FAQ: Grooming for small pets

Enzyme cleaners break down urine and other organic residues, so they remove odours well. They are suitable for cleaning floors, pens and fabrics, provided the product is meant for use around animals and the label is followed.

Steam cleans and disinfects cage bars and plastic trays well without chemicals, but the heat can warp some plastics. The cage must cool down and dry completely before the animal goes back in.

Move the animal to a secure carrier, play pen or temporary cage with some familiar bedding and a hideout. Do not leave it unattended on an open surface it could fall from or escape.

Wash the bars in warm water with a mild detergent and remove dirt between them with a brush or toothbrush. Clean urine scale off with vinegar, then rinse and wipe the bars dry so they do not rust.

Hard white deposits are usually calcium salts from dried urine, especially in rabbit and guinea pig cages. They are easier to remove with diluted vinegar or a citric acid solution left on for a few minutes.

Remove the animal and the accessories, take out dirty bedding, and wash the glass with warm water and a mild detergent or diluted vinegar. Dry and air it well so no moisture or smell is left.

Ordinary window cleaners often contain ammonia, alcohol or fragrances that can irritate small pets. It is safer to use water with vinegar or a product made for pets, and rinse well.

Wipe wooden items with a dry brush and a damp cloth; very dirty ones can be washed with hot water and dried in the sun or somewhere warm. Do not soak them for long, and replace mouldy or urine-soaked wooden items.

Some owners heat untreated wooden items or branches in the oven at a low temperature to kill parasites. Do this carefully and keep watching, as wood can scorch or catch fire, and items with glue or paint must not be heated.

Wash the bottle in warm water with a narrow brush several times a week, paying special attention to the spout, where deposits build up. Green film or scale can be removed with diluted vinegar, followed by a thorough rinse.

A dry-food bowl is worth washing every few days, and a bowl used for fresh food every day. Ceramic and metal bowls are easier to keep clean than scratched plastic ones.

Shake out hair and bedding before washing, wash on a hot cycle with an unscented detergent and do not use fabric softener. Dry them thoroughly, as damp fabric quickly starts to smell and go mouldy.

Fabric softener leaves a coating that reduces absorbency and has a strong smell. Small pets may chew the fabric and swallow chemical residues, and the smell can irritate their airways.

Brush or vacuum up droppings and hay daily, blot wet spots dry, and wash the liners every few days or weekly. Shake out hair and hay before washing so they do not clog the washing machine.

Ceramic bowls and sturdy plastic items that the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe can, if you use unscented products. Thin plastic can warp, and wooden items are ruined in a dishwasher.

Every few days sieve or scoop out wet sand, and wash the whole box during the general cage clean. A little clean sand with a familiar smell can be left so the animal keeps using the same spot.

The ammonia smell comes from urine left in the bedding for a long time, especially when the cage is cleaned too rarely, the bedding absorbs poorly or there are too many animals in the cage. Ammonia harms the airways, so wet spots need removing more often and ventilation should be improved.

Scented sprays and air fresheners are best not used near small pets, because they only mask the smell and can irritate the airways. If you use an unscented odour remover made for pets, follow the label and do not spray it directly on the animal or the bedding while it is in the cage.

Baking soda can help clean and deodorise an empty tray, but it must be rinsed off afterwards. Do not sprinkle it under the bedding, where the animal can inhale or swallow it.

Mice, especially males, have strong-smelling urine because they use it to mark territory. Frequently removing wet spots, suitable bedding and good ventilation reduce the smell, but cleaning everything out too often can trigger even more marking.