How to Clean A Hamster's Cage

Hamsters make excellent pets as long as their owners give them love and are responsible. Maintaining her cage is not as difficult, just follow these simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1. Dishwashing liquid (I recommend Dawn With Bleach Alternative)
• 2. Bottle Brush
• 3. Spout Brush
• 4. Sponge
• 5. Disinfectant (LYSOL)
• 6. Bedding (I recommend CareFresh Ultra Pet Bedding because it's safer than using wood shavings)
• 7. Litter (I recommend Super Pet Outhouse Potty litter)
• 8. Clean white paper (no ink!) for cage floor liner and sleeping box bedding.
• 9. Food and treats (I recommend Kaytee Perfect Choice Premium Hamster food, Kaytee Garden Blend treat stick and Vitakraft Milk & Honey Drops) Make sure you feed your hamster treats (a small bite) once
• 10. (optional) fragrance (I recommend Lavender “Fabuloso” multi-purpose cleaner).

1. To clean your hamster’s litter tray use hot water, dishwashing liquid, and disinfectant. (optional: Fabuloso) Put fresh litter in the litter tray with a few sprinkles of the old litter on top so Hammy knows where his potty is.

2. To clean your hamster’s water bottle you’ll need a bottlebrush, spout brush and dish washing liquid. The spout brush is for the thin part of the bottle where the ball for Hammy to drink is).

3. Next is tidying your hamster’s bedding. Any hamster droppings and urinated bedding should be removed, but only those pieces of bedding. Also be sure to remove all fresh food in the morning. * If you’re a first time hamster owner it’s important to know that hamster’s are nocturnal animals and are awake at night and sleep during the day. They must have 12 hrs of light and 12 hrs of darkness.

4. Check your hamster’s sleeping box and clean with hot water, dishwashing liquid, and disinfectant. Put fresh paper shavings (no ink!) in your hamster’s sleeping box.

5. Next is cleaning your hamster’s food dish. Save some of the dried food in the hoard and bedding.

6. Take out chewed up cardboard tubes and dirty chew sticks.

7. ONCE A WEEK CAGE CLEANING:
   
   1. To clean your hamster’s cage (the bars, ladders, levels, wheel and cage doors including food dish holders), you’ll need a sponge (be sure to keep the sponge outside so it doesn’t get used for dishes), tea kettle boiled water, dishwashing liquid, and disinfectant. The best place for washing your hamster’s cage is in your yard or bath tub. At the end, wipe with a cloth in clean water. If your hamster’s cage has carpeted levels, ladders and wheel, you’ll need to wash the carpet in a washing machine and dry it in a dryer. Make sure it’s cooled down before putting it with Hammy.

8. 2. For cleaning the bottom of the cage, you’ll need to discard all dirty (most of the) bedding, all liner, and use the same supplies as you use for the bars of Hammy’s cage. It’s important to keep some of Hammy’s bedding so he’ll feel more at home. Let the tray air before refilling it.

9. 3. Now’s time to check off your everyday list of chores.

10. 4. Check to see if you have enough bedding for the next cage cleanings, litter, food (including treats).

Tips & Warnings

• IMPORTANT: ALL HAMSTER TOYS MUST BE CLEANED WITH DISHWASHING LIQUID, HOT WATER, AND DISINFECTANT AS WELL (INCLUDING TUBING and hamster ball). ALSO, IF YOU HAVE OTHER PLAY HOUSES FOR YOUR HAMSTER THEY NEED TO THOROUGHLY CLEANED TOO (TIDIED UP EVERYDAY AND FULL CLEANING ONCE A WEEK).
• Be sure to keep bedding, litter & food in storage containers. Treats can be kept in a zip lock bag.
• Keep all your cleaning supplies together inside.
• Be sure your disinfectant and fragrance isn't too strong for Hammy, and if it is be sure to water it down.
• When giving your hamster fresh food be sure it's washed free of any pesticides and dirt that will harm Hammy.