rack and smells

[kitedemon]

Ok to start with it is a long story so I'll just cut it short. I have just adopted/rescued 8 balls and a rack. I have been keeping mine in enclosures for years and have had no problems or issues. The rack is a bit of a new experience for me.

I have the temps under control and the humidity also. (The rack is a plastic professionally made one I think anyway) The trouble is the tubs they stink. I have scrubbed them soaked them left baking soda in them for 4 days and they still stink. I want to replace them with new ones… but… RubberMaid #2221s are discontinued and I have yet to find one that is not too tall. So the first question is does anyone know of a tub that is the same or shorter height of the 2221s ?

Second question is has anyone made tubs out of HDPE and Plexiglas ? I have been thinking that is the best alternative or is there some magic cleaning method I missed? (vinegar, iodine soap, baking soda, chlorhexidine, and Bactistat soap I have tried…)

[WingedWolfPsion]

10% bleach solution left on for 5 minutes and then rinsed is what I use--I have definitely not noticed the tubs retaining any odor after that.

[kitedemon]

I'll try that! Thanks, I don't know how well they were cleaned before I got them they just reek now! I am quite sensitive to bleach myself so I don't have any in the house but I'll pick a bit up and try it.
Alex

[Vypyrz]

I use Chlorhexidine to clean my tubs, then I use this stuff called Healthy Habitat that helps eliminate odors. I got it from Reptile Basics...

http://www.reptilebasics.com/healthy-habitat-24oz.html

[kitedemon]

I have tried bleach it is a touch better but not that much a toss up with the chlorohexidine. I have never tried healthy habitat I'll look in to it.Thanks for the tip. I am guessing that getting old urine smell out of old second hand rubbermaid is not going to be possible.

I am going to look into replacing the silly things, I guess that means making some as I can't find any that will fit.

[Vypyrz]

I am going to look into replacing the silly things, I guess that means making some as I can't find any that will fit.

If you want to replace them, you might try checking this website to see if they have a suitable replacement...

http://www.reptiletubs.com/

[kitedemon]

Vypyrz,
Great site thanks for the link... almost but not quite...

[steveboos]

Yeah i would figure soaking them in a bleach solution would get rid of any smells. Just soak them for a while and they should be nice and clean afterward!

[kitedemon]

I tried soaking in bleach it helped some and I use chlorohexidine soap and spray on them but I managed to find healthy habitat. WOW so they stunk after soaking bleach chlorohexidine scrubbing with iodine soap and after chlorohexidine soap. I sprayed Healthy Habitat I was quite amazed after it dried there was almost no small I re-washe them this week just normally nothing over the top and re applied the HH and well the substrate over powers the smell of the tubs it is amazing. I went from smelling the rack when I came home to not smelling it at even when pulling out a tub. Thank You for solving my problem!
Alex