Clothes dryer with its vent duct in a small laundry closet

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Mouse droppings and nests inside an appliance or furnace: clean up without stirring up dust

Rodent urine and droppings can carry hantavirus and other diseases, and the risk comes from breathing dust when the material is disturbed. CDC's method: ventilate first, wear rubber or plastic gloves, do not sweep or vacuum, soak the material with disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution and let it sit, then wipe it up with paper towels, bag it and wash your hands. Chewed wiring is common where rodents nest, so inspect the harness before you power up.

Cross-checked ~30 min easyBrands: All

Before you start

Do not sweep, vacuum or blow out droppings or nests with compressed air
Unplug the appliance before spraying anything inside it; keep liquid off the control board
Heavy infestations call for more protective equipment or a pest-control/cleanup professional

Diagnostic steps

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