Dead racoon in the wall, now what?

[fastfredracing]

We have been working on our latest rental house purchase. The midnight plumbers were here so I basically had to plumb the whole house. I got it all done last Sunday, and when I pressured it up, I found a couple of unexpected leaks behind the upstairs bathroom walls. I busted open the first wall, found one leak, and while I was in the process of fixing it, I noticed a really nasty smell, but it was masked by the smell of solder and flux. Went to the next leak, opened up the wall, and while I was scooping out the insulation, I noticed that some of the insulation was gray and black striped, and had a decaying eye looking up at me.
We dug the remains out, but the smell remains even after a week. the studs are all rotten and disgusting in that area, with the smell of rotten flesh . I don't even want to work in that area, what can I do to kill the germs, and get rid of that god awful smell? Hose it down with bleach?

[GH85Carrera]

Bleach is you friend.

Bleach & some good protevtive gloves, mask, eye protection and the rest.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Bleach is you friend.

Bleach & some good protevtive gloves, mask, eye protection and the rest.

Yep, what he said. Put some in a chemical sprayer and squirt away. It may take a few applications over a few days but bleach will get it out.

or you can just place a stick up in there.

[cstreit]

A Big bag of activated carbon will also help (quart sized). You can buy it by the pound at the pet store. (for aquariums.)

[porsche4life]

Gas and a match?

[HHI944]

H2so4

[Hugh R]

Bleach or lime, BUT NOT BOTH, IT WILL GIVE OFF CHLORINE GAS WHICH CAN KILL YOU.

[jeffgrant]

I've had excellent success with enzyme cleaners.

Something like this: Enzyme Odor Remover

[gtc]

Originally Posted by jeffgrant

I've had excellent success with enzyme cleaners.

Something like this: Enzyme Odor Remover

My mother sells some products like that. They do work very well.

Boat stores also have good odor absorbers.

[rnln]

If you don't have to, don't mix bleach and vinegar or lime. I thought I was pretty tough until I spray this mixture. I almost went to visit my great great great parents.

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Bleach or lime, BUT NOT BOTH, IT WILL GIVE OFF CHLORINE GAS WHICH CAN KILL YOU.

[GH85Carrera]

When in doubt call a professional. There are companies that do that for a living.

[Erakad]

There's also paints that are made to seal off bad odors....like cat urine on concrete...ask me how I know, heavy sigh

[Scuba Steve]

And seal up wherever that thing got into the wall from.