Mice and rats are a nuisance in many homes in the country. Whether dead or alive, they can spread germs and infections and leave behind a nauseating stench all over the place. This smell is often akin to something pungent or rotten, with a sulfury undertone. It usually occurs because a mix of methane, sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons is released when the body of the dead rat breaks down and decomposes.

Factors that determine the intensity of the smell
The stench of a dead and decaying rat isn’t always the same. It’s governed by factors like:

• Mouse size
  Bigger mice or rats will likely stink more than smaller ones.
• Access to scavengers
  Scavengers, such as lizards, snakes, and birds, prey on dead mice. As they eat the carcass, the intensity of the stench decreases.
• Humidity and temperature
  Dead mice tend to decompose faster in hot and humid areas, making the smell much more pungent.

How to get rid of dead mice/rat smell?
Begin by identifying where the smell is coming from and following it to the point where it’s the strongest. After finding the corpse of the dead rat or mouse, remove it immediately from the premises. Visual cues like mouse droppings, mouse paw prints, streaks on the walls or other surfaces, food crumbs, and entryways may guide one closer to this point.

If this doesn’t help, look in common hiding places, such as inside cupboards, closets, attics, walls, air ducts, and under floorboards and crawl spaces. Once the source of the smell is found, the best way to get rid of it is to discard the dead rat from the house and clean up the surrounding area with a disinfectant.

While cleaning up the area, be sure to:

• Wear rubber gloves and a nose mask to minimize inhalation and contact with the corpse.
• Put the dead rat inside two sealable bags.
• Spray the area with a disinfectant solution of 10 percent bleach and 90 percent water.
• Wipe the premises with paper towels to remove all signs and prints of the rat.
• Place the paper towels inside a tightly sealed garbage bag before tossing it into the trash.
• Dispose of the gloves and mask and take a shower to disinfect the body.

Home and natural remedies to try
Besides a store-bought disinfectant, one can cover up the smell using ingredients commonly found at home.

• Essential oils or sprays
  While they won’t eliminate the smell, potent essential oils and sprays, like eucalyptus, citron, and lemongrass, may help mask it.
• Dry coffee grounds
  One can remove any unwanted smell around the house, including that of a dead mouse, using coffee grounds. They not only absorb the stench well but also mask it with their potent fragrance. To use coffee grounds, place them in small bowls near the dead rat stench.
• Baking soda and distilled vinegar
  The duo combine to form a natural deodorizer and cleaning solution that can be used almost anywhere. To remove the dead rat smell from the house, create a spray solution by mixing water and distilled vinegar in a 1:1 ratio or combine a teaspoon of baking soda with two cups of water. Spray this around the stinky area to neutralize and mask the smell.
• Activated charcoal deodorizer
  When charcoal is heated to a very high temperature, it becomes porous. This porosity makes it adept at capturing odor molecules from the air. Small activated charcoal deodorizer packets are easily available, which can help naturally get rid of dead mice smell from the house. Place some around the source of the smell to cover it up easily.
• Ventilation
  One of the best ways to get rid of the smell of dead or decomposing rats in the house is by ventilating the space. Open the doors and windows and turn on the fan to let the smell waft out and allow fresh air to cover up the stench.
• Turning on the air purifier
  Although costly, an air purifier can get rid of the smell of dead and decaying pests and other pollutants from the house, helping one breathe better.
• Dead animal odor removers
  Many companies have recognized the problem posed by the smell of dead animals in the house or the yard. This has led them to develop a specific range of products, also known as dead animal odor removers. Invest in one of these and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to cover and get rid of the smell of dead rats in the house or yard.

Contact a pest control company if any of these methods sound too complicated. They can send a professional to locate and dispose of the dead mice and offer strategies to cover up the smell promptly. The expert will use the right method depending on the situation and follow safety precautions to avoid causing inconvenience to those living in the house.