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Post by dosergirl on Jan 8, 2004 0:30:51 GMT -4
Tonight's the start of cleaning night for me, if i'm lucky i'll get all three hamsters done in one night.
So i was wondering what everyone's cleaning routine involved. For me it means a total clean of the whole hamster area once a week. I empty cages and clean with soap and water (but i know some people don't do this every week) i also like to change toys around and replenish chews.
what about you?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 8, 2004 5:33:23 GMT -4
Spot cleaning every 2-3 days. An entire bin/tank once every two weeks. I have 19 bins/cages/tanks (had 20 yesterday) and several play bins. Even that is very time consuming. Pick out the things; dump out the bedding, scrape and clean the urine stains, and use some vinegar; spray the whole thing with antibacterial cleaner; paper towels; fresh bedding; clean whatever toys and wheels need it; fresh water (which I do every few days anyway); fresh food; out goes the garbage bag of old bedding; I collapse exhausted. ;D
I usually leave the same stuff and things for each hamster; they seem to get too hyper when seeing and smelling too many different things, but they get moved out to play bins or switch bins (temporarily) every day for variety and stimulation.
Whew.
Oh yes, then apply emolient creme for my chapped hands.
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Post by angelic on Jan 8, 2004 13:09:50 GMT -4
I do all the tanks once a week, changing bedding etc. I tend to do a full clean, that is disinfecting everything with an animal safe product every two weeks. I would do that more frequently, but as I've got all rotastak equipment, which comes apart into small pieces, that is rather time consuming. It takes me several hours just to change bedding.
I also boil Lupey's tubes once a week - she has the most corrosive (sp?) urine I've ever come across and is actually melting the plastic would you believe?!
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Post by adara on Jan 8, 2004 13:14:38 GMT -4
I only have one hamster, so he has a lot of the modular stuff [and it's always growing  ] thankfully he only pees and poops in on part [and mostly pees in his "toilet" so that gets cleaned out everyday], so that part gets properly washed weekly with hot water and given a good scrub. The rest of it is sprayed and wiped down with [petsafe] antibacterial spray every 2 weeks. The whole thing is soaked and scrubbed once a month  |
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Post by dosergirl on Jan 8, 2004 16:31:28 GMT -4
what kind of antibacterial spray are you all using?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 8, 2004 21:02:12 GMT -4
Just some stuff I find in stores. A household cleaner that says "antibacterial". Hope they're not lying! I forget the name, but it is green. I suppose anything like that will do.
Remember, vinegar for the dried pee - or a strong scraper!
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Post by calvinator1 on Jan 9, 2004 10:40:43 GMT -4
I do the full scale cleaning every two weeks - hot water, antibacterial soap, soaking and scrubbing. In between, I wipe it down with baby wipes. I used to do the scrubbing once a week, but Calvin seems to prefer having it every two weeks. Fortunately, his pee isn't that potent. I can't imagine what Lupey's must be like! ;D
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 9, 2004 20:47:18 GMT -4
BTW, I took a look at what that green stuff is called - "Fabulous". Just a cheapo brand in a discount store.
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Post by angelic on Jan 10, 2004 8:19:54 GMT -4
I use a product designed for cleaning out animals called 'Keep it Clean'. It is anti-bacterial and deodorising, supposedly you can just spray it directly on bedding and on the animal!?!?! I've never done that, I only use it to clean tanks and wash it off afterwards - I don't like the idea of lavender scented hammies and gerbs!!!
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Post by calvinator1 on Jan 12, 2004 10:39:35 GMT -4
LOL! Gerbil smell + lavender smell = ?
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Post by adara on Jan 12, 2004 10:54:14 GMT -4
Call me weird but I actually like the natural scent of gerbils |
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Post by jeannie on Jan 12, 2004 13:44:28 GMT -4
I like their smell too.
I clean all my tanks once a week, using hot water and either rubbing alcohol or antibacterial soap.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 12, 2004 20:57:03 GMT -4
Call me weird but I actually like the natural scent of gerbils  I never smelled that. If I stuffed a gerbil up my. . . nose I don't think I'd smell anything, other than a very slight hint of the bedding. I will be doing a lot of sniffing tonight, but maybe not: getting a slight stuffiness (hopefully not the first signs of some malady). |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Jan 14, 2004 21:06:40 GMT -4
I clean Sophie's 2 cages, her CT1 & her CT2. It takes me about a good hour or hour-an-a-half. She rolls around in her ball or the car I got her. I'll put in a different toy each week. I try to do her cage on a Monday, but if I can't then a Tuesday. Rarely will I do her cage later then a Tuesday.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 14, 2004 22:37:56 GMT -4
On average, moving quickly, I spend about 20-25 minutes per tank/cage/bin. Considering I have 19, and 3 play bins, it keeps me busy. Whew.
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] thankfully he only pees and poops in on part [and mostly pees in his "toilet" so that gets cleaned out everyday], so that part gets properly washed weekly with hot water and given a good scrub. The rest of it is sprayed and wiped down with [petsafe] antibacterial spray every 2 weeks. The whole thing is soaked and scrubbed once a month 
