How to Rid Dresser Drawers of Mouse Smell

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Things You'll Need

  • Plastic gloves

  • Household bleach

  • Plastic bucket

  • Rag or sponge

  • Odor remover solution

  • Wood sealant or varnish

Mice are small mammals that can set up residence in a home and become both a structural and health hazard. Mice will often choose to live in a dark, enclosed area such as drawers in your dresser. Here, an entire mouse generation can give birth, live and die while filling the drawer with the trademark pungent smell attributed to these rodents. Just because the drawer smells doesn't mean you should discard it. Take steps to clean and freshen the drawers to get rid of the mouse smell.

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Step 1

Put on gloves and remove the physical source of the smell. This is often a mouse nest or a dead mouse carcass. Pickup the nest or mouse and discard it.

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Step 2

Clean and disinfect the drawer. Mix a diluted bleach solution consisting of one part household bleach and nine parts water. The amount you use will vary according to the size of the dresser drawer. Dip a rag or sponge in the solution and scrub the entire drawer. Let the drawer sit damp for 15 minutes. Rinse with a rag soaked in fresh water.

Step 3

Dry the drawer. For best results, place the drawer in full sunlight for six to eight hours. The sun's ultraviolet rays have a natural sanitizing effect. Alternatively, place the drawer in front of a heater or a portable fan.

Step 4

Spray the drawer with an odor remover solution. Example products include OdorXit, Brampton's Simple Solution or MIsterMax's Anti-Icky-Poo. These solutions typically include active enzymes and bacteria or odor-locking chemicals that eliminate the odor on a cellular level.

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Step 5

Apply a wood sealant or varnish. This locks in any residual mouse odors that may have been absorbed deep in the wood fibers, and also seals the wood to prevent future odors from penetrating the drawer. Varnish or sealant can be obtained at most local hardware stores where a sales associate can provide specific guidance on what to use depending on the type of wood your drawer is made of.

Warning

Perfumes or standard air freshener scents simply disguise the odor and do not remove it. Over time, the perfume will wear off and the mouse smell will return. For best results, clean and deodorize the drawer rather than spraying it with perfume.

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