How to Make a Safe Disinfectant for Bird Cages

Thoroughly clean the grates when giving the birdcage a scrub down.

Bird health is important, and to maintain it cleaning and disinfecting birdcages should be a main priority. Disinfecting a bird's cage is necessary to deter the spread of illness and harmful bacteria. Experiment with a couple of homemade solutions to see which works best for you and your bird. While grapefruit seed extract is an organic and natural disinfecting solution, bleach, when used properly, is also safe.

Things You'll Need

• Grapefruit seed extract
• Gallon jug
• Large spoon
• Cloths
• Bucket
• Bleach
• Rubber gloves
• Goggles
• Large bowl

Instructions

Grapefruit Seed Extract

1. Combine 80 drops of concentrated grapefruit seed extract for every 1 gallon of water.

2. Stir the mixture so it's evenly combined. Pour it into a bucket to disinfect the toys.

3. Dip a clean cloth in the mixture and wipe down the entire cage with the solution. Add more of the solution to the cloth as necessary. Let the cage sit with the solution for about 20 minutes. Soak all plastic toys in the solution for about 20 minutes.

4. Rinse the cage completely with hot water. Let the cage and toys dry or wipe them down with a clean, dry cloth.

Bleach

1. Put on rubber gloves and goggles to protect yourself from the bleach.

2. Measure out 1 part bleach for every 16 parts of water. For example, measure out 1/2 cup of bleach to 8 cups of water.

3. Mix the ingredients together by shaking them in a closed, clean gallon jug in an area that is well-ventilated. Or, mix the ingredients with a clean spoon in a large bowl.

4. Dip a clean, soft cloth in the solution and wring it out so it's damp.

5. Wipe out the cage with the damp cloth, dipping it back into the solution as necessary.

6. Disinfect any plastic or glass accessories in the cage in the same manner. Anything made out of wood, including wood perches, should not be disinfected.

7. Let the mixture sit on the cage for about five to 10 minutes.

8. Rinse the cage and any accessories that have been disinfected thoroughly by soaking it in hot water until the bleach smell has disappeared. Dry the cage with a clean towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Before disinfecting the bird cage, remove any solid material from the cage and the grates of the cage. Scrub the cage thoroughly with mild soap and water. Rinse the cage thoroughly by placing it into the bathtub and rinsing it with hot water from the shower head. Follow the same process with solid, plastic accessories like perches and plastic food bowls.

• How many birds you have will determine how often you will need to disinfect the cage. Cages should be disinfected at least once a month or directly after a bird's illness.

• Always place the bird in a separate room from the cage while you are disinfecting it if you are using bleach.

References

• Tailfeathers Network: Disinfecting: Chlorine Bleach and Water
• Cockatiel Cottage: Cleaning and Disinfecting A Birdcage: Non-Toxic Methods of Disinfecting
• Animal Planet: Cleaning Your Bird's Cage: Disinfectants
• Land of Vos: Kitchen Physician: Grapefruit Seed Extract
• The Laughing Parrot: Bird Care: Keeping Things Clean
• Land of Vos: Kitchen Physician: Natural Cleaning Solutions: Cleaning Cages