In Mont-Saint-Hilaire, on the South Shore, a family daycare in the downtown area, near Beloeil, requested our intervention after the discovery of mouse droppings in the low cabinets of the kitchen and behind the furniture of the play corner. The presence of young children made the situation particularly urgent from a health perspective, as mice can contaminate contact surfaces with pathogens such as Salmonella and certain hantaviruses, of which young children are a vulnerable population. Our team in Mont-Saint-Hilaire intervened quickly to secure the site, assess the extent of the contamination and carry out a complete decontamination adapted to this sensitive environment. At Nova Extermination, we have the experience and certifications required to intervene in daycare settings in Quebec, and our teams understand the regulatory issues specific to these establishments.
Detection and Assessment in a Children’s Environment
The inspection was conducted in the absence of the children and with the informed consent of the person in charge of the daycare. The technicians located the areas where the mice passed by following the traces of droppings, urine tracks revealed under UV light and bite marks on the food packaging accessible in the lower cabinets. Compact nests made from insulation materials and shredded paper were discovered behind the insulation of an interior kitchen partition and under the sink. The main entry points were an unsealed pipe passage under the kitchen countertop and a deficient basement door seal leaving a one-centimetre gap. The extent of the contamination affected the kitchen, the entrance hallway and partially the storage room for the playground. Traces indicated an active presence of at least three individuals, evolving mainly at night and on weekends. This precise assessment made it possible to design an intervention plan adapted to the constraints of the environment and to inform the person in charge of the measures to be taken immediately before the start of the work. Our achievements in the decontamination of sensitive environments confirm that daycares require special attention and rigor.
Decontamination with child-safe products
The choice of disinfection products was guided by the specific requirements of environments frequented by young children. We opted for a diluted hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant that is fragrance-free, non-irritating after drying and approved for food contact surfaces. All the cabinets were emptied, their interiors mechanically cleaned with a brush, then disinfected in two successive applications with an intermediate rinse with clear water. The floors in the kitchen and hallway were washed with the same product twice. Septa with nests were partially opened, nests removed in sealed airtight bags, and internal surfaces treated before resealing and plastering. The furniture in the play corner has been thoroughly wiped down with disinfectant wipes that are compatible with plastic surfaces and toys certified for young children. Our decontamination service in children’s environments is one of our recognized specialties on the South Shore.
Sealing, prevention and return to normal
All pipe penetrations identified as entry points were sealed with steel wool inserted into a two-component epoxy sealant, a sustainable sealing technique recommended for kitchens. The basement door gasket has been replaced with a thick rubber weatherstripping bead providing a complete seal flush with the floor. All base cabinets have been fitted with a perimeter door seal to eliminate residual gaps. The person in charge of the daycare centre received a practical sheet on preventive hygiene measures: hermetic storage of all food, including children’s snacks, rapid monthly visual inspection of risk areas, and immediate reporting of any suspicious traces for rapid intervention. An additional cleaning of unsanitary conditions was carried out in the storage room to sanitize a disorderly area conducive to rodents. The daycare was able to reopen the next morning after validation of the result by a senior technician, allowing families to return to their routine without delay. For additional examples, see our achievements in institutional settings on the South Shore.