Can you really clean the cage items with rubbing alcohol?

In a sheet I read on this website, it said you could disinfect the cage items by using rubbing alcohol. Could I really do this when cage cleaning comes around?

And also, to scrub the water dishes, what should I use to disinfect the water dish and what not from the gross stuff that's always hangin' around in the water dish? What do I scrub the water dish with, and what disinfectant should I use to scrub it with? Would regular Dial Antibacterial hand soap work (not the bar, the liquid hand soap)? I really want my snakes and reptiles to have a clean environment that's bacteria-free so they do not get any sicknesses, so this is why I'm asking this. I would definitely devote my time to clean as much as I can daily to make sure the reptiles have a healthy environment.

Also, tomorrow I'll take a pic of one of my spray bottles (small) and I would want to know how much bleach I could put in there with water when cleaning time comes around. I do have JurassiClean, and it does work, so should I just use that up then just go over to using water and bleach?

I have never heard of anyone using rubbing alcohol, and do not think that it would be a good idea. I would worry that some may be left behind and the vapors would hurt the snake. I suggest using a 10% bleach solution to disinfect cage supplies.

I had someone post a reply to a cleaning question I had and they said that they soaked wooden items in rubbing alcohol and used a chlorhexadine solution for cleaning the other items and the cage. Rubbing alcohol should evaporate fairly quickly, just dont throw any items in the cage right after you clean them. I really like the chlorhexadine but if you use a bleach solution that concentrated make dang sure that you rinse the cage out with TONZ of water as the scent of bleach sticks around for a long while.

rubbing alcohol would be pretty expensive anyway. Bleach is the way to go if your trying to save a few bucks. Just make sure it is aired out

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Originally Posted by likebull1

rubbing alcohol would be pretty expensive anyway. Bleach is the way to go if your trying to save a few bucks. Just make sure it is aired out

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Rubbing Alcohol is like 99 cents for a big bottle (like 32oz if I had to guess). Not expensive at all. I use it to clean stuff that I cant talk about on this forum so I have alot of it in supply. I was hoping that the answer to the original posters question would be yes, kill two birds with one stone.

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Originally Posted by specialk01510

Rubbing Alcohol is like 99 cents for a big bottle (like 32oz if I had to guess). Not expensive at all. I use it to clean stuff that I cant talk about on this forum so I have alot of it in supply. I was hoping that the answer to the original posters question would be yes, kill two birds with one stone.

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Hmmmmm.... Stuff you cant talk about here :weirdface

I have no idea if it would be safe or not. I wouldn't want to guess and be wrong though.

All you have to do is say pour a gallon of water in a bucket. Then you find out what is 10% of a gallon, and you pour that much bleach into the water, mix it, and viola.

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Originally Posted by specialk01510

Rubbing Alcohol is like 99 cents for a big bottle (like 32oz if I had to guess). Not expensive at all. I use it to clean stuff that I cant talk about on this forum so I have alot of it in supply. I was hoping that the answer to the original posters question would be yes, kill two birds with one stone.

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I can get a gallon of bleach for $1.29 and i only have to ad %10 to the water, i can also clean "stuff" with bleach, like my clothes.

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Originally Posted by likebull1

I can get a gallon of bleach for $1.29 and i only have to ad %10 to the water, i can also clean "stuff" with bleach, like my clothes.

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tuche

I use rubbing alcohol all the time...

The active ingredient in those hand sanitizer gels is rubbing alcohol and I use that stuff all the time in my snake room. I don't see where it would be harmful for cleaning as long as you rinsed well afterwards.

one thing is Alcohol is highly flammable, so i think you should worry if ever those stuff come in contact with heat.

in order for alcohol to be a proper disinfectant, it must be left with the item for a certain time period. For ethyl alcohol, 20 minutes contact time is consider a proper disinfection period.

Disadvantage about this is, the alcohol will evaporate before the 20 minutes is up. another no is alcohol can attack and stain certain plastics.

Isopropyl alcohol isn't an effective disinfectant, its main use is for skin wipe to remove organic debris from the site of wound or injection.

one thing, you don't want your cages becoming TOO clean. a daily cleaning routine will tired you down. the old spot cleaning + weekly bedding + weekly tub wash is already a great cleaning regime.

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Originally Posted by EdShal

one thing, you don't want your cages becoming TOO clean. a daily cleaning routine will tired you down. the old spot cleaning + weekly bedding + weekly tub wash is already a great cleaning regime.

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I agree - if you try to keep everything sterile or as close to sterile as possible, then your animal never gets to build up his own natural resistance to things, and some bacteria is actually beneficial as opposed to detrimental.

Think about it - kids these days seem to get sick much easier with parents that are now so germaphobic. Not like when I was growing up and you packed a lunch to take with you up to the tree house to eat with your grimy hands from climbing trees and playing in the woods all day. :P

I fill the sink with hot water and use antibacterial soft soap and let my snake hide, water dish and other cage items soak for a while then wash like you’re doing dishes then rinse and dry. I also use the same soapy water to wash the inside of the cage.

To clean my tank and accesories I use an all natural multi-purpose cleaner made by shaklee. It works great and theres zero chemicals in it.

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Originally Posted by BPboy

To clean my tank and accesories I use an all natural multi-purpose cleaner made by shaklee...theres zero chemicals in it.

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*emphasis mine*

I highly doubt the bolded part... :P

Seriously though, all-natural doesn't necessarily mean safe for your snake. Isn't pine oil often used for natural cleaners?

Everything has chemicals...even the air we breath has chemicals.

