If it’s a pet mouse, you’ll probably want to keep your mouse alive. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Use a soft washcloth, as a harsh one can hurt the mouse. Then, we’ll rinse down with hot water to make sure, again, that all residue is gone. Take it to a veterinarian to get examined. Feeding Your Mouse Provide commercial food. Do not forget to clean the feet! This below text is an approved mouse cleaning method from our product team to keep your gear free of dirt and grime. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. I usually spot clean 3 times a week (which takes about ten minutes). TIP: Never pick up a mouse by its tail—you could tear the skin. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Although the smell of vinegar is strong, it does not last long. Do not use pine or cedar wood shavings. How to clean mouse droppings the correct way. Leave it alone for the first 10 to 14 days (you can spot clean really wet spots if absolutely necessary, but avoid disturbing the nest). Monitoring Behavioral Symptoms Beware of constant head-tilting or shaking. The only drawback to using vinegar (aside from the fact vinegar does not have anti-bacterial properties) is the smell. Mary Lougee has been writing for over 10 years. © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Lifestyle. Mouse odor overpowers air fresheners and can fill a room quickly. Do not apply puppy shampoo directly to the mouse. The deepest clean of all is the monthly clean, and it’s recommended the cage be dismantled for this process. There are ways where you can catch the mouse by killing it, but we don’t want that here. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. The entire cage should be sprayed with non-toxic, pet-friendly anti-bacterial spray, and scrubbed thoroughly. Soak rodent, nesting materials or droppings in solution for 5 minutes before wiping up with a paper towel or rag. Mice do not like water, so make sure the washcloth is not too soaked! Be very careful when washing them. But, a pet mouse is maybe not the best pet for a young child. Your mouse is a cesspool of dirt and grime coming off of you and whatever you touched. Rinse your mouse’s food bowl with soap and water. Pick up all droppings on the carpet that you can find with a disposable paper towel or napkin. You may not know it, but your hand may be touching the dirtiest thing in the room. If you have a male mouse, clean its cage more frequently, as they are produce more waste than females. If your hands touch mouse poop, the bacteria in their fecal matter, urine, and saliva will be instantly transmitted to you. Your mouse’s enclosure should never smell. Pellets and seeds are sold in pet stores specifically … By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. However, when a mouse is active during the day, he may get curious and into a sticky mess. You can use a toothbrush or any other small brush for this step. Hey Everyone in this video im going to be teaching you how to clean your mousepad either you're a Avid gamer or just casual browser. And unlike other products, you are not paying for extra “fluff” such as thickeners, fragrances, colorants, pearlizing agents, or preservatives. If you are removing a mess in his fur, rotate the toothbrush in circles over the area you are cleaning. This article has been viewed 3,288 times. Make sure to wash the cage and accessories thoroughly after disinfecting them. 3. Usually, after awhile you'll notice that your mice pick a spot to pee in, so all you have to do is clean that out and stray poops. While mice have a slight odor, they are self-cleaning. % of people told us that this article helped them. Don't Clean the Cage. 4  Their breathing will be relatively fast, but should not be labored or noisy. The towel gives him traction and calms him. Treat him well, and you’ll enjoy this adorable pet for a long time to come. Apply a drop of two of shampoo to the mouse's fur and lather him. Once you've done this, you can put your mouse back in its fresh, clean home. Once the cage is clean, put this bedding back in so the cage will still smell like home to your mice. Thro… Gently brush your wet and lathered mouse with a soft toothbrush from behind the ears to his tail. However, once the babies are born, don't clean the cage for a while. Your mouse might tilt … A damp cage will add unwanted moisture to the new bedding. Be careful of the mouse’s eyes, nose, and ears. Preparing and Watching for Injuries Create a mouse first aid kit before any injuries occur. Healthy ones have clean, pink skin. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Dispose of the droppings and paper towel in a sealed bag or container in the outside trash. Be careful to not make the water hot or cold, as either end can upset a mouse’s skin if directly applied. It should be damp. