How to: disinfect branch and vine for enclosure?

[ShaleneRafuse]

I noticed my ball's enclosure had a funk to it, so I cleaned it out real good, changed paper and whatnot, but the smell is still there. So I just started smelling everything in the enclosure seperately. Keep in mind, I have a super bloodhound nose. The large drift wood and vine is what smells. I removed it, incase it has bacteria growing. My question is... is there any special way to really do a great job at disinfecting it? Some sort of solution or special homemade mixture? I was told to baked it at 350 degrees for a good hour or more, initially. It only resently started smelling. Or should I just remove it all together? Ferb really likes it and I'd hate to take it from him.
Thanks for any help!

[rperry03]

Humidity high?

[mestapho]

Boil them.

If the wood is to big to boil and the vine would be ruined I would soak them in a solution of 1 cup of household bleach (generic unscented plain bleach) to 1 gallon of water. Let them soak a for 10-15 minutes rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse.

Also might want to think about switching to fake driftwood. They make some pretty good stuff now. Much easier to keep clean.

[mpkeelee]

in the oven at 350 for about 10-15 minutes should kill all the bacteria and you should be good. dont burn the house down.

this is the problem with decorative enclosures. if you dont keep them clean it can lead to some serious health issues with the snake

[ShaleneRafuse]

Thanks everyone! Turns out it was the vine that was the problem. I threw it away and cleaned the drift wood with bleach and boiling hot water, now its just baking for a bit. Thanks again!!!

[bp-guy]

i bought a grape vine that was sandblasted from a pet store, and it too is kinda smelly funky ill bake it for 15 min.