Being dangerous themselves, rats also leave toxic poop and debris from gnawing that can transmit diseases. Urban legends claim that urine and poop leftovers slightly dissolved in the air may stay on the tops of can bottles, causing infections in people drinking from these cans. But the truth is that poop exposes risks mostly when being touched and contacted directly. How to identify rat poop and get rid of it safely?
Contents:
How to Identify Rat Poop?
As soon as rats invade your house, you are likely to define it in the first week or two. Probably, you won’t see their droppings, because they are mostly left in discreet places, but these are easy to distinguish.
Rat poops are pellet shape with curved ends. In comparison with mice feces that are the size of rice, these are bigger (from ¾ to ½ inches long), and can be rectangular or sausage-shaped. One rat leaves about 40-50 pellets every day. Brown rats usually leave them in small groups, while black rats’ feces are scattered.
Rat poops are pellet shape with curved ends.
What Color Rat Droppings Are?
Where Poop Can Be Found?
Since brown rats are terrestrial, they prefer low, damp places like basements. On the opposite, black rats are good climbers, so their droppings are most likely to be discovered on roofs, attics and bedrooms of upper floors.
Why is Rat Poop Poisonous?
It is not a secret that rats transmit various diseases, and some of bacteria are contained in their feces. When droppings lie for too long, infections may be emitted into the air, contaminating the entire room. By touching poop without protection and breathing this air, a person may easily catch infection, which is why it is necessary to ventilate the space before cleaning.
Before cleaning, wear gloves.
How to Safely Clean Up Rat Poop?
To eliminate any risks for your health during poop clean up, follow these steps:
- Ventilate the room for at least 30 minutes before the procedure.
- Mix bleach or some other detergent with water in 1:10 ratio, and wet the area down with this disinfectant (do not spray).
- Put on rubber gloves and surgical face mask. It’s important to reduce the contact with infections! After finishing, throw the mask and disinfect the gloves properly.
- Wipe up the poop and other waste (debris) with a paper towels and put them in a plastic bag right away.
- Put the waste in a double bag (or you can burn it) and get rid of it according to the local regulations.
- Disinfect all surfaces (including furniture, carpets and other stuff) in the room thoroughly.
- Wash bed clothing in hot water with detergent.
The mask will protect you from infection.
Rat Poop Disease
Some people are simply allergic to rat poop: it may cause skin inflammation, scratching, difficulty of breathing and nausea.
If all preventive measures are taken, cleaning poop up won’t cause any harm to your health. Take care!
