Few smells are repulsive to an animal’s body decomposing inside your home. Occasionally, rats, raccoons, and squirrels may enter via a duct or the chimney. The odor of their decaying animal permeates the whole building when they pass away. This issue often occurs in the oven vent, and the stench must be removed immediately. You may need to use many techniques to get rid of the scent of a dead rat coming from your oven vent. So, what do you do if your oven smells like dead mouse?
To get rid of the dead mouse smell, you need to find the dead animal, dispose of it and thoroughly clean and disinfect your oven.
Oven Smells Like Dead Mouse – What To Do
Because it cannot be easily remedied by utilizing conventional cleaning techniques, a dead mouse odor is a challenging condition to deal with. Before successfully getting rid of the unpleasant odor, you must first go through several measures. Here are some pointers for getting rid of the scent of an animal that has died:
Step 1. Properly Dispose Of Dead Mice
It’s crucial to carefully and promptly dispose of the dead animal or any mice in the oven. By properly disposing of dead mice, you may get rid of the odor they leave behind and avoid additional issues. The actions listed below guarantee that you have disposed of the deceased rats properly:
- Wear gloves and safety equipment, such as masks and goggles, to avoid contamination and disease transmission.
- Apply a disinfectant or a bleach and water solution to the contaminated area and the deceased animal.
- Put the plastic bag with the dead rodent inside.
- You may also put any rodent nesting sites or droppings inside the bag if there are any.
- Properly close the plastic bag. Since viruses may spread via the air and harm people, don’t let any additional air out of the bag.
- Put the bag into another plastic bag, then tightly close the second bag.
- Place the deceased body’s plastic bag in a garbage container and dispose of it there. It may be kept apart from other recyclable or non-biodegradable materials.
- Hands wearing gloves should be cleaned with soap and water before properly disposed of.
- Spray disinfectant on your hands after a second round of handwashing with soap and water.
Step 3: Clean The Oven
Making sure you are cleaning the oven correctly is the next thing you must do. Any leftovers within may start to degrade and release an unpleasant stench resembling a dead mouse’s scent. This would be not only bothersome but also repulsive. Therefore, you must thoroughly clean the oven to remove any potential food leftovers. You just need to run a damp wipe over the oven to make sure nothing is still inside. This should take care of the problem.
Step 3: Use A Little Lime Water
Once the oven has been thoroughly cleaned, you must also address the smell. Using your oven with a steam cleaning capability is the easiest method to accomplish this. However, there is no need to be concerned if your oven lacks that function. You must put a cup of water in the oven and add 2 tablespoons of lime juice to it before allowing the water to come to a boil.
Any scents that could be present in the oven and give you problems will be eliminated by the steam from lime water. Once the steam has had time to work its way through the oven, you only need to make sure you’re wiping it down with a dry cloth once again, and the issue should be resolved.
Step 5: Clean The Kitchen
You should clean up any polluted sections of the home and deodorize them after disposing of the deceased rodent’s remains. You may use the following treatments or materials to disinfect and deodorize the contaminated area:
Vinegar
Fill several glasses with vinegar and scatter them about the house to serve as deodorizers. This improves the area’s odor by absorbing the unpleasant scent of the deceased animal. Be aware that this may leave a vinegar fragrance throughout your house, but it normally wears off within a few days with proper ventilation.
Another kitchen component that is excellent for removing the stench of a dead rat is baking soda. Spray the area often with this deodorizer after combining baking soda and water in a spray bottle.
Bleach
You may also use a bleach solution to eliminate the unpleasant smell of the animal’s rotting body. Make this bleach solution by combining one part bleach with ten parts water, then apply it to the contaminated area and let it rest there for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it clean.
Charcoal
To get rid of the unpleasant smell, scatter some charcoal briquettes about the home. It is preferable to choose natural, additive-free briquettes. You may also buy charcoal deodorizer bags to remove the stink of the deceased animal from the air.
Commercial Disinfectant
Select a commercial disinfectant. Choose a product that is suggested for cleaning hardwood floors, for instance, if you are cleaning hardwood floors. To avoid any undesirable issues or mishaps, please read the instruction label before using any product.
Why Does My Oven Have a Dead Mouse Smell?
Most people find it difficult to imagine how a mouse might get inside the oven, particularly if you place a high value on cleanliness. Nevertheless, routine oven and kitchen cleaning cannot completely exclude the potential that a mouse is attempting to enter your oven from another location.
