Cage Cleaning After A Deceased Hammie

climber008 · 02-09-2017, 11:57 AM

Hello everyone.

It has been about a week short of a month since Kornelia passed on. I have just brought myself over the fact of her death to a point where I can consider cleaning her cage.

Kornelia passed away from a heart attack late one night. She did not have any illnesses or any health problems. She was just getting older and was nearing her 2nd birthday.

I was just wondering how I should clean my cage. I have a TON of wood toys and popsicle stick homemade items that I don't want to throw out, but I'm not sure how I should clean them.

I am planning on cleaning all of her bottles, dishes, and ceramics with hot soapy water. I'll also wipe and her homemade melamine cage with a hot water rag and vinegar.

However, I'm not sure how to treat all of her other items! Could someone please help me? Thanks!

Here is a picture of my cage that I took a while back:

As you can see, I have surrounded all of the edges with bendy bridges since Kornelia like to chew the corners. It also has some cork and a few popsicle stick creations in there. I changed out the wheel to be a Wodent Wheel before she died, as the purple one in the picture was just her "playtime" wheel.

AmityvilleHams · 02-09-2017, 12:03 PM

Wooden items should be thrown out.You can't sterilize wooden items without the wood absorbing the cleaners used,which isn't good for hamsters even when using something like a vinegar water solution.

The cage itself,plastic items,and ceramic items can be safely sterilized though!Do not use soap.Use a vinegar water solution instead,as this is the safest way to clean hamster cages,ceramic items,and plastic items.

Wood items,due to not being able to be cleaned like other materials,will have collected scents and such.This can be extremely stressful to other hamsters,and even if your hamster was not ill it is just not worth the risk to reuse wooden items when you can replace them and not have to take a chance with your hamster's health and safety

SweetPeaHammy · 02-09-2017, 12:32 PM

I agree with AmityvilleHams. Wooden items cannot be cleaned effectively and if they are and then given to another hamster they'll be chewing disinfectant. When I had my rats I had to buy two of everything as I had girls and boys and didn't want their scents to mix.

The cage and other plastic items can be cleaned

Pebbles82 · 02-09-2017, 01:04 PM

It's a shame but I personally wouldn't attempt to clean wooden items. I suppose if you left them in the freezer for a long time any scent might go and bugs should be killed but I'm not 100% on that one.

cypher · 02-09-2017, 01:20 PM

I don't think you necessarily need to throw out wooden items, as long as there's been no contamination from either illness or anything that may have been peed on (you'll never get pee out of wood) just air them out for a good few weeks or so.
I have things like bendy bridges & coconuts that have been used by at least three or four hams now with no problems whatsoever.

Drago · 02-09-2017, 01:27 PM

This is definitely a matter of opinion I think. Some people don't believe in reusing at all while others think it's fine if precautions are taken. In my personal opinion, I agree with cypher. I don't see harm in reusing toys assuming your ham didn't die of an infectious disease that could be passed on. Like mentioned above, let them air out for a bit first. However, if they have urine on them or they smell gross, I'd just throw them out. I'm sorry about the loss of your little one and may she Rest In Peace

climber008 · 02-09-2017, 02:00 PM

Okay! Thanks so much everyone for all the helpful comments and advice!

I will definitely sterilize the ceramics and plastic with a vinegar water solution instead. What would you recommend the ratio to be? I know what the ratio would normally be for just a routine cage clean, but I don't know 100% what it should be after a deceased hammie.

Thanks again! I really do appreciate all the advice.

Pebbles82 · 02-09-2017, 02:07 PM

I think I did 50/50 vinegar and water. Vinegar doesn't kill absolutely everything although it kills a good percentage of bugs - it is a very good cleaner though. Anyway you don't need them 100% sterilised, just cleaned and free of odour from previous hamster, To be honest I think washing ceramic things in washing up liquid would be fine if you use it neat, rub it in and then rinse it off. I'd use the vinegar solution for the cage and any plastic items.

AmityvilleHams · 02-09-2017, 02:23 PM

I'd still say not to use any sort of soap,unless you can find one that is completely hamster-safe with no questionable ingredients.Something all natural,not citrus based(near impossible,but very important),and with no harsh chemicals and such.Trying to find hamster-safe cleaners and soap is next to impossible,and even something that is used with wildlife(for example,Dawn)would not be a very safe idea.