Rat odor ---- any suggestions?

[gcal]

Yeah, more about rats. I know everybody is sick of it, but here it is, again, anyway.

No new droppings, so I am pretty sure we the problem is solved by screening the intakes, at least for now. The carpet runs under the front panel. I used a pet urine deodorizer spray on the part I could reach, but both brands required soaking excess up with a cloth. However, there is a part of the carpet behind some wiring and hosing that I can not reach without more major dismantling. No idea why they run the carpet there. 

I can sort of reach that area with the spray, but cannot soak it up, even with a rag tied to one of those long shoehorns. The smell is just about gone for humans, but another rat may still be able to smell it and try to follow the scént trail. Plus, it just feels dirty to have that mess there without even being chemically neutralized.

Any suggestions?

 

[SoulRaven]

My only thought would be getting the product in a bottle of liquid rather than a spray and either using a squirt gun or maybe something like an empty dish soap bottle and use that to propel the liquid into the hard to reach spots. Not sure how tight the spot is you are trying to reach but if you needed to get a cloth back behind to wipe around, you could use a long meat fork to push it in and move it around.
I would also probably use the hairdryer to get it dry to help avoid the possibility of mold.

 

[gcal]

My only thought would be getting the product in a bottle of liquid rather than a spray and either using a squirt gun or maybe something like an empty dish soap bottle and use that to propel the liquid into the hard to reach spots.  Not sure how tight the spot is you are trying to reach but if you needed to get a cloth back behind to wipe around, you could use a long meat fork to push it in and move it around.
I would also probably use the hairdryer to get it dry to help avoid the possibility of mold.

The hair dryer reminder to avoid mildew. Good idea. I had thought of using some baking soda, too, but I am not sure that I want all that loose dust.

 

[Patrick46]

use the baking soda, scrub it in as much as you possibly can, but then vacuum most of it up after it's sat for awhile.

 

[SoulRaven]

Not sure if your area is "color-fast" but full strength vinegar can be used to prevent mildew. Some people don't like the smell but, once dry, you don't notice it unless your nose is right on it.

 

[Gary68]

dont know about rat but had a male cat spray the inside of my truck once,ended up having to remove the carpet,used a bleach cleaner then some simple green for a pleasant smell

 

[SoulRaven]

I use my back scratcher to reach into difficult spaces quite often.

 

[gcal]

I use my back scratcher to reach into difficult spaces quite often.

Back scratcher. Little prongs to firmly move rags around. Hmmm.

 

[SoulRaven]

I get back scratchers like these at the dollar store and find them very sturdy.  I also use them as a grabber of sorts to pull things to me that are slightly out of reach.