Summary

You can find a solution to dead rodent smell in our free smell removal guide so you don’t have to put up with the sickening smell or dread entering your house.

Got Dead Rodent Smell Problem?

If dead rodents such as mice, rats or squirrels have invaded your home, it’s necessary to get rid of them as quickly as possible. They carry diseases, breed exponentially, and they can create an infestation in no time. Killing dead rodents with a poison can solve one problem but unfortunately lead to another. This happens when the poisoned dead rodents can’t be found after they crawl up into attics, walls and ceilings and die there. As the dead rodents start to decay, the smell generated can be extremely unpleasant and very overwhelming. So getting the decaying smell out should be a priority, because if you don’t take action, it will start migrating everywhere and your whole home will become smelly.

What Causes Dead Rodent Smell?

The smell from decaying dead rodents is generated by a combination of various chemicals including sulfur dioxide, methane, benzene derivatives and long chain hydrocarbons. This mixture of gases produces a smell that is disgusting and sickening to all except vultures! These dead rodent smells continue to be produced as various body parts decompose completely over a 6-12 week period.

Steps to Get Rid of Dead Rodent Smell

The good news is that dead rodent smell can be eliminated so you don’t have to put up with the disgusting smell and stop it from enjoying your lovely house. By utilizing our simple and informative smell removal guide, our smell experts will teach you how to get rid of smell from dead rodents, take immediate action to rid smell, and Smell the Difference!

STEP 1: Find & Remove the Dead Rodent

The first step to get dead rodent smell out is to find the carcass and remove it safely so the smell does not get worse. Failure to remove dead rodents and control smell can transform a smelly home to an uninhabitable and unsafe home.

As long as the dead rodent is in your home, the smell will get worse with time as the animal decays. So it’s important to find the carcass ASAP and get rid of it to stop the odor from getting worse. To locate the dead rodent in a wall or enclosed space, follow your nose. Flies in the room may also lead you right to the spot. You may also see maggots migrating away from the dead rodent. Or, with a larger animal, you might find a damp spot or a stain on the wall or ceiling that will lead you to it.

When you find the dead rodent, pick it up carefully and dispose of it in a plastic bag. Be sure to wear gloves and a mask while handling the carcass and cleaning contaminated areas, as dead rodents are carriers of a multitude of diseases. Clothing worn while handling a dead rodent should be discarded.

Don’t despair if you were not able to locate the dead rodent as is often the case with small mice. Proceed to Step 2 to eliminate the dead rodent smell. It will be a little more difficult but you will still prevail in the end. If you did locate and remove the dead rodent, the unpleasant smell will still linger on for weeks if left untreated so you should also proceed to the next step to completely remove the dead rodent smell as quickly as possible.

STEP 2: Get Rid of the Dead Rodent Smell

The second step in dead rodent smell removal is to follow the recommendations below to get the smell out using professional strength SMELLEZE® Smell Removers that rid smell without masking it with harmful fragrances. This is a proven green deodorizer that has been used successfully for over 20 years and recommended by thousands of people all over the world.

SMELLEZE® pouches are the only reusable smell removers available that last over a year so they are more cost effective than any other deodorizer including most home remedies. As an added benefit, they are eco-friendly, non-toxic, odorless, natural and safe for people, pets and the planet!

Rid Smell of Dead Rodent from Rooms

Do this by simply placing the SMELLEZE® Reusable Dead Rodent Deodorizer Pouches (only $12.99) in areas with the dead rodent odor and smell the difference. This smell remover attracts dead rodent smell like a strong magnet, absorbs it like a super absorbent sponge, and eliminates it without masking with harmful fragrances. Using a fan and opening doors and windows will accelerate the dead rodent smell removal process. In addition, you can place SMELLEZE® pouches on your return vents in your home to continuously filter out the dead rodent smell and harmful pollutants as your air recirculates.

Rid Smell of Dead Rodent from Walls & Enclosed Spaces

If you have not been able to find the dead rodent but have found the wall or enclosed space that the smell is emanating from or you’ve found the dead rodent but it can’t be removed, take the following action. Drill 3-4″ holes (about 3 feet apart) through the wall one foot above the floor and suspend SMELLEZE® Reusable Dead Rodent Deodorizer Pouches in them. Be sure to plug the holes afterwards and seal off any cracks that are allowing the dead rodent smell to escape. Use a fan to draw fresh air into the treated enclosed area, forcing the old smelly air out. Then place the fan to blow air out of the window that it’s placed in and to draw in fresh air from another window across the room. The SMELLEZE® Pouches can be removed once the dead rodent smell is eliminated and holes permanently sealed.

Rid Smell Dead Rodent from Floors

If you have dead rodent smell on linoleum, wooden or concrete floors, get smell out by sprinkling SMELLEZE® Eco General Purpose Deodorizer Granules (only $12.99) on it. If you have carpeting, use SMELLEZE® Eco Carpet Deodorizer Powder (only $12.99). Leave on the floor for a few hours or overnight (longer the better) to draw the dead rodent smell out and to eliminate it before it gets released into the air. Then simply vacuum or sweep up and discard. You can also follow the same procedure to rid dead rodent smell from upholstery, furniture and clothing.

Rid Smell Dead Rodent from Clothing

If you have any articles that have absorbed the dead rodent smell, remove them and let them air out in the sun as long as possible. Upholstery and clothing are very good at absorbing and retaining dead rodent smell. Any fabrics that can be washed should be in hot water. You can also use ODOREZE® Natural Laundry Deodorizing Additive to get rid of really stubborn smells from clothing by soaking them in it prior to washing or adding to your laundry.

Kill Airborne Germs

As mentioned earlier, dead rodents can harbor diseases. After you remove the dead rodent and clean up the contaminated area, it’s also important to kill and prevent airborne germs. This is simply done by replacing any light bulbs you have in your home with SANIBULB® Air Sanitizer & Purifier CFL Bulbs. SANIBULB® will sanitize your air by killing various microorganisms such bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi, and dust mites without the use of any harmful chemical sanitizers. As an added benefit, it will also reduce your energy consumption by 75% and save you money!

Step 3: Dead Rodent Control

Once you have completed the hard work of eliminating the dead rodent smell, it’s important to take the proactive steps to deter dead rodents from coming on your property and entering your home so you never have to deal with dead rodents and their smell again.

Dead rodents must have adequate food and shelter in order to live and thrive. Removal of these 2 factors is the best way to prevent and control dead rodent problems. It is important to include both the outside and inside of your home in your sanitation efforts. Also, if you do have a dead rodent problem in the future, avoid using poisons to kill them and look at other alternatives.

Smell Removal Tips & Warnings

  1. Be cautious around dead rodents, as they may be carrying harmful diseases and attract insects that spread those diseases to your family. Always wear gloves and a mask when handling dead rodents.
  2. Avoid masking dead rodent smell with fragrances. Covering-up dead rodent smells never really eliminates the odor, it just overwhelms your nose into detecting the fragrance instead. The smell will return when the fragrance wears out especially if the dead rodent was not removed.
  3. While some commonly recommended home remedies for smell removal may help marginally in some mild smell problems, they are ineffective for dead rodent smell removal. It’s good to remember that household items such as vinegar, vanilla, charcoal briquettes are not designed to be smell eliminators so the results will often be disappointing and you could lose precious time. Since you will become immune to smell with time, you may think it’s getting better and risk exposure to harmful diseases carried by dead rodents.