chlorhexidine and tub maintenance question

[artgecko]

Hello everyone,
I have two somewhat related questions for you guys.

1. For those that use chlorhexidine, how often do you replace it with fresh solution (i.e. do you mix some every week, every cleaning, every month, etc.)? I bought a gallon jug, pump top, and the bottle to dilute it in. My problem is that with only 5 snakes and some geckos, I don't go through my diluted solution very fast and I am not sure how long it stays effective as a cleaning agent once mixed and exposed to light.

2. Do you do a complete clean out on your tubs every week / month, or just clean when they mess up their tubs? I've been removing waste / spraying chlorhexidine, and replacing paper towels / newspaper each time my BP goes (about once a week) so I am not sure if I need to break down the tub for a complete clean as well.

Thanks for your time / help!

[gardenfiend138]

I remember reading that the solution remains active for a week. I want to say the contact time required is 15 minutes. I have extra tubs, so whenever there's a mess I set up an extra tub with new towels. I wipe down the top of the rack interior for that tub slot with with the solution, and spray down any hides that may have had urine condense inside, and wipe down the bottom and sides of the water bowl. If there's any fecal matter or urates stuck on anything I swap it out so it can get washed. Assuming the tub doesn't have anything other the urine touching it, I spray it down, let it sit, wipe, and repeat. Then that tub goes in the pile to swap back out for a dirty cage, and wash the tubs every week.

[artgecko]

Thanks for your input! I will try changing out the solution once a week and attempt to make smaller batches since I will not be able to use a whole bottle at a time.

[MrLang]

It lasts for about a week. I mix about 1/3 of a bottle each time I clean since I also do not use it all.

Just a note on the chlorhex - it is anti-microbial but it is not a cleaning agent. You can render it fairly ineffective if you spray it directly on a contaminated area. Instead, you want to clean the tub first and use the chlorhexi afterwards to disinfect. I don't do that, but that's the way it's supposed to be done.

I do a full clean when I see the tubs messed and don't bother cleaning otherwise.

[Tarzan152]

Interesting. I never thought about it having a "shelf life" once its been diluted or it not being a cleaning agent. I learned something today. Thanks. I gotta change a few things in my end now..

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

[artgecko]

Thanks again for the input!
I typically wipe off the offending matter (with paper towels) then would spray the chlor. and let sit for a while and wipe off. I have also washed hides (soap and water) dried, then sprayed with it afterwards.

I remember reading somewhere that it touching organic matter renders it ineffective.