by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: April 20, 2008

Cleaning a hamster cage doesn't have to be a really hard thing to do, and in fact those owners that find it too much of a task are usually those that leave the cleaning too long, resulting in the cage being excessively dirty.

If you establish a cleaning routine once a week, or twice if your hamsters are particularly messy, this really can be very easy indeed. In fact, encouraging your children to take part in the cleaning process as part of pet care really can be useful, not only to the pet but to the children, who at the same time learn the importance of respecting small animals and caring for them.

There are different types of cages for hamsters and in an attempt to help understand the cleaning process, these have been broken down into different sections, although the basic tools you will need for all of these cages are these :

*Washing up brush
*Bowl or bucket of soapy water (mild detergent only)
*Paper towels
*Disposal bag
*Scoop
*A cloth
*Small amount of vinegar
*Fresh bedding
*Deep container

Now let's look at the different types of hamster cages and how they should be cleaned. Although many people are tempted to use harsh products to get rid of odor, these are not advised, as the cleaning of the habitat should always respect the safety of the animal.

WIRE SIDED CAGES WITH PLASTIC BASE.

These are easiest to clean, and during the cleaning process, you will need to take the hamster out of the cage, and to place in a deep container that they cannot escape from. It is actually very handy to do the cleaning process with the children, since often they can entertain the hamster while the work on the cage is being done, making everything run smoothly and causing minimum trauma for your little friend.

Take out all toys and wheels, feeding bowls and water container, so that all is left is bedding and soiled items. Scoop these out with the scoop and put into the plastic disposal bag. Turn the bottom of the cage upside down to brush out the last of the soiled material. Then with hot soapy water wash the entire base and dry it with the paper towels. The metal area of the cage also needs washing although this is done effectively with a solution of vinegar and water. The vinegar and water solution is also used to clean all the toys and is not harmful to pets.

Wash out feeding bowl and also wash the bottle that contains their drinking water, including the nozzle which can become blocked. Test the nozzle with your finger, as a droplet of water should appear upon touch.

Replace bedding

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