[Warning: Kinda Gross] Please Help Clean Rodent Droppings off Plastic Car Bed

[chii]

As the title says, this contains somewhat icky content regarding rodent droppings. (Pictures included!)
If you are offended or upset by that sort of thing, turn back!

Still here, brave soul? Then allow me to explain what this is all about.
A few years back, there was a rodent infestation in the attic.
We've never had a chance to properly assess damages or go through things...until now.

The entire family has agreed to throw away most things encrusted in feces due to hygenic purposes.
However, there are some items that are very precious (and poop encrusted).

Our chief concern is my brother's childhood bed, a plastic bed in the shape of a car.

The photos don't really do justice for how bad it is, but give an idea.



I feel like wiping it down with Lysol would only clean it on the surface level.
It's such a vibrant red, wouldn't bleach stain it?

How would you suggest truly cleaning this? Enzymes and all?
Even when he was a little boy sleeping in this, my brother said that if he ever had a son, he'd like this to be his bed.

I know sometimes members here run into...unfortunate things when cleaning ponies.
If you have any advice for what's worked (or hasn't worked), please let me know!

Thank you so much for your time! Sorry this turned into such a long post.

 

[ActionHank]

I wouldn't worry about the poop to much just take it into the yard and spray it off with a hose then scrub it off bleach and it should be fine.

 

[chii]

Thank you for your advice, @ActionHank! I'm certainly willing to give it a shot.
Fortunately, there isn't any material on the bed. It's just multiple pieces of plastic.

While working on that, I'll give Mom's 1976 Barbie Star Traveler RV the same treatment.
Shame the box is covered in poopie. It was in pristine condition until this incident...

Wish me luck!

 

[Leave a Whisper]

Sweep,bag and toss. Then use disinfectant.

 

[chii]

Sweep,bag and toss. Then use disinfectant.

That's what we're doing with most stuff.
The stack of black bags is impressive!

However, there are a few things (like my brother's childhood race car bed) that we'd like to try saving.
If it doesn't work out, at least we'll know we tried.

I mentioned the bleach method @ActionHank suggested to my brother and he'd like to give it a shot this weekend.
CDC also mentions a bleach/water mixture for cleaning plastics.

I'll let y'all know how it goes! (If anyone has done this, feel free to give any pointers. I'm open to suggestions.)

 

[Baby Moondancer]

I've had to clean similar things when my (pet) rodents made a mess. While it wasn't sitting around as long as your items likely were, I was able to clean off several plastic items through diluted vinegar and water. (90/10 water to vinegar)

Of course, I was washing them so they'd be animal safe but I'd say that you should start with softer chemicals/cleaners and then work your way up if you're worried about staining.

 

[ActionHank]

I know some people get all bent out of shape about this kind of thing and toss everything involved, but you probably don't have to toss everything as I've found that most things can be cleaned, unless they are made from a majority of paper or cardboard and the mice have really gone to town on it, I've yet to find a way to really clean badly damaged paper items but even then they aren't always ruined.

 

[chii]

I've had to clean similar things when my (pet) rodents made a mess. While it wasn't sitting around as long as your items likely were, I was able to clean off several plastic items through diluted vinegar and water. (90/10 water to vinegar)

Of course, I was washing them so they'd be animal safe but I'd say that you should start with softer chemicals/cleaners and then work your way up if you're worried about staining.

Thank you for the suggestion! I really hate the smell of bleach, so it's nice to have an alternative.
Since this has been sitting in a really hot attic for several years, my brother wanted to take the risk with bleach water this time.
Hopefully we won't have any other rat infestations, but it's good to know vinegar and water work if we clean it up soon enough.

I know some people get all bent out of shape about this kind of thing and toss everything involved, but you probably don't have to toss everything as I've found that most things can be cleaned, unless they are made from a majority of paper or cardboard and the mice have really gone to town on it, I've yet to find a way to really clean badly damaged paper items but even then they aren't always ruined.

