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This pungent smell means it's time to make your house rat-proof.
Having a rat in the house is not only an annoyance, it can also cause health and safety hazards. This is especially true when rodents gather in your kitchen and contaminate your food and water sources by turning them into their own food and water sources.
Rats often spread bacteria and viral diseases by leaving waste inside your countertops, cabinets and appliances. In particular, they are known to build nests behind the refrigerator or even in the oven.
However, given that rats are usually experts hiding out of sight, you may not notice the problem until they are fully infected. Thankfully, there is one thing that might make you notice that there are rats hidden in your stove-and counter-intuitively, this sign of pests smells no different from ordinary cleaning products. Read on to find out which smell indicates that you have rats and what you can do to recycle your kitchen.
Related: 6 things in your yard that brought rats to your home.
Although some people use ammonia to clean their ovens, others notice the smell in kitchen utensils for different reasons. If there is a pungent smell when you turn on the heat of the oven, it probably means that you have a mouse problem inside.
"The presence of rats may give off an ammonia-like smell, which is a very strong smell of urine. This is especially noticeable in more enclosed areas such as cabinets or ovens," said Nancy Troyano, an entomologist certified by the board. Said the doctor. Ehrlich Pest Control, tell the best life.
Matthew Mills, chief operating officer and president of Med-X, a green pest manufacturer, added that rats are attracted to the oven to keep them warm. "They like to build nests in the insulation, and worse, they take the insulation from the oven and carry it into the wall for nesting," he pointed out.
Related: Experts warn that if you live in these states, be prepared for rat infestations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), having rats in your home puts you at risk of serious diseases. Perhaps most commonly, mice are known to transmit hantavirus, a group of viruses that can cause fever, muscle aches and fatigue. “[Hantavirus patients] will have difficulty breathing after a few days. Sometimes people will have headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain,” the CDC explained.
According to health authorities, the most common transmission of hantavirus is "when the urine and feces of rodents containing hantavirus are stirred into the air. People may also be exposed to mouse urine, feces or buildings containing the virus. The nest material is infected and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth,” the CDC explained.
In addition, it is well known that rats can transmit a series of other diseases, including Lassa fever, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, plague and so on. It is important not to directly touch their feces and avoid breathing near their urine and feces.
Although removing rat droppings and urine from your home is important to your safety, doing so may actually put you at the highest risk of disease. For this reason, CDC recommends taking serious precautions after cleaning up the rats. They recommend spraying the infected area with a mixture of water and bleach and then letting it soak for five minutes. When wearing rubber gloves, wipe off urine and feces with a paper towel, and then re-spray the area with disinfectant. Finally, if you plan to reuse gloves in the future, remove and disinfect them, and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
The CDC warns that you should not sweep or vacuum mouse urine, feces or nests. The organization said: "This will cause virus particles to enter the air, where they can be inhaled." When cleaning any enclosed area (including ovens), consider wearing a mask.
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The best way to avoid getting sick from rats is to first keep them away from your home. However, Troyano said, leaving your home without a mouse can be particularly challenging at this time of the year. "Mice are adaptable. They work tirelessly to find food, warmth and shelter-and your home can meet all their basic needs. In the fall and winter, these needs become more urgent, so they are eager to get indoors," Troiano explained.
In addition to setting up traps to curb serious pests, experts also recommend making your home—especially your kitchen—be less hospitable to rodents. You can do this by keeping counters and cabinets without an accessible source of food. This means storing food in glass, plastic or metal containers with tight lids. Seal your trash can and make sure to collect your pet's food and water bowls at night. Of course, clean your oven and stove regularly to remove any excess food in the equipment.
Eliminating entry points can also reduce the risk of rats in the home. "Install brush strips at the bottom of the door to prevent entry, repair damaged roofs and seal gaps with wire mesh, check that all old pipe holes are sealed, and cover vents with fine galvanized wire mesh-especially if they are damaged," Recommend Troiano.
Related: If you don't clean this up, you are inviting mice into your home.
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© 2020 Galvanized media. all rights reserved. Bestlifeonline.com is part of Meredith Health Group
© 2020 Galvanized media. all rights reserved. Bestlifeonline.com is part of Meredith Health Group