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Originally Posted by soy.lor.n

*emphasis mine*

I highly doubt the bolded part... :P

Seriously though, all-natural doesn't necessarily mean safe for your snake. Isn't pine oil often used for natural cleaners?

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If i use it to clean my vegitables, then its safe :P lol. And i did do my research to make sure theres no pine oils in it. I find this works and i can see from this thread there are many other ways people clean their tanks that may be good to keep in mind in the future.

I'm confused....you're feeding your snake vegetables? Because if not, I don't see what's safe for you to use on vegetables is safe for your snake.

I mean, I'm sure your product is fine, and actually sounds similar to what I use for typical tank cleaning, I'm just sick of people thinking "all natural" means "safe for all living things"
Hemlock, after all, is all-natural

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I agree - if you try to keep everything sterile or as close to sterile as possible, then your animal never gets to build up his own natural resistance to things, and some bacteria is actually beneficial as opposed to detrimental.

Think about it - kids these days seem to get sick much easier with parents that are now so germaphobic. Not like when I was growing up and you packed a lunch to take with you up to the tree house to eat with your grimy hands from climbing trees and playing in the woods all day. :P

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EXACTLY. It bothers me when parents are constantly sterilizing their kids. With babies, I understand. Little kids need to be exposed to this stuff though!

That being said, I use good old soap and water :)

I put my cage items just in hot water for about 5-10 minutes. But when I clean the tank out I use this stuff called simple green its non-toxic, biodegradable, non-hazardous, non-flammable, non-corrosive. Works great!

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Originally Posted by specialk01510

I use it to clean stuff that I cant talk about on this forum so I have alot of it in supply.

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hmmmm.... lol

Would it be alright if I scrub my water dishes with warm water and antibacterial soap every 7 days? I would like to do it tomorrow since that day it's feeding day and I would like the reptiles to have a clean water dish.

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

Would it be alright if I scrub my water dishes with warm water and antibacterial soap every 7 days? I would like to do it tomorrow since that day it's feeding day and I would like the reptiles to have a clean water dish.

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Sure, nothing wrong with that. Might want to scrub it twice a week though. They can get kinda nasty.

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Originally Posted by stinker2009

I had someone post a reply to a cleaning question I had and they said that they soaked wooden items in rubbing alcohol and used a chlorhexadine solution for cleaning the other items and the cage. Rubbing alcohol should evaporate fairly quickly, just dont throw any items in the cage right after you clean them. I really like the chlorhexadine but if you use a bleach solution that concentrated make dang sure that you rinse the cage out with TONZ of water as the scent of bleach sticks around for a long while.

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That was me. I use Isopropyl Alcohol. Not the colored or scented kind. I spray the wooden stuff down first and it airs out while I clean everything else. When I get done I sniff the items and if I can still smell the alcohol, I use a blow dryer to evaporate it...


Rob

to be honest mlove,

This is what i use and i hae found to work the best for me

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752625

I use to use the rubbing alcohol monthly for years to disinfect cages. Weekly with the quarantine unit. I switched to bleach after I heard that bleach has anti-viral properties that the ole 70% isopropyl didnt. Other than that there was no reason for the switch. the trick with either is that you have to rinse it really really really outrageously well. And alot of time I had a spare tub laying around so I could let the cleaned one dry over night. (Ive heard you can use a low setting blow dryer to dry them out faster but never needed to so I never tried it.) Ive never had problems with either save that the bleach does seem to tint some things a milky white over time.. But with the snakes you should be fine as long as you rinse really well and let dry completely (no fumes- no suds). Commercial reptile cage cleaners do have the benefit of being safety tested supposedly... but i picked up some hand sanitizer to compare and noticed the ingredients were almost the same in the same order even.... so if you ask me, theyre not worth the price tag. Just my two cents.

its not really needed.
ppl we are talking about cleaning snakes bins not cleaning a genetics lab!
not to mention that most products are an absolute waste of $.
i have to ask when was the last time anyone disinfected their dishes and those we eat off of

chlorhexadine AKA nolvasan Is the best bang for your buck, If you want to be safe that is. it only takes one to two squirts per tub and it will disinfect it. Vets use it, Its perfectly harmless you could drink it and be fine... Although I suggest you don't. And its organic... Check it.

http://www.petvetsupply.com/dismfra001.html You can find it cheaper at feed stores like tractor supply.

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Originally Posted by cornball252

chlorhexadine AKA nolvasan Is the best bang for your buck, If you want to be safe that is. it only takes one to two squirts per tub and it will disinfect it. Vets use it, Its perfectly harmless you could drink it and be fine... Although I suggest you don't. And its organic... Check it.

http://www.petvetsupply.com/dismfra001.html You can find it cheaper at feed stores like tractor supply.

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are you sure about that?
nolvasan is chlorhexidine diacetate which is toxic here is the msds on it https://www.accessbutler.com/msdsimages/A0000558.pdf

now chlorhexidine gluconate http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Chlo...lution-9923401

What do you guys use for the screens for those who have them?

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Originally Posted by nixer

are you sure about that?
nolvasan is chlorhexidine diacetate which is toxic here is the msds on it https://www.accessbutler.com/msdsimages/A0000558.pdf

now chlorhexidine gluconate http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Chlo...lution-9923401

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hahahaha! bp forum is the last place i expected to have to read MSDS sheets. ochem is taking over my entire life!!:weirdface

http://www.everythingreptile.org/tan...infecting.html Found this bit of a explanation of different products for reptile tank cleaning.