Question about cleaning cages

My big bp just shed last night and eh smeared his waste (yuck) all over his cage. I will be cleaning it today. I was wondering what kinds of solvents or soaps that you guys use to clean cages. I usually use really really dilluted bleach. Any other suggestions?

A lot of us use Chlorhexidine (Novalsan). It's a commercial product that isn't normally available in stores, but you can purchase it online.

Bleach is good, just make sure you rinse WELL. Other than that, just plain old soap and water/elbow grease will work fine. Soaking will usually remove even the most stubborn, stuck on gunk.

What is Chlorhexidine? Any particular reason you use it?

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Originally Posted by sourgirlmx

What is Chlorhexidine? Any particular reason you use it?

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It's a non-toxic disinfectant that is very herp-safe. Here's a link with a little more info.

Chlorhexidine is the way to go IMHO... I use it on all my reptile cages, in the bathroom (yes, I like a CLEAN and SANITARY bathroom), the kitchen and most any other cleaning that requires germs and stuff to be nixed. And yes, I go through lots of it a month, but it is well worth every dollar we put out for it, gives you some piece of mind so to speak.

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Originally Posted by sourgirlmx

What is Chlorhexidine? Any particular reason you use it?

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Chlorhexidine is a anti-microbial agent that is non-toxic and smells great! I've used it for about 2 years now and I love it! You can spray it on wipe it dry with a paper towel...no need for any rinsing or anything like that. Does a very good job at eliminating urates, fecal smears, etc...you still will want to clean and sanitize everything the old fashioned way (bleach, detergent, other) every so often, but cleaning with chlorhexidine widens the interval of which you'd have to do that serious cleaning.

I buy mine from my local Southern States as Nolvasan, its in the equestrian section and is listed as a surgical scrub for horses. Still the same stuff though, just super concentrated.

Chlorhexidine is great stuff. Also as Brad said... it does smell great - I love that clean smell it has!

I've been using "Healthy Habitat" easily found in pet stores, and failing that "Nature's Miracle". May need to look into this Chlorhexidine thing though!

quick one do you guys water down you chlorhexidine?? if so what ratio

I put about 2 oz per 16 oz bottle, so, 1:8 for me.

Now, the stuff I get is concetrated...thicker than shower gel...I've seen other brands of chlorhexidine that are a lot more watered down, so your mix may be different.

When you get it, you'll want to play with it to see how much you need to dilute it. You want it to get frothy but not leave a slimey residue after you wipe it off. Just takes a little trial and error, thats all.

yea I get it by the gallon and mix it 1oz to 1gal. or if I'm feeling real cleanly 2oz to 1gal..just wonder what everyone else does.

I have a big gallon bottle of concentrate. It lists 2 TBS (1 oz) per gallon. The dilution I actually use is what was recommended by pro exotics .5 oz for 24 oz spray bottle. That is about 3 times stronger than what the label lists ...

Neil

I use diluted bleach with a regular green scrubbie pad. If you let the pad sit in bleachy water though after-cleaning, it will disintegrate :) So I just let it air-dry. With bleach, I learned that you don't want to use too much, because it is a rip to rinse it fully.

I buy my gallons of chlorhexidine concentrate from www.valleyvet.com

I use it on everything, really.. Spraying myself down(including face and nasal passages, haha- MY SOUL IS CLEANSED!) when I have a rat in quarantine, irrigating abscesses to get the funk out, cleaning the snake cages/tubs, cleaning the rats' cages, spraying the rats themselves when they decide someone is better than someone else, etc.