Urine staining in corner of cage base - How to remove?

racinghamster · 06-09-2011, 03:47 AM

I was`nt too sure where to post this so thought Housing was the best place to ask! I know this has probably been asked a million times before, but I`ve tried vinegar and scrubbing with a scourer, yet the white calcium stain won`t budge from one corner of Boris`s old cage (I`m cleaning it today to store it away) as he has a new Mickey 2XL cage now.

He`s been in this other cage for three weeks and pees in the one corner and it has stained white. I can`t believe how strong their urine is?

Is there anything that truly works to remove these stains once they are established? Or is it a better idea to wet-wipe the corner every few days to stop the stain occurring in the first place?

Tips welcomed!

Katarina · 06-09-2011, 04:29 AM

did you try de-scailer? As you are storing it rather then using it in the near future, I 'd suggest using this and then soak it in milton or just boiling water. it will have a plenty of time to evaporate before you use it again.

racinghamster · 06-09-2011, 04:32 AM

No hav`nt tried de-scaler, but don`t have any in the house! I only have vinegar and baby steralising fluid, but I doubt that would do anything except clean!

Tese white calcium stains are murder! Looks like I will need to wipe his pee corner each evening or get him a hamster loo!

Katarina · 06-09-2011, 06:12 AM

ok, so do this - put the vinegar into your kettle and boil it. when in boiling point, poor it into the cage ant tilt the cage so the vinegar is sitting on the stain. (this is how my extremely scaly kettle gets clean in minutes!) I have even used this method on cleaning our toilet when we first moved in our flat and it worked!

PS: be prepared for sudden urge to go and have some fish and chips! the smell of boiling vinegar is going to make the whole street crave some too!

good luck!

fluffychick · 06-09-2011, 06:20 AM

you could try bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth to rub it with or make a thick paste with the bicarb and water and use a toothbrush to try and lift it.
mixing bicarbonate of soda with neat vinegar really packs a punch.

warning though -sometimes bicarbonate of soda can take the colour out of plastics so if that is going to be a problem don't try it just in case.

I cleaned my rats litter tray with neat vinegar, I used the brown stuff, I didn't have any white vinegar in at the time, I poured loads in neat and left it soaking for a few hours then used a blunt knife to scrape the surface and edges of the stain, once I had "lifted" the edge of the deposits the vinegar seemed to get underneath and it scraped off bit by bit then. I did it slowly and gently with the knife. maybe a hard plastic scraper might be better as again be careful as you will leave scratches if you scrape hard.

I had to really soap up and clean the tray to get rid of the vinegar smell afterwards too.

racinghamster · 06-09-2011, 07:26 AM

Thanks guys. This stuff does seem to dry like concrete does`nt it! I will make a point of cleaning the corner of his new cage more often and it might prevent a build up of this white calcium staining. It`s either that or a hamster nappy!

Fidgetthefirst · 06-09-2011, 08:37 AM

It's very hard to get rid of it when its being this stubborn! I usually resort to scraping it with a butter knife if the vinegar doesn't work, although it 99% does work, and now i have the new cage im not letting it get as bad as it was in his old cage

and scraping can cause scratches.. :/ But its jsut a last resort of mine :P

racinghamster · 06-09-2011, 08:47 AM

I think I will just give it a clean each evening fidget to make sure it does`nt take a hold and be allowed to stain. Seems to be the best course of action rather than letting it build up. I`ll see if this helps.

Fidgetthefirst · 06-09-2011, 09:34 AM

Thats what i do now, i don't want to ruin this cage!

racinghamster · 06-09-2011, 09:39 AM

I did`nt realise how quickly hamster pee stained?!! Boris has resided in his gabber barred cage for around three weeks and the white staining has already took hold and I was unaware of it until I went to clean the entire base last night! Now that he`s in his new Mickey XL, I realise now that I will need to wipe the corner daily to prevent the urine attacking the base! I used to just lift out any damp substrate but now I know I need to wipe the corner with some wetted kitchen towel and place a handful of clean substrate over it.