Safe way to eliminate lingering odors?

[Kinstrome]

Sometimes when I clean a mess out of my BP and BCI enclosures, there is a lingering odor for a little while, even when it appears quite clean. I don't know how much it actually affects the snakes, but I've seen a snake do what I believe was vomiting once, and I dont ever want to put them through that.

I don't want to put some chemical like Febreze in that they may be sensitive to, so is there any kind of substance that can just sort of absorb an odor without releasing anything harmful?

Or else, is it okay for a little odor to linger? I don't know how airborne odors work, so I don't know how much the snakes smell in their hide.

[nikkubus]

It's okay for the odor to linger a little bit. It doesn't bother them the way it does us. You could put a box of baking soda near the enclosure if it bothers you, but I wouldn't use any kind of spray, and I wouldn't put baking soda in the enclosure.

[KMG]

Is this just in the room or in the enclosure itself? When my Bloods go I can smell that easily in the room but I can never smell my Ball when it goes, not as far as making my snake room smell.

If you are talking about inside the enclosure it is my opinion if you still have a smell then something is not clean.




This is what I do to clean my PVC cages that I use newspaper as a liner.

When I clean I start by removing all the paper and large waste. Then I spray it down with bleach and let that sit a few minutes before I wipe it out.

After that I use Healthy Habitat and do the same as with the bleach.

To end I use my mister and spray anywhere the two other cleaners were sprayed and wipe everything up.

I let it dry completely before adding fresh paper and putting the snake back in.

Doing this I can not say I remember ever having a smell linger. I actually stick my head inside and make sure there is no smell of bleach or feces.





What are you doing?

[Bogertophis]

It's okay for the odor to linger a little bit. It doesn't bother them the way it does us. You could put a box of baking soda near the enclosure if it bothers you, but I wouldn't use any kind of spray, and I wouldn't put baking soda in the enclosure.

I agree with nikkubus ^ ^ ^ on this. Absolutely no Febreze or other chemicals to get rid of odors. Usually a good wipe down takes care of it anyway- it's only when you just do a quickie pick-up ("spot clean") that odors remain (& that's because there's some remaining contamination of substrate or enclosure itself).

[nikkubus]

I spot clean most of the time and there is a light smell, nothing too strong. I do a deep clean every 2-3 months or if they made a spectacular mess that gets all over the wall of the enclosure. I personally don't use bleach and prefer to use F10 for deep cleans because it's safer. Many people use bleach, but if you do you have to make absolutely sure you rinse it off well.

[Hugsplox]

I spot clean most of the time and there is a light smell, nothing too strong. I do a deep clean every 2-3 months or if they made a spectacular mess that gets all over the wall of the enclosure. I personally don't use bleach and prefer to use F10 for deep cleans because it's safer. Many people use bleach, but if you do you have to make absolutely sure you rinse it off well.

Same here, spot clean as needed and then every 2-3 months a deep clean with chlorhexidine. Never had an issue with a lingering smell, typically any smell that was in there airs out while I'm spot cleaning.

I did leave those boxes of baking soda out when I was keeping bearded dragons. Those guys let you know immediately that they pooped, but the snakes I've never had an outside the enclosure issue.

[Bogertophis]

...I did leave those boxes of baking soda out when I was keeping bearded dragons. Those guys let you know immediately that they pooped...

Boy, that's the truth! Dragon poo is almost lethal...

[dakski]

I use Healthy Habitat and love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Chemi...0-eeda4dea34d6

It is not a disinfectant so I clean with F10SC or diluted chlorhexidine solution first and then spray this. Odors gone. It's also totally natural and safe for reptiles. I do wipe it up after spraying though (I use paper substrate so I clean, then use this, and then put paper back down).

[Kinstrome]

A lot of helpful comments, thanks!

Before this thread, I just used a deep-water sprayer to clean cages.

I used a bleach spray and it did indeed eliminate any lingering foul odor. It also took a very long time for the bleach odor to dissipate, so I won't be able to use it after every single cleaning. But it's certainly an improvement!