Disinfection

[Poekie]

My hamster passed away and I want to disinfect her cage items. I don't know how to go about disinfecting her hanging coconut and the cork log. How do I disinfect these?

[sushi_78]

I would put the coconut in hot water with some liquid hand soap, and give it a scrub. That's how I wash my coconut houses when needed. I don't have any cork items but I'm not sure how well cork would hold up to being washed and scrubbed, you may need to replace that one. You could try baking it.

[Pebbles82]

I tried baking a cork log once but it smelled awful afterwards! I may have done it too long! I ended up replacing them. I think baking at 100 degrees centigrade for about 20 minutes is recommended.

Coconuts are quite hairy and I'm not sure soap and water would be easy.

[sushi_78]

My coconut houses have all the hair removed so are easy to clean, but one with the hair still on is probably best replaced.

And yes, in my experience baking things tends to worsen smells. I can't forget the time I tried washing and baking sand to make it last longer - it smelt terrible and so did the oven.

[LunaTheHamster1]

I have baked my cork logs a few times - around 95 degrees I think for about 20 mins - apart from the time I forgot and then it was nearly an hour!!! oops, all was ok though.