Replies

1. 
   aimless | Aug 31, 2004 04:08am | #1

   Whatever you chose to sanitize with (Lysol is pretty good), let it sit for at least 10 minutes (20 is better) and do it's job before rinsing it off with soapy water and wiping things down. Too many people spray it on then wipe it off and there isn't enough time for the anti-bacterial and anti-viral agents to do their jobs. I'd suggest rubber gloves and a surgical mask when you are cleaning out the debris because some mouse-born illness are easily aerosolized.

1. 
   MaggieAubrey | Aug 31, 2004 05:21pm | #3

   Thanks for the advice. My husband is an organ recipient and mouse feces and bird guano were two of things that they underscored avoiding. Since food, plates and cooking utensils will all be stored in the cabinets I am trying to be thorough. Someone else suggested checking with the local health dept. All good suggestions.

1. 
   aimless | Aug 31, 2004 05:46pm | #4

   If your husband is an organ recipient and the medical professionals have said that he NEEDS to avoid mouse droppings, I'd say you have a good case to force your insurance company to replace the cabinets. Presumably you already have an ongoing relationship with them as a result of the hurricane?

   I hate mice with a passion, and I live in Hanta virus country. If it were me and replacement was not an option, I would sanitize them inside and out with everything under the sun (lysol, bleach solution, and anything the health department recommends). Then, just to be on the safe side I would paint the insides with a fresh coat of paint - that gives you a nice clean new surface. If they are painted cabinets, I'd also repaint the outside.

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   MaggieAubrey | Aug 31, 2004 06:04pm | #5

   Great idea. It will be interesting to argue this point. We were flooded by a storm surge, so that damage was covered by flood insurance. That money has long been spent since it is so limited. I suppose homeowners would cover this claim. Will discuss with my husband. Thanks!

1. 
   WayneL5 | Sep 01, 2004 01:19am | #6

   Ask your doctor, too.  If you go after your insurance carrier you'll need his support.  Or, he might say that if properly cleaned there would not be a problem.

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   DANL | Sep 03, 2004 08:01pm | #7

   If you paint the cabinets inside with pigmented shellac (BIN is brand name I'm familiar with) you will seal in any odors and shellac is harmless to humans.

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   DANL | Aug 31, 2004 04:18am | #2

   Bleach, in water, is good for killing mildew, and for general sanitizing. There is probably a website or something, I would think, sponsored by some unit of government to tell you what to do for this. Local health dept might be another place. When we had sewers back up in 1996 from too much rain, the local health dept printed things in the local papers and I think had a hotline for advice on what to do. It's sort of their business.