Most time-efficient method/system for cleaning Sterilite tubs?

I'm a very pragmatic person, and as my collection has grown to over 30 specimens (with babies on the way), I've been trying different methods of cleaning the sterilite tubs for my collection. As a full time doc student, I'm really looking for the most time efficient manner of cleaning the tubs.

My goal is to find the ultimate method! :soapbx:

Method 1: I was just bringing them to the bathtub once a week to clean them one by one with a sponge. With only 6 snakes, that was fine, but with more its too much of a pain.

Method 2: Bringing tubs out to the side of the house, pouring in dawn dish liquid, and spraying them with the water hose - using my thumb applied to the house to increase the water pressure for the more "difficult" corners lol. That was ok in the summer, but its not the best way in the cold winters. I don't like having cold wet feet and hands outside in December!

Method 3: The most recent method I tried was basically having triple the amount of necessary tubs, and switching them out as I need. Then, I went back to the first method and cleaning a bunch at once in the tub.

Method 4: The current method came to me after swinging by Sams Club and picking up some spray bottles for my F10 disinfectant. The 6 pack came with a spray bottle that would foam soap after squirting it out. At first I thought it was a waste of a bottle, but then the idea came to me. After changing a tub with a prepped tub (sterile and with newsprint or paper towels), I will take it out, put it on my worktable and spray it with the foaming squirt bottle containing a dawn solution. Then I scrub a bit with a sponge, and then place it aside. After finishing all the tubs in that manner, I will then go and rinse all of them off with my detachable shower head, return to the attached snake room and F10 everything. After about a half hour, I will use a terry cloth work towel and dry each tub before I place newsprint or paper towels in it, and then place that in a stack on a shelving unit in my snake room. From there, I can grab them as I need if a snake makes a big "accident", and place the tub aside to clean during the weekly cleaning. This method is a nice one because I can go as I need if I'm not bogged down with that pesky dissertation, or I can put them aside and catch up after a week or two.

I was wondering what some of the other breeders out there are doing when its time to clean all the tubs. Would anyone else mind sharing their method? Does anyone have an improved method that is more time-efficient? Whenever I have searched "best way to clean tubs," or something similar, I will often find posts about F10 or chlorhexidine solutions. I haven't found many posts of individuals explaining how the heck you clean all those tubs! Anyway, I'm looking forward to other ideas!!!

Why are you 'deep cleaning' each and every tub once a week? Aside from spot-cleaning as needed, I think most people only disinfect and clean everything once a month or so. If they mess their paper, pull them, change the paper and put them back in. Or switch to substrate and spot-clean.

1. Buy tubs without dips in the edges. Switch to Iris, Vision, etc.

2. Remove dirty paper, throw away.

3. Wash water bowl, wipe out any grimy bits (less grimy bits with flat bottomed tubs!)

4. Wipe dry, spray some Chlorhexadine, wait to dry.

5. Put new paper.

I agree that once a month is likely enough. There is an elephant in the room however, are you not doing the rack too? If you use lidded tubs this is a moot point. If you don't there is still a contact surface that also needs to be cleaned as well, the rack surface that the snake can contact. It is a bigger job than the tubs. I have been trying to figure out an efficient way to do that one. Due to the liquid I remove the flexwatt each month. It takes me most of a day. I can't imagine how people with larger collections do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Artemille

1. Buy tubs without dips in the edges. Switch to Iris, Vision, etc.

2. Remove dirty paper, throw away.

3. Wash water bowl, wipe out any grimy bits (less grimy bits with flat bottomed tubs!)

4. Wipe dry, spray some Chlorhexidine, wait to dry.

5. Put new paper.

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You have missed a step. The cleaning part, disinfectants are not cleaners. The surface must be completely washed with soap and water and washed off.
From the instructions...
4. Thoroughly clean all surfaces with soap or detergent and rinse with water.

http://datasheets.scbt.com/sc-359873_mfr.pdf

Clean when they go....instead of saving it all for one day, spread it out evenly over the course of a week. 30+ snakes only takes me on average 30 minutes a day.

