debris first, then apply disinfectant and let it sit for the contact time on the label — usually five to ten minutes. Rinse food preparation surfaces, worktops and chopping boards with clean water afterwards.

Anything that has been gnawed or contaminated is best replaced rather than cleaned: wooden spoons, wooden chopping boards, cracked plastic containers, dishcloths and sponges. Wash contaminated clothing, bedding and soft furnishings at 60°C or higher. Carpets and upholstery benefit from a steam clean, and if you must vacuum, use a machine with a HEPA filter and empty it outdoors.

What to throw away, and how to bag it

Double-bag all waste, tie each bag tightly and take it straight to an outdoor bin — never the kitchen bin, and never the recycling. Food is more often affected than people realise. Bin any packet that has been nibbled, along with cardboard boxes of cereal, flour, pasta, rice and pet food that show signs of gnawing or staining. Uric acid in rodent urine is invisible in normal light, so it is worth checking the back of cupboards, drawers containing cutlery, and anywhere food is stored loosely.

When you have finished, peel off your gloves and put them in the bag too. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds, even though you wore gloves. Wipe down tools, buckets and door handles with disinfectant, then shower and change your clothes.

Sealing up afterwards and watching your own health

Cleaning solves the mess, not the cause. Walk the outside of the building and look for gaps around pipes, vents, air bricks and the base of doors — a mouse needs a hole no wider than a pencil. Fill them with wire wool and sealant or mortar, and repair any damaged brickwork or roof tiles. Keep bins lidded, clear spilled bird seed, and store dry goods in glass or heavy plastic containers.

Keep an eye on your health for a few weeks. If you develop a fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting or jaundice, contact your GP and mention that you have been cleaning up after rodents, as some of these infections need prompt treatment. It is uncommon, but worth being aware of. Take your time, work methodically, and the job will be done safely.