Since you were able to save damaged paper items, have you managed to save paper as well?
They got into my grandmother's box named "Family Geneology" and it's nothing but handwritten letters and paperwork.
Knowing Grandma, probably only a fraction of it is actually geneology. But sorting through all of it will still take a lot of time. (Plus there might be some fun stories we'll wanna keep, ya know?)

We've set the entire box aside for now since we have no idea what to do with it.

I haven't taken a photo (sorry!), but my brother and I tried the bleach and water approach on part of his car bed and a small part of the Barbie RV.
The Barbie RV looks great! The part I tried didn't have stickers, but it didn't fade hardly at all in the recommended 5 minutes.
I expect the stickers will fade, but that just adds to the memories.
My Mom and I were the main ones who played with it, so it's fun making new memories of it with my brother.

Sadly, the car bed didn't fair so well. It's a softer plastic, but doesn't feel like the vinyl in ponies.
It's not pink, but definitely looks a bit sunfaded now.
So far, we've only cleaned the inside part of the bed that no one would see.

 

[ActionHank]

Since you were able to save damaged paper items, have you managed to save paper as well?
They got into my grandmother's box named "Family Geneology" and it's nothing but handwritten letters and paperwork.
Knowing Grandma, probably only a fraction of it is actually geneology. But sorting through all of it will still take a lot of time. (Plus there might be some fun stories we'll wanna keep, ya know?)

We've set the entire box aside for now since we have no idea what to do with it.

With paperwork, we've had a similar situation. Some papers had to be thrown away, but most were saved. we put the papers out were they were in full sun (on days no rain was forecast) and let them set that way for several days, weighed down. We did this for both sides of each paper. While they were laying outside we sprayed both sides lightly with disinfectant. After they were dry we then sprayed them with 50%water/50%vinegar. It seemed to work well and saved most items. If the pages are still messed up, maybe you could take pictures of them. At least you could save the info that way.

Sadly, the car bed didn't fair so well. It's a softer plastic, but doesn't feel like the vinyl in ponies.
It's not pink, but definitely looks a bit sunfaded now.
So far, we've only cleaned the inside part of the bed that no one would see.

Sounds like you guys need to dilute the bleach more or use a less harsh cleaner like some disinfectant wipes. You might want to try Dawn Power Wash, it's a really good cleaner on plastic.

 

[chii]

Sorry it's taken so long to get back to y'all! It's been such a whirlwind...
We rented a small trailer to take all of the black bags of garbage to the city dump.
Wound up weighing over 1,000 lbs!

Most of my Mom's old treasures are our baby clothes, which were in ancient metal trunks.
(Think of the trunks in the Titantic movie and you're on the right track.)
It'll be nice for her to check if she still wants them, but at her leisure.

The Babie RV handled the bleach/water combo beautifully.
Stickers were never in great shape, since it survived both me and my Mom playing with it.
I'd like to wipe it down with some Magic Erasers before showing any photos of it all spruced up.
Might try to find sticker replicas, but I'm pretty happy with how it cleaned up.

Sounds like you guys need to dilute the bleach more or use a less harsh cleaner like some disinfectant wipes. You might want to try Dawn Power Wash, it's a really good cleaner on plastic.

Just in case diluting the bleach a bit more didn't work, we also grabbed some Dawn Power Wash. (I've never seen it as a spray before! That's so cool!) Diluting the bleach did the trick! Thank you so much. It actually made the car bed a bit brighter or more vibrant.

With paperwork, we've had a similar situation. Some papers had to be thrown away, but most were saved. we put the papers out were they were in full sun (on days no rain was forecast) and let them set that way for several days, weighed down. We did this for both sides of each paper. While they were laying outside we sprayed both sides lightly with disinfectant. After they were dry we then sprayed them with 50%water/50%vinegar. It seemed to work well and saved most items. If the pages are still messed up, maybe you could take pictures of them. At least you could save the info that way.

Ingenious! We've been saving the papers for last, but that's amazing! You know what I'll be doing tomorrow. Thank you so much!

 

[ActionHank]

Glad to hear you were able to clean the car bed.

Hopefully you're able to clean the papers as well.