cleaning martins?

[ratsR4ever]

I have a martins R-695 and I've had it for a couple weeks. I was wondering how people cleaned theirs? I mean I use fleece and I change that when it needs it but I don't put it in the bottom tray. It just seems like every day the cage could use a cleaning. And if I don't clean it in a couple days it stinks. I don't know maby that's how its suppose to be but I just thought it would be a lil easier.

Amber

[ratgirl2]

Once a week I put my martins in the bath tub with bleach water and just wash it down.  I use Aspen in the pan, because I thought the fleece just stank all the time.  They do have fleece hammocks and fleece scraps to put in their hidey houses, but thats it.  I only notice the odor about the day before cleaning day, so that's not bad at all. 

[MiniMuffin]

I just change the fleece every three or four days, four is the most I can go without it being really bad. I use fleece in the whole cage, two litter boxes with a SMALL amount of YN, which I change as needed.

The cage itself doesn't get very dirty, I usually just spray it down with apple cider vinegar. I'm going to try out some linoleum instead of fleece eventually (even if it's just on the main level).

Some people use towels (although I've yet to figure out how to make a liner for the middle shelf because of the gap to the lower level, cut towels fray a ton) and seem to think it works better to control smells.

[KLS05]

As much as I love my fleece, I have to admit that it is probably the fastest way to stinky as possible.  My girls were put back on meds this week for the start of a URI and my vet recommended that I put the girls back on Carefresh because the fleece could be retaining germs.  (Of course she doesn't realize that I never use a blanket twice and I change it every three days.  )  Still, since I put the girls back on Carefresh, I realize how much nicer it is to change a cage once a week instead of every few days.  I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet.

I would recommend non-scented baby wipes for spot cleaning though.

[MiniMuffin]

The only problem is that it's such a hassle to clean all the cage bars, and the baby wipes I have leave little bits all over the cage. Plus, I feel bad having them on wire. I'm going to see how it goes leaving the middle level bare for this week though...

[Moondust]

For people having trouble with fleece, a lot of people don't realize that you should have something under the fleece to wick the moisture into. A lot of people use just fleece (not criticizing!), but it helps to have something absorbent underneath.  I use small washcloths that I get at the dollar-store in packs of 6 to 10, and it works very well on cutting down the smell.  Just be careful that if you have diggers/chewers not to use anything that can catch claws or can fray badly.

[KLS05]

Oh I agree Minimuffin!  I think it's good to have something on the floors. (I use Magic Mats myself.)  I think if you're going to use fleece, it's also wise to keep something underneath them.  I use to use those baby crib blankets that go on top of the matress and are made to absorb accidents.  But even those have to be washed so they're probably not the best solution to keep under fleece.

[MiniMuffin]

Oh yeah, I actually do usually keep a folded hand towel or wash cloth under the fleece. I still have a smelly cage after 3 days though.

[baileyjane]

If you're interested in using bedding, check out the "sunseed fresh world bedding" thread.  A lot of us are in agreement that this is pretty good stuff, and great at odor control.

[furmama]

I've tried several things for liners, and i found that flannel is the best for odor control, besides carefresh of course, but I hate using bedding, I like liners much better.

[sbdirham]

Here's what I do, and I am very picky about the ratty smells:
  I use Woody Pet in the bottom of the cage.  I change it once a week, even though it does not smell (I have actually stuck my nose an inch from the bedding and sniffed every inch of it) and does not break down into sawdust in that time (even with four boys in the cage).
  I wash the hammocks, bandanas, level liners, etc every Monday and Thursday in cold water with detergent and vinegar.  (I wash more often if really needed.)
  I wipe down the entire cage with "Kids 'N' Pets" every Monday and Thursday, let it either air dry inside or in the sun outside.  I only wash the pan down when I change the Woody Pet.
  Once a month I use vinegar to completely wash down the cage, then rinse it with the hose on high pressure (after the vinegar has sat for ten minutes in the sun).  Let it dry in the sun, wipe down with "Kids 'N' Pets" and let dry again.

