Here's my suggestions. I too have vents in the floor. If the vents have a bend or curve near the bottom where they go under the floor toward the furnace, you can stick either a store-bought vent pad that's scented or just a lain pad. I think they are sold to help catch allergens. This of course means checking them regularly. I just gave up on having the vents screwed in. I also took fine window screen, cut then large enough to not only fit over the the vent opening, but large enough to form a well (to give the vent blades a chance to move), placed them over the vent and then put the vent back. This catches all sorts of things you don't want in the vents. As for the smell of mice... I have mice. I also have six useless ferrets, one useless cat and three useless dachshunds. I am now threatening to fire them all if they don't start catching the mice. Anyway... I use a strong vinegar and water solution. I just wipe down the surfaces. anne [Posted in FML 5590]