Any tips for cleaning cages?

[JulesDoug]

Just had a nightmare!!
Trying to clean my terenziani Moore cage... my problems were as follows..
a)  what do you do with ratties while you are cleaning.
b)  Used a specific cage cleaner but still smelt very strong..so spent hours rinsing the cage..
c)  took forever to take out ropes hammocks toys n bedding
d)  Hosed  cage down in the shower..but then how do you dry the thing!!
AHHHHHHHHHH        
I guess these are just the joys of rat ownership but it drove me mad!!!
Anyone else have this cage? Got any top tips?

[Suebee]

I don't have that cage, but I have a few ideas.

a) I have a Grreat Wall enclosure that I put them in, but they've figured out how to jump. *grumble* You can build an enclosure out of cardboard boxes or wood. Or you can put them in a travel cage.

b) I usually use an enzyme cage cleaner. Not sure what is available in your area, but the one I use is called Critter Fresh. It has a slight smell to it, but it rinses well.

c) Yeah, that takes time! I try to attach things in ways that I can remove them as easily as possible. For hammocks, I use the screw-rings they normally supply with store-bought bird accessories (in fact, the ones I have came with a bird hammock I bought!), which I leave attached to the cage all the time. Attached to the hammock are normal keyrings. I have a mess of them, which I leave permanently attached to the hammocks, even when I wash them.

d) I have some old bath towels from college that I use to dry off the cage as much as possible, and then I let it air dry the rest of the way. A little water never hurt them.

[Spiralgirl]

a)  what do you do with ratties while you are cleaning.
b)  Used a specific cage cleaner but still smelt very strong..so spent hours rinsing the cage..
c)  took forever to take out ropes hammocks toys n bedding
d)  Hosed  cage down in the shower..but then how do you dry the thing!!

a) use a critter keeper, or keep a 10 gal handy for wash day
b) I use antibacterial dish soap, rinse, then spray the cage down with hydrogen peroxide and vinager to disinfect, and then rinse again
c) I attach most of my stuff with twisty-ties, they come off easy, and are easy to replace if chewed
d) Towels, time, and patience!    No seriously, you could probably run a blow dryer over the cage to help dry it off...just make sure the cage wires are cool before adding rats

[Nellybird]

Well today I just cleaned my brand new martins 670 (disassembled, so it was pretty easy), but I first put all the pieces in the shower, then spritzed some Spray Nine disinfectant on it, scrubbed it in with a brush, and then put the water on it for awhile. I don't want any stray disinfectant near the ratties! Then I just dried it with some towels. That method could also work for an assembled cage, I suppose.

[Paul]

We have a Plan drawn of where everything attaches to - number of bars across and rungs down, etc - which saves us a lot of time trying to work it all out again.

We also use the shower.

We tend to do the wire bit and the accessories that take longest to attach first.
When they're washed and dried they're handed out to the 'minder' who reassembles while the 'scrubber' tackles the base and other accessories.

We lay one bathtowel on the floor, put wet cage onto it and rub from the inside using another towel - gets two sides done at the same time.
Revolve sides and repeat.

Can't advise on what to do with the girlies because we're fortunate in that we're a two-parent family and both involved in bringing up our little girls - so while one cleans, the other one acts as a diversion!
(I'm sure you can think of something to act as an incentive for Doug to lend a hand!

[kmw]

Got any top tips?

Hire somebody.    

[knuckles]

Hire somebody.    

my teenager charges too much for me to hire him anymore  

[kmw]

my teenager charges too much for me to hire him anymore  

Could you trade him in for a younger, cheaper model?  

[Yresim]

a) I keep her in the bathroom, with me, while I am cleaning the cage.  Please note that this only works if you have willing housemates, and you don't need to use any chemicals (I don't use any, anyway).  

Ennoia actually seems to prefer it this way.  Like, if she can watch the transition of her cage going from dirty to clean, she is okay with it.  When we were putting her in her ball in the living room, she would FREAK OUT upon returning to the cage.

[SonyaFancifulRats]

a. I put mine in an extra cage, but that is being occupied now, so I use my cat carrier.  I used to let them run around on my daughter's bed, but my new boys I don't trust yet:-)

b) I use a bleach and water solution once a month, let it stand for ten minutes, then rinse WELL..  Every week it gets hosed down or showered down, depending on weather.  If there are "icky" areas that need more attention, I use some dishsoap and a scrub brush. Every 2-3 days I change bedding and use baby wipes to clean trouble spots.

c) I attach hammocks with metal shower rings, only takes a few seconds to undo.  I have lots of plastic baskets attached with cable ties, those stay in and get cleaned.

d.) in good weather it dries in the sun.  Otherwise I use a LOT of paper towels, mostly on the parts that hold water ( not cage bars, wire shelves) or sometimes I use a bath towel ( don't tell hubby!)

[mustang_grl143]

While I have a box turtle in a 40 gallon tank I clean both tanks at the same time turtle goes in bath tub rats go in turtle tank then rats go in there clean cage and so on