  I never smell anything (urine) except on the hammocks.  Sometimes I wonder, if I put a litter box in the cage and filled it with scraps of fabric, would the boys use it exclusively?

  Is your cage powder coated?  That helps a great deal, as the bare galvanized metal seems to hold the amonia smell forever.

[ratsR4ever]

Here's what I do, and I am very picky about the ratty smells:
  I use Woody Pet in the bottom of the cage.  I change it once a week, even though it does not smell (I have actually stuck my nose an inch from the bedding and sniffed every inch of it) and does not break down into sawdust in that time (even with four boys in the cage).
  I wash the hammocks, bandanas, level liners, etc every Monday and Thursday in cold water with detergent and vinegar.  (I wash more often if really needed.)
  I wipe down the entire cage with "Kids 'N' Pets" every Monday and Thursday, let it either air dry inside or in the sun outside.  I only wash the pan down when I change the Woody Pet.
  Once a month I use vinegar to completely wash down the cage, then rinse it with the hose on high pressure (after the vinegar has sat for ten minutes in the sun).  Let it dry in the sun, wipe down with "Kids 'N' Pets" and let dry again.

  I never smell anything (urine) except on the hammocks.  Sometimes I wonder, if I put a litter box in the cage and filled it with scraps of fabric, would the boys use it exclusively?

  Is your cage powder coated?  That helps a great deal, as the bare galvanized metal seems to hold the amonia smell forever.

Power coated =]

[RatAttack59]

Fleece - even with an underlying towel - stank us out of the house in short order.  And with (at the moment 25 in the house, in seven cages, and a bunny to boot, I cannot be changing fleece every two/three days.  So far I like the Sunseeed best (there is a $4.50 difference between the Grey and the Colored kind - we get to be boring!) but I've never seen Woody Pet.  What's in it? We've used Aspen but I don't like the mess (it gets chcked about too much with my crew)

[Lise]

I don't use any fabric in my 695.  I just have bedding like Yesterdays News in the bottom pan.

I also throw it into the tub once a week, spray it down with Nature's Miracle, and then use the shower to rinse it off.  About once a month I do a good scrubbing of the bars -- but usually the shower takes the majority of the gunk off.

[julztoni97]

Fleece - even with an underlying towel - stank us out of the house in short order.  And with (at the moment 25 in the house, in seven cages, and a bunny to boot, I cannot be changing fleece every two/three days.  So far I like the Sunseeed best (there is a $4.50 difference between the Grey and the Colored kind - we get to be boring!) but I've never seen Woody Pet.  What's in it? We've used Aspen but I don't like the mess (it gets chcked about too much with my crew)

I tried the Woody pet and didn't really like it.  It was kinda dusty.  Got it at agway.  It is fairly inexpensive though.  I think the 25 lb bag was only around $7.

[anita1216]

Interesting. I have used fleece exclusively for years and not had the odor issues some of you are talking about, I also have pissy boys  They can and do marinate everything all the time.

I simply spot clean everyday and do a full cleaning twice a week. Its not that much hassle for me. I suppose for some people thats alot of bother though and if you have alot of cages, that becomes a major fiasco as well.




 

[RatAttack59]

My guys do marinate everything extensively, and I also do mid-week wipe-downs (almost daily).  The two weeks we were on fleece I changed the liners six times.  In seven cages.  With the Sunseed, I do the wipe-down/spot cleaning but only have to change the pan weekly.

I've been told that what the rats eat contributes to any odor issues.  We feed Sue Bees mix and Regal Rat or Mazuri (oddly, mine like RR better) with fresh veggies.  And treats

[Squeeky]

I cover the middle level with a piece of linoleum cut to fit.
I cover the balconies with dollar store dish drain trays cut to fit and cable tied on.
Eventually the floor coverings will need to be replaced.
I use yesterdays news in the litter boxes.

Easy to wipe the solid levels daily.
When I only had a few rats, cleaning the cage throughly once a week
and wiping the floors down daily was all that was needed.