Cleaning in Anticipation

JennySTL · 12-02-2019, 11:26 AM

Hi all - we lost out beloved Teddy earlier this year, and we have decided to get a new Syrian in a few weeks. What is the best way to clean in preparation? I think the only things we are going to use that were Teddy's is his cage (a 55 gallon aquarium), his food dish and his 12" Silent Runner. I will probably get new wooden bridges and toys and I will use a new shoebox for the house.

Is the Silent Runner dishwasher safe? Should I use vinegar for the cage? Thank you!

Fluffagrams · 12-02-2019, 01:19 PM

I've never tried to put a Silent Runner in a dishwasher (as I don't have one) but I probably wouldn't want to risk it. I usually hand wash anything plastic to be on the safe side in normal dishwashing soap and then spray them with a pet-safe cleaner.

If the toys are plastic or ceramic then there's no reason why those need to be replaced if they're still in good condition.

Pebbles82 · 12-02-2019, 01:27 PM

I wouldn't submerge the silent runner in water or the ball bearings will go rusty. You can just wash it with washing up liquid. Although mine had so many grungy bits in the little cracks that I ended up buying a new one. You can soak the front piece but not the back piece with the ball bearings in.

I did use my silent runner for two hamsters, but by the third hamster I got a new one. So yours might clean up nicely.

I would just clean out the tank with petsafe disinfectant for hamsters, rinse well so there is no scent left. Vinegar can leave a smell for quite a long time and doesn't kill all bugs, it just cleans really and kills the odd bug. The petsafe disinfectants are supposed to kill everything and will remove any hamster scent.

Ithuviel · 12-03-2019, 01:15 AM

I also think that the wooden things can be put into the oven for about 10 min and then they are fine. right?

AmityvilleHams · 12-03-2019, 02:30 AM

No. Wooden things need to be replaced, since there is no way to safely clean them thoroughly. As wood is a porous surface anything you'd use on wood to clean things would soak in and be completely impossible to truly remove, and even if coated this is too big of a risk to take. I know the argument of wood items being expensive to replace has been used, but the health and safety of future hamsters is not something to try and cut corners on.

JennySTL · 12-03-2019, 08:26 AM

Thank you, all. This was very helpful!

flowerfairy · 12-03-2019, 01:46 PM

Erins animals does a great youtube video about washing wooden things for a new hamster.

Josie · 12-03-2019, 04:05 PM

Very helpful article

JennySTL · 12-10-2019, 10:42 AM

Here's the setup! We are going out of town for a week on Friday, so we won't be getting the new hammy until after we return, but I wanted to get it mostly setup beforehand. I don't have toys in yet, but I have his new shoebox house (against the right side), his 12 " silent runner and his sand bath container (I just ordered some non-dye reptisand). It's a 55 gallon tank. We are ready for our new family member. Thanks for all the tips, all!

Still going to keep "Teddy's Cage" on it, because I feel it's always his home.

cage.jpg