How do you properly sanitize your snake's enclosures?

I have no clue how to properly sanitize my snakes tubs. I usually just stick the tub in the shower and give it a really hot spray down, but depending on the snake's "mess" hot water does not get rid of the smell. You always hear about the risks of using chemicals like bleach or eco clean. I tried the vinegar route but it stinks and using paper towel as a substrate does not mask the smell like aspen or cypress would. F10-SC is stupid expensive. What do you guys use that is safe and efficient?

I'm using the detergent form of F10 and its been working pretty well for me. I don't even rinse mine out as long as theres enough time to dry. I've been using it between my SO and I (we both have snakes) and it comes out to like 2-3 dollars per bottle of product we mix. Mind you, each bottle lasts like 3-4 months at a time so I think it's well worth the investment.

I usually use hot water and soap and scrub the tank lining.
This article may help, though.
http://www.anapsid.org/cleaning.html

I use F10SC. I don't use it for cleaning, I also take my larger snake tubs into the bathtub and use mild dish soap and water for general cleaning. The F10SC is used afterward, a light misting is all that's required as an antiseptic/disinfectant. I bought a 100 ml bottle a year ago and I'm still using it.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I use F10SC. I don't use it for cleaning, I also take my larger snake tubs into the bathtub and use mild dish soap and water for general cleaning. The F10SC is used afterward, a light misting is all that's required as an antiseptic/disinfectant. I bought a 100 ml bottle a year ago and I'm still using it.

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The problem here with F10 SC is I have no choice but to make a vet appointment to get it which is like $100 in itself then $37 for 100ml and I cannot ship it from another country.

http://www.winnipegreptiles.com/index.asp has F10 SC and SCXD.

So does Cornel's World in Calgary. http://cornelsworld.com/product-category/cleaning/

I generally use antibacterial hand soap and warm water when cleaning cages and water bowls. When I do heavy cleaning I have used a bleach/water mix.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

I generally use antibacterial hand soap and warm water when cleaning cages and water bowls. When I do heavy cleaning I have used a bleach/water mix.

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This is exactly what I do.

I shop on Healthykin.com and they have a wide array of reasonably priced medical supplies. Actually more than reasonably it's economically priced. They have a product called CAVICIDE which is comparable to F10SC but much more affordable. It's a surface disinfectant decontaminant cleaner that is bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal as well as tuberculocidal! Spray on and wipe off then rinse. I haven't had any sick animals for years. Just my experience and my opinion only. It works for me. :gj: Healthykin.com

If you have the time available, and your machine is large enough, a dishwasher with no soap or rinse agent would also work. the water gets hot enough to saturate everything with steam, effectively sterilizing it. Works great for beer and wine bottles for home brewing. I have bottles filled 10 years ago that are still good to go when opened.
This might only be effective for water bowls/hides/decorations though, since they easily fit in the average dish washer.

Funny that you mention homebrewing. I wash with warm soapy (liguid antibacterial soap) water, rinse, then hit it with starSan - at least 30 secs contact time, then rinse with warm water and dry.

I've been using listerine for the last few months.

I use regular hand soap and dish soap... Which ever there is more of in the house at that time.

I use Chlorhexadine which I get from Reptile Basics but they also sell F10SC if you want that as well.

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Originally Posted by steve2md

If you have the time available, and your machine is large enough, a dishwasher with no soap or rinse agent would also work. the water gets hot enough to saturate everything with steam, effectively sterilizing it. Works great for beer and wine bottles for home brewing. I have bottles filled 10 years ago that are still good to go when opened.
This might only be effective for water bowls/hides/decorations though, since they easily fit in the average dish washer.

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Just be careful what you put in there. I use PVC caps for my midsize tubs as water bowls and the dishwasher turned my round caps into oval caps. :D

yep, top rack is best for plastics since it's farther from the heating element. Still, some can't handle the temps in a dishwasher...

Hahaha, I do not have a dish washer anyway. Wish I did. I found someone here who sell f10 SC but it is still quite expensive in my opinion. Think I might do the dish soap thing.

What is the general opinion on using bleach? I've used a diluted solution with no ill effects but just curious if anyone has had any bad experiences using a bleach solution.

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Originally Posted by piedpipper

What is the general opinion on using bleach? I've used a diluted solution with no ill effects but just curious if anyone has had any bad experiences using a bleach solution.

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I used diluted bleach for over a year, I think I was doing 1:10, but recently I switched to simple green.

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Originally Posted by Tsanford

I used diluted bleach for over a year, I think I was doing 1:10, but recently I switched to simple green.

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Work well? I need something cheaper than Nature's Chemistry 😆 just wanna know it's safe!

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

I switched from bleach/water to F10 because it doesn't require rinsing. But I will go down my methods for both. My little girl is in a 20gal long until I get a rack. And I have finally gotten everything honed in perfect so there's no issues, even though it is an aquarium. Anywho

With bleach I would empty the bedding into the trash, set the tank in my bathtub on its side, so the top was on the side. Put some hot water in the tub, add bleach. Scrub out tank really good. Drain tub. Make sure to rinse it like 30 billion times, every corner and angle. Set it in front of a fan to dry out after wiping out most of the moisture. After dry, reassemble tank. I did the same thing with her hides and bowl.

With the f10, I mix like... 2 ounces with a gallon of water. I then put some in a spray bottle. I scooped the bedding into the trash and vacuum it out really good. Spray it really well with my mix, same for the hides and bowl. Let it sit for 10 min. Scrub hides and bowl (too many crevices). Rinse hides and bowl well, let dry completely in front of fan. Wipe out tank and let dry completely. Reassemble tank.

The big difference to me was that with the F10 I did not have to relocate my tank to the bathroom to clean it. Which for little me is kinda big to move solo once a month or more. That and the amount of cleaner I got for the price with the F10, these were my reasons to switch.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Work well? I need something cheaper than Nature's Chemistry 😆 just wanna know it's safe!

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

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I like simple green because it's cheap, comes with its own spray bottle that doesn't clog, it lasts forever if you follow the correct dilution rate. I trust it because it says eco friendly and biodegradable on the bottle. Also I think pitontheprowl also uses it ha.

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Originally Posted by Tsanford

I like simple green because it's cheap, comes with its own spray bottle that doesn't clog, it lasts forever if you follow the correct dilution rate. I trust it because it says eco friendly and biodegradable on the bottle. Also I think pitontheprowl also uses it ha.

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Can you find it at grocery stores?

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

I use dawn dishwashing soap and a scrub brush to clean, chlorhexidine to sanitize.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Can you find it at grocery stores?

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

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Home depot

I was told a mixture of weak hydrogen peroxide with 99% alcohol in a spray bottle works...not sure if this is correct so I've been washing with dish soap and water afterwards just in case. And then another wipe with just hot water on a paper towel, I'm really paranoid about leftover chemicals. I'm probably being too excessive but I'm nervous about using bleach and prefer something more natural.

I would use vinegar but the smell after is just tooooo gross!

I'm open to recommendations too :confusd:

I've used vinegar for decades and still do for some of the tougher jobs. It's handy for getting mineral deposits off water dishes if they're clay or glass. Roughly once a year I soak my dishes in vinegar and they come out looking brand new after a couple hours. It also has a strong odor that cuts through foul smells but also dissipates quickly after being used and wiped clean.