Similarly, mice aren’t necessarily to blame for the foul scent from your oven. It is crucial to comprehend the cause of your oven’s offensive odor and whether or not a dead animal is truly rotting within. The following are the main explanations for why your oven smells like a dead mouse:
A Dead Mouse Or Squirrel
If you notice a strong odor whenever you open the oven door, there may be a dead mouse or squirrel within. Due to the chilly and gloomy oven vents, many creatures live there and ultimately make their way inside the oven. Small ovens make it simple to find any dead animals that could be entangled in their gas or electric lines, while bigger ovens make it more difficult. To locate the dead animal, you’ll need to poke your head inside the oven.
Mouse Debris
Mice droppings and dried urine may be the source of a dead rat-like odor in your oven, even though nothing is dead inside. Before using any cleaning solution or spray, check your oven and fully remove these droppings.
Defecating Food Particles
This may not seem like a likely explanation for the offensive odor, but it makes sense. Decomposed food may be the source of foul smells, whether you’ve just moved into a home or have simply opened your oven after months.
Sometimes we neglect to promptly clean up spills and piles of scorched food that eventually begin to decompose. Decomposing food can have a less offensive odor than dead animals. Get rid of any mice, raccoons, or squirrels you discover in the oven or oven vent to stop the cause of that foul stench.
2 Best Oven Cleaners
Magic Eraser Extra Durable Scrubber
With its extra-durable scrubbing, the Magic Eraser Extra Durable Scrubber is ideal for removing stubborn, baked-on food. Additionally user-friendly is the Magic Eraser Extra Durable Scrubber. Simply moisten the scrubber and brush it against the chosen inside surface of the oven. Rinse it off or wipe it away after that.
The Magic Eraser Extra Durable Scrubber is a fantastic option if you’re looking for an oven cleaner that’s simple to use and has a tough scrubber. All oven surfaces, including the oven door, respond well to it.
Goo Gone Oven And Grill Cleaner
For tough grease and dead rat smell, the Goo Gone Oven and Grill Cleaner is a fantastic option. This product has a spray container, making the application simple. Additionally, non-toxic and biodegradable is the Goo Gone Oven and Grill Cleaner. And you may use it safely around your house. Simply spray the appropriate surface with Goo Gone Oven and Grill Cleaner, allow it to rest for a few minutes, and then wipe it clean.

Can The Smell Of A Dead Mouse In The Oven Be Harmful? Can You Get Sick?
If you continue to breathe in the stench of a dead animal, you may have nausea, headaches, and even virus attacks. However, it only occurs if you neglect to address this issue and a dead animal continues to rot nearby. The likelihood that you may get ill from the leftover odor is low after the rotting corpse has been removed. However, that doesn’t mean you should leave the dead rodent’s scent in your oven, where it might continue to create headaches and make you throw up.
After disposing of the animal’s remains, give your oven a thorough cleaning and let it air out to make sure no unpleasant odors remain. By doing this, you’ll not only increase the oven’s cleanliness but also enhance the quality of the air you breathe. Most mouse-related illnesses and infestations are brought on by flies and bacteria that feed on the dead mass. The lingering odor becomes relatively innocuous after the underlying issue has been resolved (but it doesn’t remain very pleasant).
Additionally, this offensive odor may seep into whatever you prepare in the oven, which will undoubtedly make you sick. So, instead of acting cool when a dead mouse is in your oven, put on your gloves and remove them immediately to prevent it from rotting. Since indoor air quality impacts your health, immediate action is only logical. Remove the odor’s cause and thoroughly clean any lingering odors to restore the freshness of your oven.
Conclusion On Oven Smells Like Dead Mouse
Mice may enter your oven secretly and end up roasted or, worse, killed. In addition to removing a dead mouse from the oven, which is nauseating, you also have to deal with the lingering scent. If you’re having trouble, don’t imagine waiting will make it go away. To resolve this issue, you’ll need to completely clean the oven and deodorize it with a powerful chemical.
We discussed how to clean and deodorize an oven after it has had a rodent-related incident. Before you start using your oven again, do the actions outlined above to restore its cleanliness and freshness.

Hiiii! My name is Ruth and I am an experienced chef with a passion for food and cooking. My love of baking began when I was nine, and I have since been refining my skills in the kitchen ever since.