I don't remember who it was, but I have to thank the person who said that they use unscented baby wipes for spot cleaning. These things are a life saver - they've cut down my cage cleaning dramatically!
When I introduced hammocks to their cages, the girls started using the platforms to pee, rather than go all the way to the bottom of the cage when they had just woken up. I clean out the cages once a week, but by the next day, they were starting to smell a bit. I would mop up any "puddles" that I saw, which did help, but it didn't solve the problem. I was having to take the platforms out every few days to scrub them clean.
Now, when I've fed the rats, I go around all the platforms and wipe them down with a baby wipe, while they're busy eating. I haven't had to do a mid week scrubbing ever since. It's great! Also, the rats don't seem to mind - it doesn't make them sneeze and they don't try to lick it or anything. In fact, they seem to be creating less puddles, now.
When I introduced hammocks to their cages, the girls started using the platforms to pee, rather than go all the way to the bottom of the cage when they had just woken up. I clean out the cages once a week, but by the next day, they were starting to smell a bit. I would mop up any "puddles" that I saw, which did help, but it didn't solve the problem. I was having to take the platforms out every few days to scrub them clean.
Now, when I've fed the rats, I go around all the platforms and wipe them down with a baby wipe, while they're busy eating. I haven't had to do a mid week scrubbing ever since. It's great! Also, the rats don't seem to mind - it doesn't make them sneeze and they don't try to lick it or anything. In fact, they seem to be creating less puddles, now.