Cleaning and disinfecting/questions

Okay, so what do you guys use to clean and disinfect your snakes enclosures? I usually clean my ball pythons enclosures as needed and completely tear-down and disinfect once a month. Lately I've been using a 10% bleach mixture with water in a spray bottle to disinfect surfaced and place all decor in a tub of water with a dash of bleach. I rinse off everything but I worry about it a little. Yesterday, I rinsed everything I had in the tub and let it air dry. Then cleaning a tank I sprayed the bleach mixture, let it sit, wiped it off and then sprayed down with water and wiped off again. Is this safe? I have left my snake in the tank over night and she seems okay, I have her out right now to check on her. Her tongue is flicking normally and she's acting normal. I just didn't want anything effecting her... Or bleach residue. Let me know your thoughts! Thanks! P.s I let everything dry before placing my snake back into her enclosure.


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I use F10 .


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F10sc and f10sc-xd

I heard of people using bleach but f-10 is awesome. I keep a 1 Gallon bug sprayer full makes cleaning very easy.

Related- I've seen some people say using a diluted brown listerine solution is the same as F10? Is this true?

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Related- I've seen some people say using a diluted brown listerine solution is the same as F10? Is this true?

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I think I read somewhere that the compounds of pure listerine is okay for cleaning tanks or something.


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Dawn dishwashing liquid diluted to 25% with water. That mix gets a additional 5cc of Cavicide or F10sc in a 32 oz container.

I just scrub anything nasty with a brush and hot water and then fill up the tub with a weak bleach solution and soak the hides. I rinse well with uber hot water.

I've used bleach, windex and dawn. I recently started using f10scxd and I love it, I highly recommend it.:)

I use green soap. Quit using f10 when I couldnt use it fast enough before it expired or I would mix to much and not use it before shelf life expired.

I use anti microbial soap with bleach and 145-150 degree hot water.

Like Pit, F10 expires too soon for me.

The local reptile shop says, "Just use windex, it'll get things clean." I'm thinking it'll get them clean but not kill any nasty stuff...assuming there's nasty stuff. Watching your posts to find the most effective and commonly used cleaner....Thanks

My opinion is that if your place is a revolving door with new and strange animals coming into your place (think Vet's office), then F10 is a must.

If your place has the same reptiles and you follow proper quarantine procedures for new reptiles, then the other methods mentioned are fine.

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Originally Posted by BR8080

The local reptile shop says, "Just use windex, it'll get things clean." I'm thinking it'll get them clean but not kill any nasty stuff...assuming there's nasty stuff. Watching your posts to find the most effective and commonly used cleaner....Thanks

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My reasoning is that there is nothing that bleach wont kill and its wicked cheap. My enclosures don't ever stay dirty long enough for things to get really stuck on and crusty and even if they did, the bleach would do the job. It works for me and my current situation. It might be different if I had dozens of enclosures to clean regularly and couldn't be as on top of it as I can now.

I use a dilute solution of Chlorhexidine. You can get it on Amazon and I dilute it to about 20 mL in a quart of water. Since it's a concentrate it goes a very long way, it may even be cheaper than bleach LOL. I like it because it's safe enough to even use directly on the snake! I even spot clean with it and wipe it dry with a paper towel.

I've seen pro breeders use bleach on their grey tubs in their racks, it fades the tubs out and it looks really bad, none of the tubs match in color, looks like they all need to be replaced LOL. That's the main reason I stay away from bleach, plus I don't like to have any bleach residue left over, you never know how that could affect the snake.

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Originally Posted by cletus

I just scrub anything nasty with a brush and hot water and then fill up the tub with a weak bleach solution and soak the hides. I rinse well with uber hot water.

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I've read that bleach residue is salt. I have also read somewhere that salt is dangerous to snakes? I'm unsure. Might not use bleach in the future again cause of my anxiety.


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Originally Posted by Medduussa

I've read that bleach residue is salt. I have also read somewhere that salt is dangerous to snakes? I'm unsure. Might not use bleach in the future again cause of my anxiety.


