question about cleaning a large cage

[birdsnreps]

when i do the large cages, i take the grates and trays out, and wash those in the bathtub with a sponge, hot water and soap. the large cages dont fit out the door, so i have to get a sponge, a small container of orange TKO/hot water mixture, and i scrub the cage with that mixture, takes the poo right off without any real scrubbing!! then i just wipe the cage down wtih some paper towels or a damp towel. sometimes they poop on the back of the cage, or right under the grates, near the trays, so i have to crawl into the cage while the trays and grates are soaking in the tub, and wet them with my mixture, and scrub all those little hard-to-reach places, but with the orange TKO, it works quickly and takes alot of the hard work out of this down-and-dirty job :)

[Ashling]

I take the cages outside and scrub em down with a scourer and detergent, then rinse with a bucket full of water (we have water restrictions because of the drought) The food dishes are cleaned using ONLY vinegar and water, and my lory comes outside to help! :D Mine are too big to fit in the bath tub too! lol

[birdyland]

Originally Posted by my-africangrey-echo

I am getting a steamer next payday. Until then I use a bucket with white vinegar and water

And Birdlady I know you really miss the 3 degree mornings here in Erie don't you

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!! ha!
Hello fellow Erie person! Send me some pepperoni balls!!!!! I can't get anyone to send them :-{ Just kidding on sending them to me....I've been trying to get a cousin to send me some but they have to be packed in dry ice, and it just isn't $$$ feasible for what it is.

[marriedchick26]

thanks for the ideas. I will have to look into getting a steamer. Does it take the poop off without scrubbing or do you still have to scrub the cage down first. I actually did fit it in the tub yesterday but man what a job that was. My hubby had to make a makeshift stand so the cage was at my level for cleaning. I scrubbed it then transfered it to the tub and hosed it down. my bathroon is so small, once the cage was in the door I was trapped in with it lol. A steamer would be so much better. I am disabled and should not even be bending over the tub at all. Thanks again for all the help.

[flyingfluff]

I've taken a washcloth or something similar and sprayed it with vinegar and then wiped down the bars and such. Then I went back over it with warm water.

[JoT]

I take the trays in the utility room where we havea utility/laundry sink and wash them there. Then I wipe down the rest of the cage with a wet rag. Take out and soak really dirty perches or toys and wipe the others. When weather is good I pressure wash on driveway.

[Lori~D]

No scrubbing at all with the steamer matter of fact I ended up taking the brush tip off and it was better. Seems to work fastest if I take the stuff to the tub, fill (if needed) and plug in the steamer. As its heating (about ten minutes) I run some hot water over the grate for a minute and then leave and go do something. That hot water gets the softening going while the steamer is heating up for those spots where the seem to poop ONLY (lol) then I come back and just stand there and blast it off with the steamer. its so hot its dry when Im done or sometimes I give it a quick rinse if I spattered at all. No sweat at all, no brush, no sponge, no soap (thats the best part). For the rest of the cage I get the steamer running at first in the kitchen sink cause it can spit a bit after it sets a minute. Then I just walk out and steam and wipe with a dry rag. I put some towels down if I want to really work on it allot as there will be a little dripping on occasion. I did the plexi on The Toos cage front with the steamers squeegee attachment in about two seconds - wiped with a paper towel and I swear it was way better than any windex Ive ever used on my windows!

[T.W.]

I put 50 drops of GSE (grapefruit seed extract) in a 32 once spray bottle,filled with water, and spray the cages and perches, and then use a sponge with warm water to wipe them, the grates I put in the tub with the seed guards and use the same spray with a toilet cleaning brush to scrub them. If the cages need a big cleaning, I roll them outside and hose them down, but it is warm here usually all the time so it is easier for me, than you. My mom had a steamer, but it rusted out her cage a bit faster, as I have one of my birds in the same cage and no rust.

[Heaven]

Pressure washer or steam cleaner works best for us.

[macafied]

Steamers are fantastic for cleaning. I roll my cage into the bathroom and steam the entire thing. Takes about 45 minutes (it's a big cage). With a steamer you will have to wipe the steamed areas or they will sometimes dry with a white residue. Works great for toys and perches as well and you can use it to clean just about anything in your home.