How Often Do You Clean Your Cage Out ?

[TinyHammies98]

I've just got a bigger cage for Stewie, a Ferplast Kios which is 70x50cm. I used to clean out his smaller cages that he used to live in (which was 2 Combi 1's attached together) about every 1 and a half to two weeks. I know people have said you don't have to do a full clean as often when you've got a bigger cage, obviously I'll spot clean in between the times he has a full clean but how often would you recommend to do a full clean out ? (Picture of cage below)

[cypher]

I spot clean as needed then do a full or even just a half cage clean about once a month or even less often depending on how clean the ham keeps things, never do a total clean though, always replace some of the old substrate, nesting material & food hoard.

[Shannonmcn]

When I had a cage about that size I was doing the same as cypher, dump half the substrate every month or so and spot clean (clear out bits of hoard and poop) every week or so, clean potty every few days.

[barley]

I do ''hamster housework'' (aka spot-cleans!) every couple of days and then a full clean about once every three weeks or so.

I always keep a little of the old substrate back to mix in with the new stuff to give it a familiar smell, and try not to clean wheel/toys on the same day as the substrate change.

[Fluffagrams]

I do a spot clean when I think it's needed and then a more thorough clean every three weeks however I will always put some of the old substrate back because May doesn't really like change very much. I won't clean her wheel or change her nesting materials on the same day as I change the substrate so she's always got something that smells familiar.

[Artisans_uk]

Just like everyone else, I spot clean a few times a week, then have a more thorough cage clean every month. With Elynor, Rue and Marram, it can go to 5weeks now that they are in bigger cages. I never get rid of all the substrate, just like others, and only get rid of the mucky substrate.

I will change bedding materials depending on each fluff. Rue regularly gets rid of her used stuff out of her tissue box, so I clear it away and give her new to take into her box when she wants.
Since Elynor has been in her new cage, she has been making nests in the wood shavings, so as she shoves old stuff out, I give her fresh. Marram will stuff her tissue box with more paper than was in it when I bought it from the shop full of tissues, so her box needs a good clear out but as with the substrate, I keep back some of the clean stuff and put it back in the tissue box and then give her new strips to take in as she requires.

As Fey makes tunnels in her substrate, I really hate cleaning her cage as it disrupts everything for her but it has to be done but she is very clean and there is one shelf which I clean in between cage cleans, which helps us both.

[WinnieTheHam]

For Myrcella (her cage is 95cm x 60cm) I spot clean mainly, such as cleaning out her hoard area, and all the poops and wee corners a couple times a week, depending on how much she poops etc... I usually do a 50% clean of the substrate once every 4-6 weeks When i do this i also change 50% of nesting materials. I also do a full clean of everything in her cage every 2-3 months or so. I really wipe everything down with hamster safe cleaner to make sure there's no bad bacteria lingering around.

It also depends what substrate you have, Tissue type substrates really start to smell in a couple weeks time. Where as Megazorb never smells, no matter how long you leave it in their cage.

[Wanna Hamster]

I do a full clean every month with regular spot cleans every other day.

[Gillybean]

Glad I've read your posts, I've been totally cleaning out my hamsters every I-2 weeks ....... boy have I got it wrong.
I shall amend my ways immediately.
I was beginning to see it as a chore so much cleaning but what you guys are doing makes so must sense I can spend more time enjoying them now.
I have 3 Syrian's who love hugs/strokes/kisses ....... I pet them a lot.

[charcobain]

With my hamster I spot clean daily if neccersary and do a full clean every 2 weeks.