Cleaning the Cage
Cleaning the cage is something you will get very good at during your time as a rat owner, as you will be doing it often. The basics of your cage cleaning schedule should be something like this: Change litter/bedding every 3 days, scrub down cage every week. Of course it will depend on the type of cage you have and how messy your rats are, but most people would follow this schedule.
Changing the litter is simple; take the litter tray out of the cage, empty it into the bin, wipe down the tray, replace litter/bedding, put tray back in the cage. It's a good idea to frequently wash any hammocks and shelf liners you have in the cage too. Giving the cage a proper clean however can be a real task.
To clean your cage, you will need a cleaning solution (a mix of one part water, one part vinegar all poured into a spray bottle, or a bottle of cage cleaning spray, or a mild detergent you have lying around), a sponge or wash cloth, and access to water, preferably running. Ideally you'd want to clean the cage in the back yard or your bath tub depending on cage size. Obviously, you're going to want to take the rats and fabric and food out of the cage too, so put them in the travel cage or get someone to supervise them in their free range/play area.
Wet the cage down with water and scrub off any matter that's stuck to the tray, shelves and bars in the cage. Next, liberally apply the cleaning solution, rub it in with the cloth or sponge then rinse your cage well and you're done! Too easy. The hard part is the preparation and putting everything back together. Good luck!
Changing the litter is simple; take the litter tray out of the cage, empty it into the bin, wipe down the tray, replace litter/bedding, put tray back in the cage. It's a good idea to frequently wash any hammocks and shelf liners you have in the cage too. Giving the cage a proper clean however can be a real task.
To clean your cage, you will need a cleaning solution (a mix of one part water, one part vinegar all poured into a spray bottle, or a bottle of cage cleaning spray, or a mild detergent you have lying around), a sponge or wash cloth, and access to water, preferably running. Ideally you'd want to clean the cage in the back yard or your bath tub depending on cage size. Obviously, you're going to want to take the rats and fabric and food out of the cage too, so put them in the travel cage or get someone to supervise them in their free range/play area.
Wet the cage down with water and scrub off any matter that's stuck to the tray, shelves and bars in the cage. Next, liberally apply the cleaning solution, rub it in with the cloth or sponge then rinse your cage well and you're done! Too easy. The hard part is the preparation and putting everything back together. Good luck!