What does attic cleaning after rodents include?
Everything the animals left behind comes out: droppings, nests and soiled insulation. Then the attic is sanitized, and fresh insulation goes in if you choose it.
A complete job also closes the ways in, so the clean attic stays clean. Cleaning, sealing and new insulation can each be booked on their own or together. See attic cleaning for how we do it.
Why can’t I just remove the droppings I can see?
Because most of the mess is in the insulation, not on top of it. Rodents tunnel and nest inside the insulation, and their urine soaks into it.
Picking up the visible droppings leaves the rest in place, along with the smell. The CDC treats heavy rodent infestations as a special case that needs extra precautions, and says insulation contaminated with urine and droppings should be bagged and removed.
What gets removed from the attic?
Anything soiled, damaged or left behind by animals. What that includes depends on how long the rodents were there.
- Droppings on the insulation, the joists and around the attic hatch.
- Nests made of shredded insulation, paper or fabric.
- Insulation that is soiled, stained, flattened or tunneled through.
- Old debris, and any dead animals found during the cleanout.
All of it is taken away with us. If the ducts in the attic are chewed or crushed, they can be replaced in the same visit with new flexible insulated ducts.
How is the attic sanitized?
After the cleanout, the crew sanitizes the work areas. Sanitation is part of every cleaning job, not an add-on.
Sanitizing comes after removal on purpose. The droppings and soiled insulation have to come out first, so the sanitation reaches the attic surfaces instead of the mess sitting on them.
Is it safe to clean the attic myself?
A few droppings in the garage, yes, if you follow the CDC steps. An attic with droppings spread through the insulation is a much bigger and dirtier job.
For small cleanups, the CDC says:
- Open doors and windows for 30 minutes before you start, and leave the area while it airs out.
- Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings, urine or nests.
- Wear rubber or plastic gloves.
- Wet the droppings with a disinfectant, as the CDC cleanup steps describe.
- Wipe up with paper towels, bag everything, and wash your hands well.
For heavy infestations, the CDC recommends more protective gear, including a respirator with HEPA filtration. An attic can’t be aired out like a room, and the work is done on your knees between the joists.
What gets replaced after the cleaning?
Mostly the insulation. Once the soiled insulation is out, the attic needs a fresh layer to keep the house comfortable.
We install any type of insulation you want. Our most popular is cellulose. We install brands like Owens Corning PINK fiberglass batts, Knauf EcoBatt, ROCKWOOL Comfortbatt (stone wool), and CleanFiber cellulose (our main one) and Mountain Fiber cellulose. Our usual target in the attic is R-38; more on that in how much attic insulation you need.
Should the openings be sealed before the new insulation goes in?
Yes. Fresh insulation in an attic that rodents can still reach just becomes their next nest.
We seal the openings inside the attic, crawl space and garage, and outside at the vents, eaves and roof gaps, with galvanized steel mesh, putty and concrete. Then we set traps for any rodents left inside: snap traps for rats and mice, live traps for larger animals. See rodent proofing.
What happens on the cleaning day?
Attic cleaning is a one-day job. Please be home on the job day and clear breakable items, like pictures and vases, from the path to the attic.
The crew covers the path from the front door to the work areas with drop cloths or plastic sheeting: the floors, and the walls where needed. Old material and debris go out with us, and the crew takes before and after photos and sends them to you.
Can droppings in the attic make the house smell?
Yes. Urine and droppings in the insulation give off a sharp, ammonia-like smell, and it gets stronger in warm weather, when the attic heats up.
The smell often shows up near the attic hatch, in closets and around ceiling lights. It usually stays until the soiled insulation is removed and the attic is sanitized. Air fresheners only cover it for a while.
Does my attic need cleaning, or just sealing?
If droppings, nests or soiled insulation are spread across the attic, it needs cleaning. If the rodents were only there briefly and the insulation looks clean, sealing alone may be enough.
We check at the free inspection and show you photos, so you can decide. You can book cleaning on its own, sealing on its own, or both together.
What we see on real jobs
Attics we clean in San Jose, Santa Clara and Cupertino usually show the same story:
- Tunnels and paths through the insulation, with droppings along them.
- Nests near the eaves, where the roof meets the attic floor.
- Insulation flattened or stained where the animals lived.
- Chewed wires or ducts.
Rodents gone but the attic still a mess? Book a free inspection or call us. We photograph what we find and send a written quote the same day. Customers who book two or more services get 10% off (one discount per job).