Tub Cleaning? Cost Effective, Safe, Cleans And Disinfects.

I’m looking for a quick emergency deodorizer plus disinfectant in the event I run out of F10 or RBI has become out of stock. I mean I got a third of a bottle left wich will last me another gosh 8 months or better. I’ve heard white vinegar and water mix but see that as more of a deodorant for the tub/tank.
I won’t use bleach water as it can leave possible harmful stuff to the snake behind.
I have used peroxide to disinfect followed by 50/50 vinagar water mix for deodorizer.
Has anyone used rubbing alcohol? I know it is great for disinfectant but do you think it will leave a or could possibly leave something behind that can hurt the snake?
I like F10 just want to get everyone’s option, just Incase I need a quick fallback plan until a new shipment of F10 arrives


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Chlorhexidine solution is another option for sanitizing. It needs to be diluted to use, but it's cheap and effective.

You can get a gallon of 2% solution at a feed store or farm and ranch supply for $10 or so. Or you can get a small bottle of 4% solution at most drugstores or pharmacies for like $6.

The 2% solution, once diluted, is what a lot of veterinary offices use as a sanitizer. And the 4% solution is what's used by surgeons to scrub in for surgeries. Super powerful stuff, but very safe once diluted. And the gallon jug of 2% should last you a long long time.

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I'm a chlorhexidine fan for cleaning cages...very effective & inexpensive too. I use vinegar on water bowls (it removes hard water deposits & actually is a mild disinfectant
too). I've used F10 & Nolvasan (a pricier professional version of chlorhexidine) in the past, & for some things (feeding tongs etc) I use rubbing alcohol too. Isopropyl
alcohol will evaporate (disappear) just fine, not to worry...it's only irritating when wet, & can be used on most surfaces too. Bleach is my last resort & only for surfaces
like glass, that cannot absorb the stuff- and only for a potentially serious infection, which I'm happy to say is virtually 'never' around here.

Just wondering, how many snakes (or other herps) do you have? If only a few, a deodorizer/disinfectant is not really a huge "emergency"...the most important thing,
honestly, whether you're a nurse washing your hands or cleaning pet cages, is thorough washing with soap & water to remove all dirt & debris. Anyway, you have
plenty of options...:gj:

I use dish soap and it seems to have worked fine for me. In theory, dish soap is formulated to clean bacterium like salmonella off of items that may come into direct contact with our mouths making them safe enough to do so. I made this choice since I wondered about "no rinse" products leaving chemical residues behind and since my guys are in a relatively enclosed space I didn't like the idea of their lungs being exposed to too much if it's not necessary. In 5 years, and currently 17 snakes, so far so good...

Mild dish soap for cleaning, chlorhexidine for disinfecting.

I’ve used Isopropyl Alcohol when I get new tubs after I’ve washed them with antibacterial soap to insure they are sanitized. I will check out getting the chlorhexidine. How would you guys rate chlorhexidine as an Odor neutralizer?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by nightscavenger

I’ve used Isopropyl Alcohol when I get new tubs after I’ve washed them with antibacterial soap to insure they are sanitized. I will check out getting the chlorhexidine. How would you guys rate chlorhexidine as an Odor neutralizer?


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It's not designed to "neutralize odors"....and there's near-zero residue with which to do that anyway. I'd concentrate on clean cages, & if you want less odor in the area, use something in the room air, not in the cages. Snake poo is gonna smell, regardless of what you clean their cage with, & deodorizers used in cages may not be chemically safe for snakes. I can vouch for the minimal residue left by the use of well-diluted chlorhexidine, F10, dish soap, or even full-strength isopropyl alcohol (it evaporates fully)as safe (-and vinegar MUST be rinsed thoroughly, of course) but I would NOT assume "deodorizing" products in the cage will be harmless. There's a reason that poo stinks, it's a reminder to remove it. :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

It's not designed to "neutralize odors"....and there's near-zero residue with which to do that anyway. I'd concentrate on clean cages, & if you want less odor in the area, use something in the room air, not in the cages. Snake poo is gonna smell, regardless of what you clean their cage with, & deodorizers used in cages may not be chemically safe for snakes. I can vouch for the minimal residue left by the use of well-diluted chlorhexidine, F10, dish soap, or even full-strength isopropyl alcohol (it evaporates fully)as safe (-and vinegar MUST be rinsed thoroughly, of course) but I would NOT assume "deodorizing" products in the cage will be harmless. There's a reason that poo stinks, it's a reminder to remove it. :rolleyes:

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I’m locating some locals stores that may have the chlorhexidine in stock as I see it is highly favorited. As far as the smell, it’s doesn’t bother me. And yes I know if I smell it, one or more of the many I have has pood. As far as the deodorizing question it was more of general question if it deodorizes while cleans but i see it doesn’t wich is not a big deal. I by no means am wanting to spray nor rub deodorizer in the cages that is harmful I apologize if I made it sound that way.



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FYI, chlorhexidine is also a common ingredient in (human) mouthwash, & I can recall someone saying they just used mouthwash to clean their cages...:confusd:
But personally I don't want a minty-fresh or cinnamon-flavored pet, and I wouldn't assume the other ingredients are OK left in the cage...

I've bought chlorhexidine online*- from farm suppliers- and you should be able to find or order it thru your nearest feed store too, though they might only carry
it in gallon size jugs. *I bought a 16 oz. bottle "Durvet" brand. You can of course use it for household cleaning too, but a gallon will still take a LONG time to
use with the dilution rate for snakes, lol. Might even check with a pharmacy, but they might charge more for it?

I appreciate everyone's recommendations of other substances, but F10SC is available from Amazon, so why not just order more when you mix up your last bottle of it. It'll be at your house in two days.