I have lived in New York City for 15 years now and in that time, I have occupied some truly horrific apartments, as broke post-grads are known to do. In that time, I have battled mice and roaches—and crucially, I have emerged victorious from these battles. If and when you see a mouse—which can happen to even the cleanest, most careful person—your first thought may simply be about how to get it the hell out of your house.
David Price, Associate Certified Entomologist and Director of Technical Services for Mosquito Joe, tells Lifehacker that cleaning is a key part of prevention, whether you just cleared an infestation or want to ward one off in the future. This means some bigger home maintenance tasks, like sealing gaps and cracks in your home's exterior with steel wool or caulk and keeping exterior grass trimmed and removing weeds—but it also means just keeping up with the small stuff, like cleaning up food spills quickly and not leaving pet food unattended.
As for post-mouse cleaning, you need to thoroughly disinfect every place they may have gone. Marla Mock, President of Molly Maid, says you should sanitize all counters, floors, and other surfaces, plus check areas where they might have hidden, like under appliances and inside cabinets.
How to clean after a roach or bug infestation
Price, the bug expert, recommends removing any sources of standing water after getting rid of bugs. Without giving away too many personal details, I will say I learned the hard way two years ago that you can't just leave a leaky shower head alone because it's "not bothering" you. Any wetness can attract something that will bother you. You should also see any bug encounter as a sign to declutter your home, since you want to lessen the amount of spaces they can hide. Again, prevention is important, so build the habit of wiping up any spill or food waste promptly. I also recommend having a sealed garbage can to prevent any enticing odors.
What to keep in mind about pests and cleaning
First of all, if you see a mouse or a roach, don't get down on yourself. They're hungry and cold, like any creature, and they're following their instincts by trying to find somewhere safe to hang out and eat. It doesn't mean you're a slob or a disgrace; it just means they figured out a way in. You also can't control your building's pest prevention efforts, the cleanliness of your neighbors, or weather events that force critters that belong outside to run inside. Focus on what you can control, which is pest removal and future prevention.
When you're looking for repellents, keep in mind that some are more serious than others. If you have pets, look for ones marked pet-friendly. If you're going to periodically spray with Raid, understand that it will drive bugs from their hiding places and, unfortunately, out into open spaces before it kills them. Spray before you leave the house for a long time, so you're not breathing it in, and prepare to clean up when you get home.
Finally, when you're cleaning, try to think like a pest. By that, I mean don't just clean what you can see. Pull things off shelves, get under appliances, and think of the locations that could be, as Mock calls them, "hidden spots." If you're nervous about doing that because, God forbid, you don't want to find a live bug, call a friend to help you. You can't just leave it alone and hope for the best. If you're really struggling to get the situation under control, call an exterminator and/or a house cleaning service—and let the cleaner know the deal in advance to make sure they're equipped to help.
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