Clean Pet cages
Cleaning your pet's cage is important for the health and comfort of the pet and it also will minimize the chance of you or other family members becoming infected by contact with pet waste or pest infestation. Cleaning your pet's cage may mean cleaning a large outdoor kennel housing several dogs or a small wire pet cage with one parakeet in residence. Regardless, there is a definite procedure to follow that requires some thought, effort and materials.
Wash your hands before cleaning the pet cage. Remove any jewelry and scrub the fronts and backs of your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap for a minimum of 20 seconds, the time required to sing the Happy Birthday song two times. Diseases can be passed from owner to pet as easily as from pet to owner.
Wear disposable gloves when cleaning pet cages. When wearing gloves and while cleaning the pet cage, do not touch anything that will be touched by someone who is not wearing gloves. Dirty gloves will contaminate clean surfaces. Dispose of dirty gloves by pulling them off from the wrist down, which turns them inside out, then discard them in an outside garbage can.
Use a surgical or dust mask when cleaning pet cages, especially bird pet cages. The movement of pets disturbs litter in the pet cage and can put feathers or infected dust into the air, which should not be breathed in.
Clean the pet cage as frequently as required based on the number of days it normally takes for the pet cage to become mildly soiled, generally at least once per week.
Move the pet to a smaller pet cage or holding area while the primary pet cage is being cleaned
Remove the pet cage liner, bedding, debris and feces from the pet cage directly into a garbage bag while wearing gloves and dust mask. Remove the water dish, food dish and all toys or removable parts of the pet cage for cleaning in an isolated area that can be sanitized after the pet cage parts are cleaned.
Use a medium stiff scrub brush to clean the pet cage and all removable parts with heavy-duty household detergent and hot water. This process is better accomplished outside if at all possible.
Disinfect the pet cage with a common household chemical, such as a solution of chlorine bleach and water, according to the directions on the label regarding concentration and contact time. Use a spray bottle to apply the disinfectant and make certain it is air-dried before returning the pet to the pet cage.
Spot-clean the pet cage during the week as necessary by removing all removable parts to clean and disinfect them. Change out the pet cage liner and bedding if necessary. Wipe the pet cage thoroughly with a disposable towel dipped into the disinfectant solution of chlorine bleach and water. Return the removable parts to the pet cage.
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