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Don't plug the sink or immerse your mouse in the water. Disinfecting an Optical or Mechanical Mouse: Disconnect the mouse, if necessary. Mice are also capable of biting pets and giving them fleas, too. A pet mouse engages in fastidious cleaning of himself, much like a cat, and rarely needs a bath. Clean out their cage thoroughly once a week using a pet-safe cleaner. If you find yourself choking on your pet's scent, I can offer several suggestions to freshen the air back to normal. Place the dead rodent or nesting materials in a plastic bag and seal tightly. Air-drying keeps the mouse wet for longer and blow-drying can hurt a mouse’s ears. Do not put newspaper in the mouse’s cage because the ink can rub off. When picking out your mouse, look for an alert animal with a smooth, clean coat and pink, clean skin on the ears and tail. Check the ears and tail of each mouse. In that case, you can pick your mouse up and rub him gently with a dry towel. Eliminate any harbourage points such as sealing gaps around pipes and under sheds; Mice only need a gap of 5mm to gain entry, but normally they are 20-30mm in diameter.Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, by cutting back overgrown areas and clearing any piles of wood/debris.Cover any household waste where House Mice can get access to it, close dustbin lids and cover compost heaps. Unplug the USB … This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Whisker wiggling. Once a week I do a deep clean. We advise that you clean the cage weekly with hot water, leaving in the sun to dry before filling it with fresh bedding and returning your pet to their home. Since mice need to be held in clean environments, don’t forget to check the cage they live in. Once you’re done, dry the bowl off with a clean towel. Your little friends don’t have great eyesight to help them see around, instead, their … You can also give him old pieces of towels to use for sleeping material. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. There are 27 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Dry your pet mouse with a towel until he is almost dry. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. They can release fumes that can make your mouse ill. You can add shredded paper towels or straw to the bedding. This article has been viewed 3,288 times. Keep on hand on your mouse's tummy or back at all times to prevent him from moving from the towel and falling into the sink or the ground. Ring out any excess. Step 11: Treat your mouse well There’s more to a pet mouse than you’d expect. These are especially delicate areas. Mice are very clean pets. If the manufacturer of the toys or accessories gives specific cleaning instructions, follow them. Disinfectant if ingested by a mouse can be dangerous. Add the shampoo to water, which you can then dip your washcloth into. Although they make friendly and playful pets, this stink can be off-putting to their owners. The eyes and nose should be free of discharge, and the mouth and anal areas should be clean and dry. Look the mouse over for healthy fur and skin. References. Place the full bag in a second plastic bag and seal. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Especially if you are looking for a pet that they can interact with all the time. Wash it thoroughly and then grab a towel to wipe it dry. Do not air-dry or blow-dry the mouse. Choose the softest washcloth available to you. It's best to open two windows on the opposite sides of your property. 5 minutes should be enough with a bleach solution, follow the instructions on the bottle if using a commercial disinfectant. Once per day, take your mouse’s food bowl and run it under a stream of hot water. The feet can trap a lot of icky waste, which can contribute to the mouse’s smelliness. Wooden cages absorb urine and tend to become smelly. Clean out your mouse cage daily and deep clean it weekly. Wet a washcloth and rub in on your mouse from behind the ears to his tail to make his fur damp. She holds a Bachelor's Degree with a major in Management and a double minor in accounting and computer science. If you want to clean up mouse urine but do not want to use a chemical-based cleaner then vinegar is a good option. How is Vinegar Made? Repeat this process until you remove all shampoo from his fur and skin. Mouse cages and bedding. Don’t attempt to clean up mouse poop by yourself with no protective measures in place. Make sure the water is temperate, not too hot or cold. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Steam Clean. All you do is take out patches of urine/poo that stand out. We’re looking for a clean, reliable way of luring the mouse back into its cage. In some cases, you’ll have to use your imagination. They should have clean, smooth coats of fur with soft pink skin showing around the ears and feet. Other good signs are smooth and clean coat, energetic behavior and a nice, clean nose. Last Updated: July 13, 2020 It should be warm. Give your mice as many toys as their cage will hold. It’s also good to clean the food and water vessels daily. She loves writing about careers for busy families as well as family oriented planning, meals and activities for all ages. They are relatively straight forward to look after and a popular little friend. Place your mouse on a towel on the countertop. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,288 times. Keep back a handful of bedding that’s been used but isn’t wet or dirty. 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