Cage cleaning questions...

[raddaughter]

I wipe the cage down with hot water in a spray bottle every night (takes 5 min), which gets off the feather dust and food that gets on it. Once a week, I clean her grate. I hose it down and if there are some things that won't come off, I use a cleaner called OdoBan. It doesn't have harsh fumes and is pretty inexpensive. Works really well; it washes off really easily and doesn't leave a residue. I avoid using chemicals as much as possible, but there are times when I do; I always makes sure there is no residue left over.
Oh- an about the corn cob. Monica is right, if it doen't get cleaned regularly, it rots/molds. I use it however. The grate is far enough away from the cob that Harley can't reach (we had it closer, but she never messed with it). I take a kitty litter scooper and clean it out daily. It only takes a few mins, and I prefer it over newpaper. Another thing is that Harley doesn't mess with it unlike the paper which she shreds every chance she gets...

[wildirish]

We use vinagar or listerine diluted. Also once a month I pull out the steamer and get all those little spots and nooks and crannied.

[Missi]

I sure white vinegar and HOT water and srcub scrub scrub! I pull the grate and scrub it in the bathtub. I also use newspaper at the bottom on the tray.

[bruceh68]

I have to Africian Grey's (Gabby and Jake) in a big cage with wheels. I use newspaper everyday and on Saturday I clean the cage with a product called "Poop-off" (Life's Great Products, LLC. Online Store - Welcome) Works great! About every month I wheel the cage outside, hook up thr pressure washer and do the whole cage/toys,etc, let them dry in the sun (live in Florida) and presto-cleano it's done. Both birds are extremely happy and healthy.

[Laika]

I love this board! So much info! Today is Sunday, my "cage big cleaning day" and I was wondering if the hot water + dish soap i usually use was safe enough! You guys gave so many other great ideas! I recently bought a steamer and I never had thought of using it to clean the cage.. duhhhh!
Thank you!
Syrlena (the maid), Baby Simba (the bird friendly cat) and Kukito (the noisy sun conure)

[Ohboy]

I use Poop-Off and then Pet Focus. I notice no one else mentioned Poop-Off. I find it dissolves the mess, making it a lot easier to remove. Is there something wrong with Poop-Off?

[Annesad]

For 18 years I have cleaned with diluted product from Amway called LOC..,it is bio degradable...I spray with hot water first, then spray with diluted solution...let it set a minute or so, and use sponge...spray again then dry with towel. Works great. I do use the cage grate, and put newspaper in the tray below. I don't want my birds walking and playing in poop...I clean thoroughly twice a week, change papers daily. I have only 3 birds so it is doable.

[Quito's Qage]

Originally Posted by Ohboy

I use Poop-Off and then Pet Focus. I notice no one else mentioned Poop-Off. I find it dissolves the mess, making it a lot easier to remove. Is there something wrong with Poop-Off?

Not at all. I just find a half and half mixture of white vinegar and water to be a lot cheaper. I have Poop-Off as well, but rarely use it.

[pinkparrot]

listerine??? where did you think of to use that? does it work?

[Bonesy]

I've always used black & white paper for my birds on the bottom of the cage. I don't like "grates" either. Birds always look awkward trying to walk on the bars on TOP of the cage, let alone having to do it on the bottom too. I'd choose a flat bottom cage any day, personally.

Though mikko loves playing with balls, and he has a special pen made of crescent dowel & a large board ontop of his cage. Doesn't stop the little tyke throwing the balls OUT but it keeps them in a little longer, hehe and it's easier to wipe down than the bars. Plus he's out pretty much all day as long as we are home so his cage isnt in frequent use.

For a budgie he's got it made, a nice big cockateil cage all to himself, hehe :D

I wipe the bars for dander & feathers daily if i have the time, and I wash everything with a spearmint & eucalyptus soap weekly or more as required. Leaves a nice smell too that my birds love I'd never use corncob personally just on the off chance any of my birds got hold of it & ate it.