Attic Decontamination: Your Next Job after Attic Animal Removal

Animals may bring viruses and infections in the attic. Rats, for instance, carry over 35 diseases and they can transmit them to humans by handling them or by contact with their urine, droppings, and others. If you may have been successful in your attempt to remove animals inside the area, this is only half of the job. The other half pertains to attic decontamination.

You need to make an effort to decontaminate the place to make sure that nothing will pose threat to the health of the whole family. This job may be difficult if you do it alone. You should ask help from some of the members of the household or you may consider hiring experts.

Before you start with sanitization, you have to prepare everything that you will need: brush, water, bleach solution or disinfectant, and fans. Buy disinfectant from a store or make your own bleach solution which comprises of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water. Place the bleach solution in a spray bottle. Turn on the fans and open all the windows and door so air will flow and the bad odor can come out. You will use the water as you rinse the area after you have eliminated contamination. Wear gloves and face mask as these will protect you as you perform attic decontamination.

Follow these steps for a more detailed method:

Step 1 – Spray the spots where there are urine, droppings, and nesting materials. Make sure that these are soaked with the bleaching solution so the viruses can be eliminated effectively. Wait for a few minutes before you remove them.

Step 2 – Pick up the urine, droppings, and nesting materials using paper towel. However, your gloves should be in your hands already. Put them in a garbage bag. Close it and then discard properly.

Step 3 – Brush the area comprehensively to see to it that no viruses will be left behind. Spray disinfectant again. Wash it with soap then rinse.

Step 4 – Hire professionals to remove insulation in the attic. Your insulation is contaminated with feces, urine, and others as well. It should be taken away and replaced. Because some insulation contains asbestos, you may not want to do this task yourself. Getting a sample and sending them to the laboratory for asbestos testing may take you more than the usual time. It may also be hazardous to your health as you may release some fibers as you do this.

More important, hiring the services of experts may ensure that the next insulation that will be installed in the attic will not pose risk to the health of the family and that it may even help save you some dollars from lowered energy cost.

It is important that you follow up attic decontamination with proofing. This job will let you make sure that no infestation will happen again in the attic. See to it that you have sealed up every entry way or else you will go over the same problem again. It is therefore critical that you locate all openings.