I check the tubs every other day or so. When dirty, I clean everything out. I do not spot clean as I use paper towels as substrate. Chlorhexidine, properly diluted with water is what I use to clean everything out with. On Sundays, the water bowls get a bleach spray and then get put into the dish washer for a hot wash and thorough rinse. No other cleaning agents are necessary.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by j. cooper

I check the tubs every other day or so. When dirty, I clean everything out. I do not spot clean as I use paper towels as substrate. Chlorhexidine, properly diluted with water is what I use to clean everything out with. On Sundays, the water bowls get a bleach spray and then get put into the dish washer for a hot wash and thorough rinse. No other cleaning agents are necessary.

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Chlorhexidine is deactivated by any organic matter. Failure to properly clean with soap and water and rinse completely after makes the disinfectant useless. Incorrect use of disinfectants creates resistant bacteria and virus.

From the instructions
1. Remove all animals and feed from premises, vehicles and other equipment.
2. Remove all litter and manure from floors, walls and surfaces of barns, pens, stalls, chutes and other facilities and
fixtures occupied or traversed by animals.
3. Empty all troughs, racks and other feeding and watering appliances.
4. Thoroughly clean all surfaces with soap or detergent and rinse with water.
5. Saturate all surfaces with the recommended disinfecting solution for a period of 10 minutes.
...

Step 4 cannot be skipped just because it takes more effort.

Complete instructions, take a moment and read them contact the tech support people if there are questions. Save future problems for everyone and follow the instructions of the manufacturer!
http://datasheets.scbt.com/sc-359873_mfr.pdf


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Anytime my snakes relieve themselves I:

1. Empty the tub completely.
2. Wipe up anything in the tub I can with spraying
3. Spray the tub with Odoban and let sit for 5min (allows it to disinfect and soaks anything that dried to the tub so it can be wiped away)
4. Spend some quality time with the snake while I let the Odoban sit (IMPORTANT! ;))
5. Wipe down completely till all grossness is gone.
6. Change water, Odoban the bowl if needed.
7. Return everything to the tub, including the snake.

Then maybe once a month i do the scrub down. I use newspaper as a substrate which is why this works for me. with aspen or others this would be complicated and wasteful.

I do a full cleaning once a month with Dawn and Chlorhexidine. I go shelf by shelf, so 2-4 tubs at a time. I set up a tub of dilute Chlorhexidine solution.

1) Scrub each tub with Dawn in sink. Rinse.
2) Wipe down with sponge from Chlorhexidine solution. Let sit while repeating process with hides and water bowls.
3) Rinse tubs, water bowls, and hides.
4) Repeat until you are soaking wet and wondering why in the world you have so many animals.
5) Dry everything. Replace paper, water, and snake.

I, too, started with the bath tub method and that quickly became too difficult to and time consuming. I find the part that takes longest is drying everything. I haven't found anything more efficient for drying than just wiping down with a towel forever. With 23 tubs, it all takes me about 2 hours.

#.5 - Snake goes in locking holding tub
#1 - Remove old paper and water bowl (4" PCV cap that holds an 8oz deli cup)
#2 - Get any poo or urates out and in garbage
#3 - Spray tub and water bowl with a 1:500 diluation of F10SC
#4 - Take tub and water bowl to water hose in driveway
#5 - Hose off tub and water bowl good
#6 - Use Shamwow to dry out (mostly)
#7 - New paper/fresh 8oz deli cup if needed
#8 - Tub back in rack, snake back in tub repeat x 300

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

#6 - Use Shamwow to dry out (mostly)

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Well, ed just won. :D

ShamWOWWW!

The way I always did was by keeping one extra clean tub in each rack. Take snake out of its own tub set aside, grab clean tub and put substrate in with fresh water bowl, clean slot in rack, put snake and tub back in. Clean the dirty tub and move on to next snake. I also had double water bowls than I needed. When done all dirty bowls go in the dishwasher. For cleaning tubs and rack I used multiple buckets one with soap and water, one with bleach, one with straight water. Wash rinse sanitize.

