Hey everyone!
After exterminators cleared my attic of rats, I thought the battle was over—until my toddler touched a hantavirus-contaminated nest. The cleanup cost spiral:
Now obsessed with post-rat decontamination protocols. What dangerous steps do most people skip, and how can we avoid lethal mistakes?
Never use household vacuums, they aerosolize hantavirus!
Wiped surfaces with 1:10 bleach but kid still got sick. Switched to hydrogen peroxide + silver ions (NSF/ANSI 50-certified). ER doc said it’s overkill, but $0 medical bills since!
Most policies exclude biohazard cleanup.
Burnt contaminated furniture in backyard. Neighbors reported illegal incineration, 7kfine + firefighter bill. No Using ozone generators(400). Smells weird but legal!"
1910s insulation contained asbestos + rat poop. Needed dual-hazard abatement crew (25k). Pro Tip: XRF testkits(500) confirm asbestos before touching nests!
Enzyme cleaners attracted feral cats peeing everywhere! Switched to tea tree oil + sunlight. UV rays break down viruses naturally. CDC says risky but works!
@GermPhobeMom Bleach only works on NON-porous surfaces! Hantavirus hides in wood/paper. Use iodophor solutions (FDA-grade) for penetration. $90/gallon but lasts 6 months.
UV-C wands ($250) sanitized my HVAC ducts. Tested with ATP swabs, 99.9% pathogen reduction! Causes cataracts if misused. Wear AMA-approved goggles!
Sunlight only works on surfaces <122°F! Attic temps here hit 140°F, viruses thrived. Now using infrared heaters ($1k) to bake nests. Fire risk? Probably. Effective? Science says yes!