How Do You Clean Up

[Dave763]

Soap and water. Especially after I clean the rat racks.

[Aeries]

I use soap and water inbetween handling different snakes and after cleaning cages, but for two different reasons. I'm not worried about getting sick from the snakes, but I don't want them to pass anything between each other. For the cleaning poo it's for my own health, since I clean with my bare hands and paper towel.

I try to never use hand sanitizer unless its critical...you use that stuff and you kill all the good germs along with the bad, and therefore risk immunity.

[j_h_smith]

If I may say so, this has turned into a great thread quickly. Not only did I get the answers to my question, but I got the reasoning behind the answers. This is great stuff.

Jim Smith

[Seak]

If I'm just handling my snake I usually don't wash up after. That's like washing your hands after every time you pet your dog.

After cleaning the enclosure or feeding I use soap and water. I used hand sanitizer religiously a few years back and learned how that stuff can mess your hands up.

[BallsUnlimited]

Soap and water--if I can't get to the sink immediately, then hand sanitizer.

agree with this^^^

[jben]

If i'm cleaning the tubs after a poop then i wash with soap and water.

[saber2th]

Soap and water for the most part. Sometimes hand sanitizer, I keep the hand sanitizer next to the rack.

[severe_bomber]

Soap and water and/or hand sanatizer. Although having read some of the comments in this thread, I may scrap the hand sanatizer!

@ the people who have said they DON'T clean up after handling, I'm far from an expert, but I understand they can carry salmonella. Is this true or not, cause (call me a wimp) there's no way I'm risking that for the sake of washing my hands!

[A.VinczeBPs]

Soap and water and/or hand sanatizer. Although having read some of the comments in this thread, I may scrap the hand sanatizer!

@ the people who have said they DON'T clean up after handling, I'm far from an expert, but I understand they can carry salmonella. Is this true or not, cause (call me a wimp) there's no way I'm risking that for the sake of washing my hands!

They can be carriers, which is why I always wash my hands with soap and warm water. If I'm checking multiple snakes I use sanitizer in between until I finish, then do a wash and put cream on my hands to replace moisture.

To those who do nothing...to each their own, but I'm not much of a risk taker.

[rockhardchick666]

Soap and water, before and after. That includes all animals I come in contact with(yes, dogs too).

Fun tidbit about hand sanitizer - it only is fully effective if you have it on your hands (and wet) for somewhere between 1:30 - 2:00 minutes.