After two years of sitting under a tarp in the north woods of Maine I found that mice (most likely deer mice) had partied in it at some point. I opened the cabin and was hit with the unmistakable odor of mouse piss. Knowing about Hantavirus I did not linger nor go inside, but let it air out and headed into Greenville for cleaning products and a respirator. Now I have no idea if the 3M respirator I bought would filter viruses or not.. it was rated for both dust and harmful vapors and according to the CDC a HEPA filter is necessary. Not sure if the mask is HEPA or not (didn't say). After about 3 hours I got back to the boat. Went in with the mask on and gloves and removed the cushions, sails, and other items (yep, pretty stupid to leave all that inside the boat for storage). Found a nest in a box I use to store odds and ends. Moved all the items into the full sun and proceeded to spray 3:1 solution of bleach and water over ever surface inside the boat regardless of their being mouse droppings there or not.
I then found a nest in my rope bin. I did disturb some "dust" though I was careful about it when removing the ropes.. I then sprayed down the entire compartment with the bleach solution. I dumped the ropes into a bucket of bleach and water and let soak for an hour. Then rinsed, dried in the sun. Once the boat had soaked in bleach over night I proceeded to wipe up the dropping and the entire interior with bleach/water and a sponge still wearing the mask and gloves.
After airing out for the better part of the day I noticed the mouse piss smell was still quite strong. I noticed a small compartment in the bow behind a wooden panel (the electrical power access panel for the fore light). I removed the panel and found at least 5 handfuls of mouse droppings and chewed up material. I initially sprayed the bleach in the compartment but after removing several handfuls I noticed that the bleach had not penetrated that far down. I was very careful and slow about the removal but this is of course some cause for concern to me.. Turned out I could not get at the rest of the material with my gloved hand. I brought out a vacuum after spraying down the remaining material and putting the exhaust from the vacuum outside the boat and dragging the hose into the boat the clean out what remained.
After all this I went over the whole thing again with a sponge and a very strong mixture of vinegar and water. Still have a very noticeable mouse smell. Removed much of the wood that was exposed to the urine and sanitized it with bleach/water. Re-sanded, and stained. The boat has been moved into my garage and opened up. Everything that isn't attached has been removed and all compartments and openings are open. Hoping that it does the trick.. Wiped down all cushions with bleach/water inside and out. Any ideas on how to deal with the smell? The cushions smell of mildew AND urine now..
Top it all off with a lot of apprehension about Hantavirus... I guess I have about 5 weeks before I can exhale.. I feel that the mice had left a while ago.. perhaps in the spring, or longer, I hope.. According to the CDC the hantavirus cannot survive much beyond 5 days outside the body of the mouse.. I did not find any fresh urine or droppings all seemed very dry to me.. some were moldy. One dead mouse in the rope bin.
I officially hate mice now with a passion. (I used to think they were cute).
I then found a nest in my rope bin. I did disturb some "dust" though I was careful about it when removing the ropes.. I then sprayed down the entire compartment with the bleach solution. I dumped the ropes into a bucket of bleach and water and let soak for an hour. Then rinsed, dried in the sun. Once the boat had soaked in bleach over night I proceeded to wipe up the dropping and the entire interior with bleach/water and a sponge still wearing the mask and gloves.
After airing out for the better part of the day I noticed the mouse piss smell was still quite strong. I noticed a small compartment in the bow behind a wooden panel (the electrical power access panel for the fore light). I removed the panel and found at least 5 handfuls of mouse droppings and chewed up material. I initially sprayed the bleach in the compartment but after removing several handfuls I noticed that the bleach had not penetrated that far down. I was very careful and slow about the removal but this is of course some cause for concern to me.. Turned out I could not get at the rest of the material with my gloved hand. I brought out a vacuum after spraying down the remaining material and putting the exhaust from the vacuum outside the boat and dragging the hose into the boat the clean out what remained.
After all this I went over the whole thing again with a sponge and a very strong mixture of vinegar and water. Still have a very noticeable mouse smell. Removed much of the wood that was exposed to the urine and sanitized it with bleach/water. Re-sanded, and stained. The boat has been moved into my garage and opened up. Everything that isn't attached has been removed and all compartments and openings are open. Hoping that it does the trick.. Wiped down all cushions with bleach/water inside and out. Any ideas on how to deal with the smell? The cushions smell of mildew AND urine now..
Top it all off with a lot of apprehension about Hantavirus... I guess I have about 5 weeks before I can exhale.. I feel that the mice had left a while ago.. perhaps in the spring, or longer, I hope.. According to the CDC the hantavirus cannot survive much beyond 5 days outside the body of the mouse.. I did not find any fresh urine or droppings all seemed very dry to me.. some were moldy. One dead mouse in the rope bin.
I officially hate mice now with a passion. (I used to think they were cute).