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I've never experienced residue, which can be easily seen on tanks. Keep in mind, that Cletus and I use really hot water and rinse properly as well.

I use really hot water and a scrub brush to get poo/urates off of the water bowls and hides, and a diluted spray of Chlorhexadine to wipe down the tubs. I bought the bottle around March of last year when I had only one snake, I have 3 snakes now but I still have over 2/3 of the bottle left.

I go through a lot of Chlorhexidine, I use it for all my 20 snake tubs, my 20 rat tubs, and my 7 mouse aquariums. It has a faint chlorine smell, but disappears when you wash it out. I dilute it with water and spray it on heavy, then let it soak for 5-10 minutes, then use my pump up sprayer to spray it down with water. I like that it cuts right through the snake poo smells. I was actually thinking about going to a concentrated Lysol solution, but I'm worried about toxicity of left over residues. Keep in mind that even with Lysol you have to have sufficient contact time, you should let it soak for at least 5 minutes before washing it off, otherwise it's pretty ineffective.

I use wipeout 1 by zoomed, used to use diluted bleach and water.

just throwing my .02 into the ring, I use OdoBan for my rat and snake tubs, its great stuff and as long as you let it dry out doesn't have any ill effects for the animals.

I thought f10 was good for 6 months once mixed?

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I use green soap. Quit using f10 when I couldnt use it fast enough before it expired or I would mix to much and not use it before shelf life expired.

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According to rbi, f10 once diluted still lasts very, very long.

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

According to rbi, f10 once diluted still lasts very, very long.

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Concentrate is 4 years and sealed dilution is about 8 months.
Spot cleaning tubs daily and full cleaning every 6 to 8 weeks one spray bottle would last me about 6 or 7 months. (Wash tubs with soap and water, dry and then wipe with F10)
I can get about 20 spray bottles out of a 6.8 ounce bottle of F10 SC, not even half way through half a bottle by time the expiration date on the bottle comes around.
I just looked and found the one I thought I threw out when I cleaned out the top of the racks....... Expired March 2013 and its still 3/4 full.
You have to remember the 4 years starts from when they bottle it.
Plus we use green soap for other cleaning around the house so we go through it faster and I can get it local.


http://www.f10products.co.uk/ebooks/...ublication.pdf

BTW If I remember right every time I ordered they were already close to or just over a year old.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Concentrate is 4 years and sealed dilution is about 8 months.
Spot cleaning tubs daily and full cleaning every 6 to 8 weeks one spray bottle would last me about 6 or 7 months. (Wash tubs with soap and water, dry and then wipe with F10)
I can get about 20 spray bottles out of a 6.8 ounce bottle of F10 SC, not even half way through half a bottle by time the expiration date on the bottle comes around.
I just looked and found the one I thought I threw out when I cleaned out the top of the racks....... Expired March 2013 and its still 3/4 full.
You have to remember the 4 years starts from when they bottle it.
Plus we use green soap for other cleaning around the house so we go through it faster and I can get it local.


http://www.f10products.co.uk/ebooks/...ublication.pdf

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Does the same go for chlorhexidine or does that last forever? Would you rather chlorhexidine over f10?

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

Does the same go for chlorhexidine or does that last forever? Would you rather chlorhexidine over f10?

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From what I just found without taking too much time..... 1 year diluted and up to 5 years sealed if stored correctly.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Plus we use green soap for other cleaning around the house so we go through it faster and I can get it local.


http://www.f10products.co.uk/ebooks/...ublication.pdf

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What exactly is green soap? The tattoo stuff?

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

What exactly is green soap? The tattoo stuff?

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http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-green-soap-tincture.htm

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-green-soap-tincture.htm

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Aha thanks, maybe ill try it out. Whats your method of cleaning/disinfecting with it?

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

Aha thanks, maybe ill try it out. Whats your method of cleaning/disinfecting with it?

