Cleaning Toys

[going_birdy]

What is the best way to clean wooden toys? Or wooden perches, ladders?
What is the best way to dry them? How long does it take before you can put them back in the cage?
Thanks :icon_mrgr

[mamalovesrico]

I clean mine with vinegar and water. Very easy. As soon as I see poop on something, I take a paper towel or a rag and spray it with v&w and comes right off. Once in a while I'll take all his perches (wooden and not) and scrub them down with water. I let them dry for a couple of hours then put them back in.
I also wipe down his cage once a week with v&w. 1 part v and 4 parts water. saw this on animal planet.

[BirdzRmylife]

I clean my wooden toys with grape fruit seed extract. Spray it on, wipe the gunk off. You can also put the wooden toys in the dishwasher...

I dry with paper towels, or leave out in the sun to dry....

[Majj]

I just scrub mine down with hot soapy water rinse well then spray with avian disenfectant spray leave dry a few hours in the sun..I wipe the cages down each day and clean the poop from their perches so its not a big job then I take the cages outside for a good scrub and clean fortnightly in summer monthly in winter...

The small cage is where the Boys watch me clean and get some sun ..they are not impressed..lol..

[Vankarhi]

I also clean my cages daily - just scrub with a brush and wipe down, then weekly i hose down on the verandah and clean everything. Every now and then I put hot soapy water in the bath and soak toys and perches then scrub and allow to dry before putting in cage. I put clean newspaper down every day (twice daily for Skye she is a pig).

[BirdsUnlimited]

Five percent clorox and water mix. Kills germs and cleans great. Let air dry for an hour or so then replace.

[going_birdy]

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I was a little confused on how to clean the wooden stuff because I read on a few sites not to ever get wooden perches wet, and to just use sandpaper to rub the poop off. To me, it sounded like it could work temporarily, but eventually I would think all things, wooden included, would need a good cleaning!
I have been replacing the newspaper in Captain's cage daily, and scrubbing the tray every 2-3 days. But, I think it is definitely time for a complete clean. I am going to look around for some of that grapefruit extract. It is natural and sounds good to me :icon_mrgr
Thanks again!

[The Outlaw]

Where in the world did you read not to get wooden perches wet? That's ridiculous! Ideally, you should have extra perches so that after you scrub your perches down they have dry ones to stand on, but do you think Mother Nature never cleans her trees?

That's exactly why I wanted some experts around here. The internet is full of the weirdest information. If you have any doubts about whether or not your bird's perches are too wet, I suggest you take them out and dry them with a hair dryer. I assume the hair dryers in your home have no teflon.

I actually scrub the long dowel perches down in the cage with GSE and a 3M scotch pad and that's after I've steamed them. As for the sandy perches and rope perches, they go right into the dishwasher. DON"T put them in the clothes dryer, for the rope perches ends are hot glued and the ends will fall off. They have to air dry. I have duplicate rope perches for everyone here.

THE OUTLAW

[going_birdy]

Thanks for the extra tips Outlaw.
Yes, I thought too it sounded a little strange about not getting the perches wet. I can definitely understand that you wouldn't want to put the wet perches back into the cage but after they are dry then there shouldn't be a problem.
I have read it a few places. Here is an example:
http://www.geocities.com/cockatiels26/cleaning.htm
If you type in the google search engine "cleaning wooden perches" that is the first site listed.
I guess that is why it is always best to get more than one opinion! :icon_mrgr