cleaning cages

[marigold]

hi... i am a relatively new active member...  just wondering...
how do you all clean out your cages?  i mean at thorough cleaning time!
i'm doing a huge cage overhaul lately, (and i am dreaming of installing a huge sink in my garage).   do you clean them outside using the garden hose?  is it ok to use just cold water in that case?  do you use the tub or kitchen sink?  i am using the tub upstairs, and carting my tanks up and down again.  i am really feeling it since i now have 20 cresties...   i am realizing that those of you who have more than a few animals must have some kind of a system for this.  i'd love to hear how you get the job done!  Thanks

[marigold]

THANKS!  do you mix chlorhexodine with water in a large spray bottle, and then mist and wipe? (as in spot cleaning)... when you are thorough cleaning do you just clean the tank right where it is since you don't need to rinse?     i take it you are *not* clearing out the whole tank and scrubbing it down.   

thanks for pointing out the products part of this site...  i just went there and i see several great christmas gifts for myself!
marigold

[monster]

hey this is a great thread!
i have both sterilite's and glass tanks.
the sterilites & kritter keepers i always have empty clean extras. i prep the clean ones, stick geckos in another container, replace furniture, add geckos and wah-la. i clean the rotated ones when i like, with hot water and elbow grease.
the glass tanks are more a pain. i pull out the geckos into kritter keepers, and bring the whole thing (insides and all) downstairs with me. everyone lives upstairs in my room. . takes way longer then the sterilites.

[firecrested]

If you look on Anthony's product guide, http://www.ciliatus.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=238 and scroll to the bottom, you will see Chlorhexidine, which is a non-toxic disinfectant (if mixed properly). This might be your best bet, it would surely beat going up and down the stairs with your tanks.

That is what I use and love it.  I will never use any other cleaner.

[marigold]

hey this is a great thread!
i have both sterilite's and glass tanks.
the sterilites & kritter keepers i always have empty clean extras. i prep the clean ones, stick geckos in another container, replace furniture, add geckos and wah-la. i clean the rotated ones when i like, with hot water and elbow grease.
the glass tanks are more a pain. i pull out the geckos into kritter keepers, and bring the whole thing (insides and all) downstairs with me. everyone lives upstairs in my room. . takes way longer then the sterilites.

Hey, that's a great idea, though... to have extra sterlites for a "crestie hotel" for a day or two til the job gets done!  i am still accumulating materials so I don't have as much extra as i need!  but i'm workin' on it!  THANKS!  btw:  how often do you do the whole job with the hot water and elbow grease, etc... ?

[monster]

Hey, that's a great idea, though... to have extra sterlites for a "crestie hotel" for a day or two til the job gets done!  i am still accumulating materials so I don't have as much extra as i need!  but i'm workin' on it!  THANKS!  btw:  how often do you do the whole job with the hot water and elbow grease, etc... ?

i rotate out cages as often as they are visibley dirty, or i know it's been a while. cleaning the empty dirty ones goes prety quick when i can bring the stack downstairs and hog the sink. i clean them that night or he next day.
i don't have enough extras to do the whole rack at once, only about 1/3

[mollidy]

Does anyone use a vinegar/water solution (about 2/3 vinegar, 1/3 water)? I use this for my guinea pig, rat and mouse cages. It's cheap and works really well. Would it be safe for cresteds?

[warnersister_2000]

i soak the furnishings in a weak bleach solution and rinse well, and spray the sides of the enclosures with healthy habitat.  anything over 10 gallons is cleaned where it stands

[Amy]

carting my tanks up and down again. 

thats what i do do i dont think there is really anyway of getting around it, lucky for me my cresteds are in the basement close to the backyard with easy accress to the hose

[marigold]

so, Amy, if you use the garden hose, do you mind just using cold water?   just trying to figure this all out!
thanks,

[Liz]

i make matt hold a gecko and he takes their weight and i clean all the sterilite containers in the sink the glass tanks just get srayed and whiped out unless really gross then it goes to the bathtub. With the glass tanks make sure not too use too cold or too hot water... it will crack the cage,or so ive heard. The cleaning sray is awesome, i love it.

[Liz]

whoa thats a huge cage... what is in it?