[pianotech] mouse contamination from the dark side<G>

[John Ross]

Thanks, Joe.
I always think I am the only one. LOL
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia
On 28-07-2012, at 10:51 AM, "Joe Goss" <imatunr at srvinet.com> wrote:

> John, You are being too easy on him.
> My reaction was to tell him to sniff CA glue fumes for a while. Then he would not even notice the mouse smell or any other smell for that matter.
> Joe Goss BSMusEd MMusEd RPT
> imatunr at srvinet.com
> www.mothergoosetools.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: John Ross
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 6:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] mouse contamination from the dark side<G>
> 
> One of those messages, I wish I hadn't sent, but just kept my feelings to myself.
> Sorry.
> John Ross
> Windsor, Nova Scotia
> On 28-07-2012, at 8:45 AM, John Ross <jrpiano at bellaliant.net> wrote:
> 
>> Do you still go outdoors?
>> I really do think that you are carrying things too far.
>> I believe in taking normal precautions, gloves, mask and coveralls to be washed afterwards.
>> I don't  believe in psychiatrists or psychologists, but in your case I will make an exception.
>> Sorry to be so blunt.
>> John Ross,
>> Windsor, Nova Scotia
>> On 28-07-2012, at 7:22 AM, Euphonious Thumpe <lclgcnp at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Thanks, Joe!
>>>      Around here, 90% of the pianos have had mice in them, which is a big part of why I only work on my own, anymore.* And I have found that even the most extreme cleaning (dunking action parts in "Purple Power" and removing all felts and rinsing thoroughly, followed by a  month in an industrial-strength ozone chamber) will not remove "mousey odor" (or dop feces stench)** completely.
>>>      If anyone knows of a technique that REALLY gets these smells out of action parts, I'd sure like to hear of it!
>>>  
>>> Euphonious Thumpe
>>>  
>>> *Besides the unpleasantness and risk to me, I don't want to add a "sense of value" to something that is a  risk to customers' health, by encouraging them to invest money in it. And when I've suggested that they invest in a  different instument, they tend to utterly ignore me.
>>> ** I once was given a SUPERB 1920's Emerson upright that had never been played ( zero wear on hammers, etc.) but had to burn it because the owners had paper-trained their dogs in the room with it, and the stench (only discovered once back in my shop) was horrendous! (It was the stench that caused me to call them later and inquire, whereupon they "'fessed up" about the paper-training.) 
>>> From: Joseph Garrett <joegarrett at earthlink.net>
>>> To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org> 
>>> Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 8:14 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] mouse contamination from the dark side<G>
>>> 
>>> There's been an ongoing conversation about all the hazards related to Mouse
>>> Contamination. 
>>> It was said, by Keith: 
>>> "Guidelines to consider:
>>> 1) Don't pick your nose or any other part of your body while working on any
>>> piano, let alone ones with evidence of mice activity.
>>> 2) Wash your hands before making physical contact with another living
>>> creature during or after servicing a piano.
>>> 
>>> And here's a little tidbit:
>>> Don't wait to wash your hands after going to the bathroom like the signs
>>> say. Wash them before touching your privates.
>>> 
>>> That's sums it up for me."
>>> 
>>> Keith et al,
>>> Having worked in the medical profession, in another life and specializing
>>> in Isolation Techniques, derived from employment in a T.B. Sanitarium, the
>>> following should be considered. (I worked there for over 3 years and only
>>> threw a "positive" on my final test upon leaving for better employment<G>)
>>> If someone wants to cross post this to the Dark Side, please do.<G>
>>> Proper isolation techniques:
>>> 1. Always wear disposable outer clothing, i.e. gown, cap, booties, mask,
>>> gloves.
>>> 2. Wash thoroughly before doning isolation garments.
>>> 3. If you have facial hair, (as I do<G>), masks will not be effective. (The
>>> only effective way is with an encapsulated helmet. :-()
>>> 4. Wear appropriate gloves that you KNOW you are not allergic to. (many
>>> people are extremely allergic to Latex, which can put them in anaphalactic
>>> shock and could kill them!)
>>> 5. Gowns, etc. should be made of paper, (disposable), or cotton,
>>> (cleanable/reusable). They should cover as much of your entire body as
>>> possible and still allow you to do your work. (special note: your personal
>>> comfort is not a criteria!<G>)
>>> 6. Once the "clean-up" is accomplished, remove yourself to a "Contaminated
>>> Area" for the purpose of removing ALL possible contaminated apparel and
>>> disposing of as necessary/prescribed. In regards to tools & equipment,
>>> Sterilization is definately recommended. How you accomplish that, is in
>>> accordance to what the "tool or equipment" will tolerate. (i.e. Autoclave,
>>> Anti-bacterial Gasing, Antibiotic wipe downs, etc.)
>>> 7. Immediately. Wash Thouroughly...AGAIN! On that subject: IF the sink does
>>> not have "elbow levers" you need to use paper towels to turn on and off the
>>> faucets. Wash for as long as it takes you to sing, (to yourself), the
>>> alphabet song.<G> Similarly, exiting the lavatory/"contamination area", you
>>> should use paper towels on the door handles and anything else that could
>>> possibly have been contaminated by someone else.
>>> 8. Don appropriate "Street Clothing".
>>> Special note, (again): The Hantavirus can be reactivated, as can many other
>>> nasties, with moisture and proper incubation temperatures, so do not use
>>> plain water w/o a disinfectant! Also, many vacuums are not suitable for
>>> this sort of decontamination, so check the specs before use, ....NOT
>>> during.<G>
>>> That's the proceedure as outlined in my experience. I believe it is not
>>> necessary to go to these extremes, but it's good information to know. (for
>>> what it's worth). Be careful out there my friends and collegues!<G>
>>> Joe 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
>>> Captain of the Tool Police
>>> Squares R I

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