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Concentrate is 4 years and sealed dilution is about 8 months.
Spot cleaning tubs daily and full cleaning every 6 to 8 weeks one spray bottle would last me about 6 or 7 months. (Wash tubs with soap and water, dry and then wipe with F10)
I can get about 20 spray bottles out of a 6.8 ounce bottle of F10 SC, not even half way through half a bottle by time the expiration date on the bottle comes around.
I just looked and found the one I thought I threw out when I cleaned out the top of the racks....... Expired March 2013 and its still 3/4 full.
You have to remember the 4 years starts from when they bottle it.
Plus we use green soap for other cleaning around the house so we go through it faster and I can get it local.


http://www.f10products.co.uk/ebooks/...ublication.pdf

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Same process only with green soap instead.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Same process only with green soap instead.

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Is there expiration with green soap? Can it be mixed with water in a spray bottle and kept for awhile or will it become ineffective?

Just because F10 expires doesn't mean its no good, just not up to the standards that the company would stand behind. I use F10 enough not to worry about it expiring but if it did i would still find some use for it.

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Originally Posted by Ba11er

Just because F10 expires doesn't mean its no good, just not up to the standards that the company would stand behind. I use F10 enough not to worry about it expiring but if it did i would still find some use for it.

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Yeah , I was thinking that very same thing tbh ..

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Originally Posted by Ba11er

Just because F10 expires doesn't mean its no good, just not up to the standards that the company would stand behind. I use F10 enough not to worry about it expiring but if it did i would still find some use for it.

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I actually just did alittle research and according to f10 themselves f10 lasts many years AFTER expiration date, regardless of being diluted or not.

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

I actually just did alittle research and according to f10 themselves f10 lasts many years AFTER expiration date, regardless of being diluted or not.

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That being said, I personally use a product we use around our house more than f10. The great questions to ask them IF they really gave you that statement are How many mire years would they stand behind it and Why bother with a short expiration date??

I use F10.. I like the suddle "clean" Veterinary Disinfectant smell too... I kept watch on Amazon and finally found the 200ML (6.8oz) concentrate for $18+ 5 shipping so I bought 4 of those. Ive got years worth now hahaha. Its usually $32 for that size each.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

That being said, I personally use a product we use around our house more than f10. The great questions to ask them IF they really gave you that statement are How many mire years would they stand behind it and Why bother with a short expiration date??

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buddy all you have to do alittle research and you'll find the same info. Since you dont seem to believe me, here you go! http://buyf10.com/faq/

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

buddy all you have to do alittle research

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:rofl::rofl: Link I posted is from the producer not the vendor.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Concentrate is 4 years and sealed dilution is about 8 months.
Spot cleaning tubs daily and full cleaning every 6 to 8 weeks one spray bottle would last me about 6 or 7 months. (Wash tubs with soap and water, dry and then wipe with F10)
I can get about 20 spray bottles out of a 6.8 ounce bottle of F10 SC, not even half way through half a bottle by time the expiration date on the bottle comes around.
I just looked and found the one I thought I threw out when I cleaned out the top of the racks....... Expired March 2013 and its still 3/4 full.
You have to remember the 4 years starts from when they bottle it.
Plus we use green soap for other cleaning around the house so we go through it faster and I can get it local.


http://www.f10products.co.uk/ebooks/...ublication.pdf

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Well I never thought to look until I read this post Pit... I now realize the 600 Mls (3, 6.8oz bottles) I just bought Expire in 13 months (FEB 18)!! This is Nonsense. I just blew like $60 if I only use 1 bottle by next year. What the Heck.
I wonder if it is like Meds with a 1/2 life so that I can double the dose to use it after the experation. I go through 200ML a year as I clean the enclosures, Bowls and hides about twice a week along with my Dog kennel, Bowls ect...Im going to try and call the manufacturer and see.

The only reason I would ever order another f10 would be to nebulize.

I never would of bought 3 onsale if I new it would be a waste. I guess I should of thought and inquired first ...:confuzd:

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