[JTP3T3RS0N]

sorry if this is in wrong forum, couldnt decide which forum was appropriate.

well im probably going to clean the cage out tomorrow and i was wondering how often do you fully wash your whole cage and how often do you just take out the hammocks, litter, bedding, etc. and wash/change them? Because I dont want to clean the cage more than i have to or not enough.

Thanks.

 

[Forensic]

I spot clean daily and full clean once a week.

 

[twitch]

for me, there's three types of cleaning. there's spot cleaning- cleaning up little poops when you see them and wiping down the levels with a baby wipe of damp cloth to get rid of the urine and sometimes rearranging fabric back to where they need to be. then there's full cleaning- taking out the fabric to be washed and changing the litter and giving the bars a quick wipe with a baby wipe or damp cloth. finally there's deep cleaning- taking all toys out and scrubing them, giving the cage and tray a thorough and hard scrubbing (which can be done many ways, personally i prefer the do-it-yourself car washes).

a spot cleaning is done sometimes several times a day (depending on how messy your rats are).

a full cleaning should be done at least once a week and sometimes more depending on your cage setup and the number of rats. in an adequate sized cage with good litter you shouldn't have to do it more then once a week, but aqaurims should be cleaned fully at least twice a week and deep cleaned once a week.

a deep clean for a cage should be done about once a month though its not uncommon to let it go over the winter months if your cage is too large to fit in the tub at home. but partial deep cleaning with the thorough washing of all plastic toys and as best a scrub as you can give the bars should still be done about once a month.

these of course are just general standards. if you can smell an odor then its time to clean. cause if you can smell it then the rats can really smell it and it could damage their lungs. also everyone will have their own routine because nearly everyone has a slightly different setup, again these are merely good guidelines to try to go by.

 

[DonnaK]

Like Twitch says, I think it depends on your set up and your rats, really.

I wipe down the platforms and clear food debris each morning, then watch throughout the day for any puddles that need mopping up. I use paper towels to soak up then unscented baby wipes to clean.

I take the cage apart and scrub it all in the bath tub once a week. I use an unscented laundry detergent, scrubbing brush and hot water. I generally scrub it a bit to get it all wet, leave it to soak for 10-15 minutes, then give it a real good scrubbing, rinse and dry.

I replace the hammocks generally once a week. If they start to smell sooner, then I'll swap them out. I always have a clean spare to hand.

I also use paper towels to line hammocks - just seems to be our rats' preference. These get changed as soon as they start to go discoloured - usually about every other day.