Air Freshners in Snake Room

[vangarret2000]

It's not like I leave poo in there for a week. I do spot cleans when it needs to be done. I just do a tub wash weekly.

I really think the carpet has a lot to do with the smell

Rereading you last post it makes it sound like you are just cleaning weekly, not cleaning up poop when it comes. This would be the reason why your room smells. Start cleaning up the day they poo and it won't smell so bad in the room.

I think this message is just you back peddling a little to try and change the fact you don't clean when needed. Remember this doesn't just make it smell it could also cause scale rot.

[M&NSnakeDen]

First off, I feel like I have to address that the "smell" isn't an overwhelming smell. I'm a nurse so maybe it's because of all the things I smell on shift, but my nose has become desensitized to any sort of poo. It doesn't bother me. The air fresher topic wasn't for my own purpose. I live with others who will go into the room and vacuum or put mail on my desk etc and it was one of them that brought up the idea of getting a spray because she can't handle smelling anything less than pleasant.

I'm well educated on health issues. I do full cleans weekly. ie) putting tubs in the bathtub. If it's been a week where most have only urinated, I will leave the washing until the next week. Maybe doing this weekly regardless may help with smell. Worth a try. I clean paper towels as needed. As I said earlier, they don't go in one day (obviously). There are times where I walk in every day smelling poo and there's times where some may not poo at all in a week.

You assume I was "backpeddling," possibly from poor wording? I'm not sure. I work with a local breeder who owns hundreds of snakes. I clean enclosures, I feed, I look after rat colonies. I have no problem taking a few minutes out of my day and cleaning poo when I see it. Admittedly I may not get to it until the next day depending on work (as I'm sure many other hobbyists can relate to) but I'd never let my animals sit in excrement for a week. None of them have ever had any health issues, especially scale rot. Thanks for that, though.

[Rob]

I don't think smell is an issue if you keep up on spot cleaning and what not. Im a candle freak so I have a bunch of candles in there.

[bcr229]

All right let's back up the truck a bit.

You mentioned that you have people who bring your mail to your room. So, can I assume that you're renting a place and you have roommates?

If you're renting, was the carpet and padding replaced when you moved in, and does your landlord permit (or has he ever permitted) pets, especially cats?

The problem may not be the snakes, it may just be the carpet (or even the subfloor), especially if a cat has ever lived there. I was recently researching steam cleaners as a way to sanitize my snake enclosures since I'm not fond of using chemicals, and many people reported that steam-cleaning their carpets really increased odors from cat urine. So, if you're trying to clean the carpet and it stays damp for a while, that could be what's creating the odor.

I don't think a simple air freshener will fix that problem, you need to look into the specific products that neutralize urine smells.

[M&NSnakeDen]

The house is actually my families place that they rent to us. The carpet upstairs is ancient brown shag lol. They did have cats and from what I've been told, their 2 dogs actually used to sleep in that room. They had an old couch in there that they let the dogs take over at night. When they had puppies, they designated an area with those puppy pads for training purposes so I'm thinking maybe it really IS because of the carpet and steam cleaning. I'm sure the puppies may not have always gotten it all on the puppy pads.

I have snakes in QT and the QT room has hardwood. There's little to no smell at all in there. Hmmm.

[NH93]

Definitely sounds like it's the carpet, not your snakes!

My only real suggestion, apart from dealing with the carpet somehow, would be to switch substrate. I know paper towel is much cheaper and easier but aspen or other mulches absorb odors and liquid much better.

It sounds to me like you clean your tanks just fine. Have you had a good whiff of the carpet, though? Like laid on the ground and inhaled?

All the best!

[grcforce327]

You can always take the "common sense" approach, and lay down thick clear plastic first, if using a room with carpet.

[M&NSnakeDen]

You can always take the "common sense" approach, and lay down thick clear plastic first, if using a room with carpet.

With the amount of crap that would need to be moved....no thanks.

[M&NSnakeDen]

Definitely sounds like it's the carpet, not your snakes!

My only real suggestion, apart from dealing with the carpet somehow, would be to switch substrate. I know paper towel is much cheaper and easier but aspen or other mulches absorb odors and liquid much better.

It sounds to me like you clean your tanks just fine. Have you had a good whiff of the carpet, though? Like laid on the ground and inhaled?

All the best!

I have contemplated switching substrates. Finding a good place is the hard part. Local places aren't very reputable. A few people I know have gotten white mites from wood chips or coconut husk substrate.

I'll be sure to lay down and take a good whiff of the carpet when I'm home from work later LOL.

[saiyan25]

Ordor eliminating lava rocks. Works wonders. You can find them in department stores or on amazon.