Well, it's been said before, but apparently not enough people are paying attention to it. F10 SC is not a cleaner. If you do not clean the tub first, you're wasting your time.

Me:

-Put snakes into bags.
-Dump out all the coconut husk (I wear a mask when I do this, it can be dusty)
-Clean the tubs using lysol wipes
-let dry
-then I spray each tub with a F10sc solution (approx 8ml:1L of water)
-Let the F10 sit for 15 minutes
-Dry
-While I am doing this I also spray the rack with the same F10SC solution and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then I use a swiffer type of mop to dry the rack shelves top and bottom as best as I can. Then I let it dry (doesnt take long in the hot room).
-Put new husk in
-Put snakes back in

I spot clean daily, and do a proper clean (as above) once a month

I think it would be different for different people. I have a deep sink in my ballroom with a hose, so my method would be different than someone who has to carry their tubs to a different room. Also, my system for cleaning my ARS racks is different from cleaning my baby racks (which are three different brands). I've developed my own methods and my wife has her methods when she does the cleaning. When we work together, we use even a different method - splitting the jobs of washing, drying, cutting sheets for substrate, changing out the deli cup with fresh water, etc. I believe that it is easier to clean if you have a large group of extra tubs for your racks, regardless of method. I'm just thankful that I've got help with all of the cleaning! It can get to be a big job and it has to be done frequently.

I have a pretty large sink with a hose, which is very useful for washing tubs.

1. remove the snake
2. throw the newspaper with all crap & whatever the snake leaves behind
3. give the tub a good ol' wash, scrubbing with soap
4. wipe the outside of the tub with a towel (only the outside, I don't want the heat mat to get wet)
5. add newspaper n' water bowl
6. add snake

I don't have a ton of snakes so far, so this doesn't take me long. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

Well, it's been said before, but apparently not enough people are paying attention to it. F10 SC is not a cleaner. If you do not clean the tub first, you're wasting your time.

Me:

-Put snakes into bags.
-Dump out all the coconut husk (I wear a mask when I do this, it can be dusty)
-Clean the tubs using lysol wipes
-let dry
-then I spray each tub with a F10sc solution (approx 8ml:1L of water)
-Let the F10 sit for 15 minutes
-Dry
-While I am doing this I also spray the rack with the same F10SC solution and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then I use a swiffer type of mop to dry the rack shelves top and bottom as best as I can. Then I let it dry (doesnt take long in the hot room).
-Put new husk in
-Put snakes back in

I spot clean daily, and do a proper clean (as above) once a month

---

I guess I should have pointed out that I just started useing the F10SC as a once a month deep clean and just ordered some the the F10scxd to do a weekly clean.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I guess I should have pointed out that I just started useing the F10SC as a once a month deep clean and just ordered some the the F10scxd to do a weekly clean.

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F10scxd is great, you'll like it!

I have 12 snakes and 15 tubs. I switch out 3 for deep cleaning every week so each tub gets it once a month and you only have to clean thoroughly 3 each week and are not in a real hurry to get them back in since you have alternates.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

F10scxd is great, you'll like it!

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Boy were you right! That stuff is awesome. And it really gets the tubs really clean. I like the fact that it says it kills mold and mildew, which if you've ever had one with aspen go moldy on you you know what a nigh are that can be.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Boy were you right! That stuff is awesome. And it really gets the tubs really clean. I like the fact that it says it kills mold and mildew, which if you've ever had one with aspen go moldy on you you know what a nigh are that can be.

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Does it deodorize too?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by collrak

Does it deodorize too?

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I have had some tubs sitting around needing cleaning for a few weeks, they had wet paper and all that jazz in them..after a few sprays, scrub and rinse I can stick my nose to the plastic and on smell clean plastic..I've found my cleaner..My next order will be a gal of it..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I have had some tubs sitting around needing cleaning for a few weeks, they had wet paper and all that jazz in them..after a few sprays, scrub and rinse I can stick my nose to the plastic and on smell clean plastic..I've found my cleaner..My next order will be a gal of it..

