Treat bedding with baking soda

Man what a difference! Really helps with the smell. What are your guys thoughts I put about a 1/2 cup in a bag with the substrate and shake it up. Is this going to harm my rats saw this technique on the internet somewhere.

It is safe to use.

We have been using baking soda for a couple weeks now and I believe it is making a difference. We put the baking soda on the bottom of the tub and then put bedding on top of it. Our next step is to try vinegar in the water. I have been told this will help with the ammonia smell. Anyone have any info to share on this? Thanks

no need to mix it in the bedding...

lightly coat the bottom of the tub then add the bedding. I did it for years.

The additives to the water works "ok" at best. I wouldn't use it on a auto water system...

I use water bottles and add one 8oz bottle of vanilla to my water jug that I keep out in the shed. It sure saves the walking back and forth:rofl:
7 gallons lasts almost a week and the vanilla does make a difference:gj:

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Originally Posted by suzuki4life

The additives to the water works "ok" at best. I wouldn't use it on a auto water system...

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Why not with an auto water system? Thanks

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Originally Posted by Infirmary

Why not with an auto water system? Thanks

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I wouldnt use the vanilla with a system because it leaves behind residue, almost like a brown skin but it takes some time.

it leaves residue as said and it attracts and fuels bacteria growth. That includes the usage of vanilla.

Thanks guys some great replies Im going to put it on the bottom of the tub for now. Im content with what the baking soda is doing but i may try the vanilla technique also. I have heard that food makes a difference also i have read that using dog food gives a worse smell than food ment for rats.

Personally, if I can smell ammonia, I know I should have cleaned the tubs long ago...

I can smell ammonia sometimes if I stick my head like, RIGHT over top of the pee corner and inhale deeply, but other than that I don't really let it get to a point of the ammonia being a problem whatsoever

I live in a apartment and there in a closet that has no ventilation so yeah you smell them after a short while i use to have to change the bedding every 3 days but now it can go a week. I always change the bedding right before feeding gets them going!

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Originally Posted by SquamishSerpents

Personally, if I can smell ammonia, I know I should have cleaned the tubs long ago...

I can smell ammonia sometimes if I stick my head like, RIGHT over top of the pee corner and inhale deeply, but other than that I don't really let it get to a point of the ammonia being a problem whatsoever

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x2 to ^. Mine smell like, well...animals, lol! They have that warm animal smell to them and occasionally you can smell the waste but otherwise I don't let the tubs get to the point of being nasty enough to smell. I mix kiln-dried pine pellets in with the aspen bedding on my tubs and it keeps them fresh for a week to ten days or so, depending on how many are in each tub, except for the tubs with litters or pregnant moms, as the dust from the pellets breaking down has caused some issues with the pinks before. I haven't tried the baking soda yet...I'll look at the bulk availability/pricing next time I'm out and check the cost compared to the dried pine pellets. Thanks for the idea and glad to hear it works.

We also use mint leaves when we have them. We dehydrate them in the summer, then bag them. Whatever we don't use in a few months we add to the bedding - it is safe for the rats should they nibble on it, and it smells great.

This year we are planting Apple Mint too so we'll see if there is any difference than the Spearmint.

Thanks for all the ideas. I have the rats inside and smell hasn't been a problem yet, but I can see how the males in particular get a musky scent around them.

I You use Vanilla you have to use pure kind not the fake one. To be honest if you get yourself in a routine to clean you will never have smelling issues. I have over 200 females alone going and every Tuesday they get clean without issues. The smell is coming from the males due to them marking there grounds. Another reason the smell gets bad is if you have to many rats in one tub. We keep a 4:1 ratio pulling the weaned out as fast as possiable to give the mommas a break and wait for the next litter and also helps keep the smell down as well. I never need to spend the extra money to buy vanilla and Baking powered the idea was to breed rodents to save money not spend more....

I don't keep rats so this is passed along from a friend of mine. He gives a sprig of rosemary to the rats. It is good for them, and it smells nice. I can attest to the smell of his rodent room is clean smelling with the hint of rosemary under it. He lives in a hot climate where he grows a hedge of rosemary so there is anyways a large supply of it.

I have a question a related hijack. Does any one use the mesh bottom caging like labs use. There is just a tray to catch waste under the cage. I don't know if it bothers rats or not but I was just curious.