How to Clean a Hamster's Cage

Hamsters are basically clean animals with little to no body odor, therefore any odors that come from their cage are usually from dirty bedding and not your pet. The healthy hamster's cage should be cleaned once a week. It is easy to do and can be completed in a few simple steps.

Remove your hamster from its cage. This is a great time to provide your pet with exercise. Place your hamster in a run-about ball and let him explore a different environment but remember to block off any stairs or potential safety hazards.

Take apart the cage or remove the aquarium screen topper and then remove all water bottles, food dishes, toys, and cage furnishings. Set these items aside. Remove and discard all the bedding.

Since hamsters usually choose the same corner in which to urinate, there may be a build up that needs to be scraped off. This build up can be removed with an inexpensive, small putty or paint knife. Even a plastic butter knife can work. After scraping, wash the entire base of the cage with an antibacterial soap, then rinse with warm water and dry completely. Make sure to rinse all the soap away and never use scented products. Don't forget to wash down the outer area of the cage bottom especially if your cage sits on a solid surface shelf without air circulation underneath. If your hamster has been sick, it is important to disinfect the cage. Wash and rinse as normal but after the rinse, perform a second cleaning with a small amount of Isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Rub the alcohol over the entire surface of the cage and dry it with a clean towel.

Empty the food dish and water bottle and wash both with warm water and with antibacterial soap. Rinse with warm water. Be careful not to leave any soap residues that your hamster could accidently eat. Repeat the same wash process with each of the hamster's plastic toys, tunnels, or hide-away houses. Remember also to wipe down the exercise wheel and any plastic climbing surfaces inside the cage, making sure to rinse and dry each item completely.

Refill the bottom of the cage, aquarium, or habitat with clean, fresh shavings. Use wood shavings but avoid cedar. If your cage is home to baby hamsters, avoid fluffy bedding as it can choke the little ones as well as become lodged in their intestines. Make your hamster happy by adding nesting material. Hamsters naturally love to burrow and nest so adding some plain toilet tissue, without perfumes or dyes, is the perfect bedding.

Refill your hamster's food dish and water bottle with fresh food and water. If your hamster's wooden chew toys are gnawed and worn, replace them during the weekly cage cleaning.

After everything has been replaced, check to make sure the water bottle is not leaking and that all locks and clips on the cage are secure. After removing your hamster from the run-about ball, offer him a small treat. Good choices include small pieces of apple or carrot. Place these treats directly in the food dish atop the regular food. If you give your hamster fresh food, and he does not eat it right away, remove it before he can hoard it or it becomes spoiled.

If your hamster lives in a modular cage, the cleaning method will be different from the wire cage with plastic bottom or the aquarium home, but it doesn't have to be frustrating if you know some tricks. The best way to clean a modular system is to totally dismantle the tubes and habitat areas and remove all the bedding, waste, and toys. After disposing of the bedding, the wastes, and the chew toys, wash each piece with antibacterial soap and warm water. A cheap bottlebrush is a great way to clean tubes and water bottles. After scrubbing, soak the tubes and habitat boxes in a large tub of soapy water for ten to fifteen minutes. Remove each piece and rinse with warm water. Rinse the tubes several times to ensure every bit of soapy residue is gone. Towel drying a modular system can be a challenge, so forget the towel and dry each part with a hair dryer.

A clean cage is important for the health of your hamster. A dirty cage is a certain path to unhappiness and sickness for your pet. Set a specific day each week to tend to your hamster's cage and stick to it. Once your routine is set, cage cleaning will simply become as habitual as playing with or feeding your pet. A clean cage will help keep your hamster happy and healthy for a longer life.