When an infestation of cockroaches, rodents, or just about any other pest gets out of hand, all you can think about is: how do I get this under control. That’s understandable, and until you do get it under control, that should be your first priority. But once you achieve that sigh of relief moment, the aftermath of a large infestation isn’t something you can send your crew in (cleaning or otherwise) to deal with. Cockroach casings and rodent urine and feces can cause serious health risks and cleaning them up isn’t as easy as it sounds. Here are a few reasons why cleaning up after a large infestation should be left to the professionals:
Rodent Feces & Urine
Handling and cleaning up rodent feces and urine should be done by a professional. Here’s why:
- Those handling contaminated items should wear protective clothing that can be laundered or use disposable Tyvek protective clothing.
- If you’re cleaning up rat poop or urine, you should correctly use a HEPA-equipped respirator.
- Vacuuming rat poop or mouse droppings can be dangerous because it can release harmful bacteria and viruses into the air, increasing the risk of inhaling pathogens. These pathogens can cause diseases like hantavirus, leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever, which can be life-threatening. Sweeping can do the same, too.
- Removing dead rodents should also be done by a professional. An untrained person’s instinct is to pick mice and rats up by the tail – but that’s the dirtiest part of the animal since it drags behind them through everything and anything.
- It’s not just urine and feces, though. Rodent saliva and nesting materials are also dangerous to handle and can be a hazard if not properly cleaned up.
- Having a professional disinfecting treatment done after the cleanup will take care of the bacteria and pathogens you can’t see but are surely there.
Cleaning Up After Cockroaches
Cockroaches are not only filthy pests to have anywhere near you, but the aftermath of a roach infestation can be hazardous when not handled by a professional. Here are some of the reasons you can’t clean up after cockroaches yourself:
- Cockroach casings, or exoskeletons, can be harmful to your health. Cockroach nymphs shed their exoskeletons periodically, and the fragments can act as antigens that trigger allergic reactions, cause upper respiratory infections, and induce asthma attacks when inhaled.
- Small children, the elderly, and anyone immunocompromised are at the most risk, but nobody should be inhaling what cockroaches leave behind.
- You have to use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter to clean up after a large cockroach problem. But make sure to use it to clean up every inch where the infestation was taking care with corners and crevices.
- Be sure to dispose of all food that was in open containers or boxes – anything that wasn’t tightly sealed. It may be costly but if you’re unsure about a package of food, better to toss it just to be safe.
- Having a professional disinfecting treatment done after cleaning up after cockroaches will take care of bacteria and pathogens that were left behind.
Cleaning up after an infestation the wrong way can not only spread the bacteria around but can exacerbate the problem. And it’s not just rats, mice, and cockroaches that can cause problems. Dust mites, birds, flies, yellow jackets – any pest infestation can be difficult to clean up properly and bring with it its own special set of problems. When an infestation is large enough, bringing in an expert for pest cleanup is your best bet. They have the knowledge, the expertise, and the equipment to do it correctly and safely. And at the end of the day, that’s the goal – to keep everyone safe and healthy.