I've read several posts about bathing rats, and they said dawn dishsoap was a good soap if you didn't have kitten or ferret shampoo. That was all I had, and he kinda smelled, so off to the bathroom sink we went. What a fiasco. Now I need a shower . I realized that I probably should have researched bath tips before having a soapy soaked rat climb through my hair. So, how do you go about giving your rats a bath? I tried filling the sink, but he wouldn't stay. When I wanted to rinse him off, I ended up holding him under the faucet. My method wasn't very effective.

Also, I know you aren't supposed to get the soap anywhere near their face or eyes, so I put some soap on my forearm to use after I put the soap bottle down. Naturally, he squirmed, and his face got pretty near the soap. I know it bothered him because he rubbed at the eye and started blinking it more often. He doesn't seem to be doing it now. Obviously I will keep a better eye on his eye, but should I do something more, like try to rinse it?

Here are some bath pictures for your viewing pleasure:
pre-bath
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc73/a6385u/100_0640.jpg
Towel shot
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc73/a6385u/100_0658.jpg
A not happy rattie
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc73/a6385u/100_0659.jpg

the method I use normally doesn't end up with observing scratches, and we can get all of them done in an assembly line fashion.

First I use kitten shampoo, or cat shampoo that is gentle enough for kittens.  I bathe them only when I can't tell what color my PEW's tails are, lol.
I also use the bath tub, gives them more room to move around, they're still under your control, and they can't get out as easily.

I run the water until it's a good temp, normally when it doesn't feel hot or cold, or just a little warm.  When the water is a good temp, I put the stopper in, and the rat in at the same time.  While the tub is filling up your rat will probably poo, and check out all parts of the tub, including where the water is.  Let the water fill the part of the tub by the drain about 2 inches.

Since you already have your shampoo sitting on the edge of the tub, you can scoot your little bud into the water and get him wet.  Let him loose and run a line of shampoo down his back. 

Add a little more water, pick him up with thumbs on his back and fingers under his belly and massage him from side to side.  He will naturally slide back and forth between your hands, making it easier to lather him up.  Make sure you get all 4 legs, rump, and tail.

Set him down in the water near the drain, and gently pour water over him, making sure to rub his belly to get all of the shampoo off of it.

Plop him in a towel and dry.

We occassionally get wet from our jumpers, but not often.  Most of the time we just get wet after they are done and we are drying them off.  We almost never get scratches this way, and we can plop several rats in the tub to "wait their turn." 

We clean the cage, and everyone's happy, including the rats.

Dawn or Palmolive is NOT too harsh and was specifically recommended by my vet.  Baby shampoo is actually harsher.

yeah, believe it or not, baby shampoo is one of the most "stripping" shampoos out there. i'm a colorist, and its actually what we recommend to our clients to use if they mess up on a home dye job  it can be very drying to ratties skin.