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jkilroy's avatar
jkilroy
Explorer
Jul 10, 2018

Cleaning out ceilings from mice infestation

Anyone have suggestions on cleaning out celings of a fifth wheel other than removing panels. Seems we had mice living up there for some time. We got them out put we’d really like to clean it out. Caught 2 mice in a/c vents.
  • Almot wrote:
    Why bother cleaning debris? You don't see it.

    Cleaning it out of actual mice would make sense. 2 things work: primitive $3 mouse trap with spring (nuts work well as a bait), or a working cat. Not all the cats hunt. Mice will come down eventually, and cat will get them - or a trap. Cat is better.


    YOU have never seen an RV with supposed cleaned out rodent debris and URINE. When it gets a little humid and warm, the smell will make you throw up. Doug
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    The OP didn't even know they were here, - no smell. Or not too many of them yet. I guess mine wasn't infested bad enough either, to make me vomit, when they did come years ago - and they were in the room, not in the ceiling. At 110F the urine will degrade and evaporate, but this takes time.

    Extreme heat helps with bed bugs too, they die out when it hits 115-120. There are no bugs in cheap hotels in Mexico most of the time, - too hot.
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    PS - about Hantavirus. "...if it is present, treat it as the deadly pathogen that it is ".

    Yes, IF. The thing is - in a few days after you've gotten rid of the mice, any Hantavirus that was there, will be no more. This is how long it survives on the feces. You are more likely to get infected if you start immediately sweeping or dry-vacuuming it.
  • We got rid of mice. I’m just going to worry about sweeping out a/c ducts and get what I can. We don’t full time so it’s not a big deal.
  • You dont want mouse dropping being blown all over the rig when the AC is on


    LOL! I guess you could say the poop literally hit the fan! :)

    Or at least got blown around by it. :)

    Steve
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    When there are no mice for a week, there is nothing to worry, go ahead with cleaning. Wet cloth first, if possible, then sweeping/vacuuming. Before cleaning let it sit open to air it up for a day or two, if you can.
  • Almot wrote:
    When there are no mice for a week, there is nothing to worry, go ahead with cleaning. Wet cloth first, if possible, then sweeping/vacuuming. Before cleaning let it sit open to air it up for a day or two, if you can.


    Like!

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