Cleaning

[Funda]

i know this topic has been come across quit a lot...

But i just have to ask, whats the best things to use to clean your enclosure with ?

I want to do a good clean before i go on holidays but im gonna be working
and getting ready to pack.. so i need something quick and easy but also something that would work good.

No one else in my family would do it for me so im on my own here.


f.C

[rachel]

I have heard it is good to use a cloudy ammonia solution to scrub the tank?? supposedly okay because it is natural. However it is hardly a quick job, but then when ever is thoroughly cleaning a bts enclosure!

[Tattoo]

I use hot soapy water and follow up with Chlorhexidine Disinfectant. Never heard anyone say they use ammonia. Watch out for the fumes with ammonia ... they will knock you right over! You can probably use diluted bleach as well.

[Fatal_S]

At the Humane Society we use a bleach solution with some cleaner mixed in. My previous cleans just used soap and water, my next one, soon, will use a stronger solution, then I'll make sure to wipe it down.

[Funda]

Ok thank you all for the ideas.
I was thinking of using bleach and some cleaner aswell.
but i just wanted to make sure i was doing the right thing

Thank you guys all so much!


f.C

[Tattoo]

Funda ... do not mix bleach and ammonia together. My cousin did that once and was temporarily blinded by the fumes.

[Fatal_S]

And rinse away the bleach too. Yuck. Bleach + Ammonia =

[Geoff Gates]

very very weak bleach solution.

1 part bleach to 100 parts water.

or

hot soapy water... try and get non perfumed soap.

and/or

Chlorhexidine

[Chase]

Funda ... do not mix bleach and ammonia together. My cousin did that once and was temporarily blinded by the fumes.

That's because Bleach (NaClO) and ammonia (NH3) makes chlorine gas if you mix them, which isn't usually something you want to breath in.
I use nolvasan (virosan) to clean my enclosures, but I recently ran out and need to buy some more.

[Funda]

Yeah i know dw guys im not that stupid

Thanks geoff aswell for the other handy idea


f.C

[KyleWeiss]

And rinse away the bleach too. Yuck. Bleach + Ammonia =

More like, Bleach + Ammonia = Chemical Weapon...

...bad news.

Spot cleaning: Basic Windex (aired out of course)

Deep-cleaing: salt/vinegar solution, 3 tbsp salt: 3/4 cup white vinegar: 1 gallon hot water.

KW

[kvega92]

I can not remember what it was but I know Dixie Diana used a cleaner for the tank and she really liked it. I will have to email her and find out.

[Chase]

And rinse away the bleach too. Yuck. Bleach + Ammonia =

More like, Bleach + Ammonia = Chemical Weapon...

...bad news.

Spot cleaning: Basic Windex (aired out of course)

Deep-cleaing: salt/vinegar solution, 3 tbsp salt: 3/4 cup white vinegar: 1 gallon hot water.

KW

Ugh, I'd never be able to use vinegar to clean my cages. The smell practically makes me vomit. I know vinegar kills some bacteria, but are you sure it's effective for cleaning cages? I definitely wouldn't consider it deep cleaning. If a parasite can survive hydrochloric acid I don't think acetic acid is going to do much. I think there are better things you could use that would probably be more effective.

[Funda]

well i finished cleaning my tank today, and i also bathed my lizards, but only have a couple of photos

f.C

[KyleWeiss]

And rinse away the bleach too. Yuck. Bleach + Ammonia =

More like, Bleach + Ammonia = Chemical Weapon...

...bad news.

Spot cleaning: Basic Windex (aired out of course)

Deep-cleaing: salt/vinegar solution, 3 tbsp salt: 3/4 cup white vinegar: 1 gallon hot water.

KW

Ugh, I'd never be able to use vinegar to clean my cages. The smell practically makes me vomit. I know vinegar kills some bacteria, but are you sure it's effective for cleaning cages? I definitely wouldn't consider it deep cleaning. If a parasite can survive hydrochloric acid I don't think acetic acid is going to do much. I think there are better things you could use that would probably be more effective.

Well drama queen, when you wipe the bile from your chin...

A parasite could very well possibly survive a saline/acid bath.

Then again, we could worry about crystalline buildup of bleach and freak out on that too, and it's health concerns.

I could probably use a gamma radiation system and REALLY be more effective than even a bleach solution, but sadly, that's a bit out of my control.

I think just cleaning with something, at all, is the key.

But nice devil's advocating and thinking! You'll do me proud when I'm gone.

KW

[Chase]

That's cool and all Kyle, but I didn't say a word about using bleach. Nolvasan is the way to go in my opinion Geoff already mentioned it except he called it chlorhexidine. It's a high quality disinfectant and it's benign enough to wash your lizards mouth out with = ultimate in cleaning needs. But yes, for just cleaning a cage your method probably works fine, but if i was cleaning an old cage and putting a new animal in it, I'd probably use something else.

[Leigh]

Thats all well and good with your resin or glass tank.Us wooden enclosure types use anti-bac washing up liquid and wipe with a diluted very hot water solution

[KyleWeiss]

That's cool and all Kyle, but I didn't say a word about using bleach. Nolvasan is the way to go in my opinion Geoff already mentioned it except he called it chlorhexidine. It's a high quality disinfectant and it's benign enough to wash your lizards mouth out with = ultimate in cleaning needs. But yes, for just cleaning a cage your method probably works fine, but if i was cleaning an old cage and putting a new animal in it, I'd probably use something else.

Well, say what you mean next time then. See where he also said "...very very weak bleach solution." You'd make a fine politician, by the way. Or a defense lawyer.

KW

[Zach]

I typically just use hot water and some type of soap...

[mom22wins]

I have a wooden enclosure with a tile bottom and I use a product made by Zoo Med called Wipe Out 1.