As anyone who’s dealt with a dead rat in their home can attest, the smell is one you’ll never forget. The putrid odor is a nasty mix of chemicals produced as the body decomposes, including sulfur dioxide and methane. The best way to describe it would be the rotting smell of death.

It could take anywhere from 3 to 4 months for a rat to fully decompose into a skeleton. All the flesh has to rot from the body first, and the decomposition process is not altogether quick. In most environments with high humidity, rats could decompose in a faster process, but you can expect the stench to fill the air inside the room and the ...

Jul 24, 2023 · The smell from a dead rat can persist for weeks or even months if the decomposing body is inside a wall void or other concealed space. While the odor will eventually dissipate on its own, you can try various deodorizing methods to help neutralize the smell more quickly.

Jun 24, 2020 · Depending on the rat’s temperature and size, a decomposing rat will take up to 5 weeks. If the weather is hot, the time it takes for a dead rat to decompose will be shorter. A small rat in a hot climate is going to decompose within 2 weeks.

Dec 19, 2024 · Learn how to dispose of a dead rat and get rid of the smell. Before you hit the panic button, stay calm and arm yourself with gloves, a splash of bleach, and some odor-removing sponges. Your home will emerge victorious from the rat-astrophe. And you’ll transform this unpleasant episode into a comedy that even your nostrils will applaud.

The good news is that there are ways to remove dead rodent smells. The stench of a dead rat may take up to 3 weeks to dissipate. During this time, you may be exposed to hantavirus through the air. This means that finding and removing the rat is essential before addressing the odor.

If a rat dies inside your walls, it’s likely to go unnoticed until the carcass decomposes. When the decomposition process kicks in, a dead rat’s carcass produces a putrid stench of chemical gasses like sulfur dioxide and methane. Usually, it takes about 3-5 days for a rat to start smelling.

Dec 13, 2021 · On average, a rat takes roughly 2-3 weeks to decompose; however, lower temperatures will increase this time period significantly. Once the body has decomposed, the smell won’t instantly leave your home. Instead, the foul smell will still be lingering in your home roughly two weeks later.

Jan 17, 2025 · In this guide, we walk you through locating and eliminating dead rat or mouse odors and provide practical tips and safety measures. From preparing the necessary equipment to dealing with hard-to-reach areas, learn how to keep your home fresh and odor-free.

A dead, decomposing rat in the wall will release unpleasant odors as it decomposes. You can technically leave the dead rat in the wall if you can withstand the stench. Removing it can be tedious, damage the walls, require special tools, and be time-consuming.