Cage Cleaning Step-by-Step
Ok sorry I got distracted cleaning the rest of the apartment, but here are the pictures of how I clean my double unit Critter Nation. I do this once a week just in case anyone is wondering. It usually takes me about 40 minutes.
1. Get your supplies! I use a trash bag, Lysol Wipes, Odoban Spray Cleaner, a towel, and the green bucket from their cage (I use this to soak the binder clips). I fill the bucket up with a little bit of Odoban and warm water.
2. Take out all the hammocks and shake them into the trash bag to remove any poop, nesting material, fleece scraps, etc. Set them aside to be washed with the cage liners. Throw out anything that is smelly and gross including boxes, wood chews, chewable tunnels, etc.
3. Then, remove all the other cage accessories. I have litterpans, a space pod, a chinchilla dust house, granite slabs, food bowls, treat cages, and random other things like jingle balls and wood chews. I leave the rope toys, water bottles, and perches. Dump all the litterpans and shake everything out if needed.
4. Put all of this in a bathtub with a small amount of cleaner- Odoban, Nature’s Miracle, Bleach, Vinegar, etc. Fill the rest of the tub with warm water. You can use any cleaner as long as you remember to rinse afterwards.
5. While this is all soaking, go back to the cage and start on the liners. Take all the binder clips off and put them in the bucket with your cleaner/warm water. Fold the liner into the center so none of the poop or other mess comes out and then hold it in a trash bag and shake it out. Set aside with the hammocks to be washed.
6. Dump any remaining poop or mess on the pans into the trash can. Wipe them down with your cleaner and some paper towels or Lysol wipes. Then go rinse them in the bathtub with water to get the cleaner off. Pat them dry and bring them back to the cage.
7. Remove the binder clips from the bucket and pat them dry with the towel. Lay fresh liners over the trays and secure them with the clean binder clips. Repeat this with all the trays and put them back in as you go.
8. Drain the bathtub and rinse everything that was soaking thoroughly. Pat it dry with the towel and bring it back to the cage and set it all up. For me, this includes putting new litter in the pans and food in the bowls. I also dump the bucket where I was soaking the clips, rinse and dry it, and put it back in the cage.
9. Put clean hammocks in! I have enough hammocks that I have two sets and don’t have to wait for them to wash and dry before I can put them back in. If you don’t have as many, the ratties will just have to wait until the wash is done!
10. Throw the hammocks and liners in the wash- I wash with detergent and Odoban on hot water. Sometimes I wash again with just detergent if they are still smelly. Once they’re done in the washer and dryer, fold and store until next week!
Every other week, I also vaccum around the cage since they like to kick stuff out. Once a month, I wipe down all the bars and cracks and crevices of the cage.
I hope this was helpful. Everyone has their own routine and their own cage set-up, but this is what works best for me.
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