it might be my imagination.. and perhaps its the smell of the cage that makes me *think* the snake itself smells lol, either way its always made me feel better to wash them. i dont soak them in anything.. i get them wet with warm water and use one squirt (those of you with johnson/johnson soap know how little that is) and rub it all over their body creating minimal suds and paying close attention not to get it near their face/eyes i rinse them off and thats it. it gives me a chance to really look them over well too. Ive never had any problems doing it.. they dont try to get away or anything and they dont ball up on me either. just kinda relax and let me do my thing.