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.