How should I clean wooden worktops after a mouse took up residence?

NualaBuala

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice please. I have a mouse, at least I hope it's just one.:eek: I've put down some humane traps so I hope to catch him/them soon.

In the meantime, I've been avoiding the kitchen and haven't cooked in days as I know he's been on the wooden counters. How can I get them clean enough to safely prepare food again. Preferably using something eco-friendly.
ETA: There are droppings there so it needs to be REALLY thoroughly cleaned!

Thanks in advance.

meanmarie

Nuala,

I would reckon that good old fashioned soap and water and then a rinse with baby sterilising fluid should do the trick....I used to hate mice, have developed some pity for them since the two cats started bringing dead ones into the house as presents for me!

HTH

Marie

Sunnyday

A place that i used to work at many years ago had a wooden surface which was used for food, it used to be cleaned by covering it with salt and working it into the grain with a scrubbing brush which was wet, afterwards it was scrubbed again with hot soapy water which dissolved the rest of the salt, you could do a final scrub afterwards with hot water with a small amount of bleach or disinfectant - maybe even vinegar as its antibacterial but not much or you may taint any food that is prepared on it afterwards.
You may have guessed that the place of work was a butchers and all the surfaces had to be scrupulously clean and it worked for them, it may be a bit harsh for your work surfaces though but only you can decide.

HTH

SD

Sarahwx

maybe dettol? not environmentally friendly i don't think but better than bleach

Butterfly_Brain

:eek: mice
Trouble is you have probably got more than one, try to find out where they are getting in and plug the hole.(They can get in a space as small as a pen width)
Make sure that your floors, cupboards and surfaces are always cleared of crumbs etc.
If you have no joy in catching them call in pest control from the council!
I would scrub all cupboards, surfaces and floor with boiling water and milton fluid.

NualaBuala

Thank you all for your replies! :beer: Nothing in the traps again this morning, I started with one mouse that showed up twice in the past year with no signs in between - no sounds, droppings, nibbles, nothing. I had sealed up what gaps I noticed and thought maybe he'd found his way outside as it's often warmer outside than in this cold old house and I'm pretty inhospitable as I don't leave crumbs and food tends to be in tins, sealed containers or the fridge.

But I've seen a mouse twice (in 2 different rooms) in the past week and have heard rustling behind the TV so I'm afraid I've got them good and proper now.:eek: I wanted to just "rehome" them by using the humane traps but I don't want them to get too comfy here and I need my kitchen back! My family is on at me to put down poison but I'd rather not if possible.

Normally I wouldn't be too fussy about what to clean the worktops with but I want to keep them looking nice as the house is going up for sale soon. I think I'll try the salt and hot soapy water and I can re-oil it later. I'd be afraid bleach/Milton might permanently lighten the wood. Might use some dilute vinegar too. I'm not really worried about catching anything nasty as I have a strong immune system and there's just me to think about, no kids or anything.

Thanks again for all the advice :T