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Nice. Thanks, i will buy some too.

I have two sets of tubs for every animal I own(usually more, but at least two per animal). I will just get my bedding in the new tubs, pull the animal out of the old tub, put the animal in the clean tub and slide it into the rack. then once all of the animals are in their clean tubs, I will go clean all of the dirty tubs....really easy and the most efficient method I have found. it is also nice if I do not have time to clean the dirty tubs right away...I know my animals are all in clean tubs and I can get to the dirty ones when I have time. I do the same thing with my water bowls...have more than one per animal and change these out as I clean.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

Well, it's been said before, but apparently not enough people are paying attention to it. F10 SC is not a cleaner. If you do not clean the tub first, you're wasting your time.

Me:

-Put snakes into bags.
-Dump out all the coconut husk (I wear a mask when I do this, it can be dusty)
-Clean the tubs using lysol wipes
-let dry
-then I spray each tub with a F10sc solution (approx 8ml:1L of water)
-Let the F10 sit for 15 minutes
-Dry
-While I am doing this I also spray the rack with the same F10SC solution and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then I use a swiffer type of mop to dry the rack shelves top and bottom as best as I can. Then I let it dry (doesnt take long in the hot room).
-Put new husk in
-Put snakes back in

I spot clean daily, and do a proper clean (as above) once a month

---

isn't lysol a disinfectant?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ladybugzcrunch

isn't lysol a disinfectant?

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It is , but I'm not sure how effective or safe it is for use with reptiles.

Regarding any smell... I bought a rack for hatchlings/juveniles a while back and the tubs that came with it smelled fainly "off" to me, almost like regurge. I ran the tubs through the dishwasher, and no more smell.

Step 1:

Rip out carpeting (if you have them) and lay down tile.

Step 2:

Get a plumber to plumb a wash station in one corner of the room.

Step 3:

Install a high-pressure spray nozzle in the wash station.

Step 4:

Install a chute that you can drop the big plastic bags of garbage down to and it goes straight into your trash bin ready for city pick-up.

Step 5:

Install a big screen TV on the wall and put a mini-fridge closeby with tons of beer.

Step 6:

Get one extra tub with all the accessories (water bowl, hides, newspaper, etc). Yes, just one.

Step 7:

On Saturday, find the channel that plays McGyver reruns. While watching one episode, grab a tub, remove the snake, inspect for visible health issues, wipe down the snake with wet paper towel and put into the extra tub. Wipe down the tope of that section of the rack with Clorox wipes and follow up with paper towel sprayed with F10 and put the tub into the rack. Throw the newspaper out of the old tub, put hides, water bowls, and tub in the sink. Spray with high-pressure nozzle. Put dawn soap on a sponge and quickly sponge out the hides, bowls, and tub. Then spray with disinfectant. Set aside. Grab a beer from the mini-fridge and enjoy a few gulps.

Repeat until McGyver is over and mark that spot you last cleaned. Next Saturday, repeat the process with the next tub you didn't get to last week.

:banana::banana::banana:

Okay, okay... I don't have a rack and I only have 6 snakes. I don't really know anything about how to clean those things. I just thought having a wash station in my snake room would be the awesomest thing ever. I already have the TV and the fridge. :D

Everyone is on wood shavings here (except the KSB and leos). I use a doggie poop bag to scoop out poop when I see it in there. I wash water dishes once a week (rarely do they poop in it). I just switched to the bedding two weeks ago from paper towels, and so far haven't needed to do any serious cleaning. My weirdo snakes crap in the same spot almost every time. :confusd:

What is the purpose of using a product like F10 over say, Clorox wipes? Does it have fumes? I can't use any cleaning product with fumes so I've been using Clorox wipes when I need to disinfect something (i.e. Kaboom, oven cleaner, any tub & tile spray, Lysol spray, etc., it makes me sick immediately). Generally though, I just clean my house with a spray bottle filled with water, vinegar, and a few drops of tea tree oil.