If you are keeping birds at home and need tips on how to clean their cages, you are at the right place. Many bird owners can attest that birds may be lovable, sweet, and very messy. Therefore, one of the most critical keys to keeping them healthy is regular cleaning of their cages, accessories, and play stands. Cleaning the cage for your bird may seem like a tedious activity due to numerous bars, crevices, and cracks to scrub.
However, setting a cleaning schedule for the bird’s cage and adhering to it can be the best way of handling the task efficiently. The plan involves breaking the process into manageable tasks that you can faster and efficiently complete daily, monthly, and weekly. Working out the routine can save your energy and time but ensuring that the bird has a comfortable and clean cage to stay in always.
To minimize fatigue of our customers on cage cleaning, I have discussed a comprehensive guideline on how to clean a bird cage effortlessly.
Requirements For Cleaning Bird Cage
- Sandpaper
- A set of liners for fresh cage
- Cleaning cloths
- Cage wipers.
- Appropriate disinfectant
- Scrubbing brush
Pre-Cleaning Preparation.
Bird keepers should show a high level of preparedness before the commencement of the cleaning activity. It involves emptying a birdcage and preparation of the cleaning solution.
Empty The Bird Cage
Cleaning the birdcage requires accessibility to every unit of its space without restriction. Here, it would be helpful if you relocated your bird into a carrier cage to prevent it from unduly stress and escape. Removing the bird from the cage also prevents its exposure to dirt, dust, and fumes eliciting in the process of cleaning. Notably, bird keepers need to take the birdcage and dump it over the garbage bin for large debris to fall off naturally.
Prepare The Cleaning Solution
It would help if you either used a commercial cage disinfectant or make your cleaning solution. However, a commercial disinfectant used in cleaning the cage should be bird-friendly.
Making Your Solution for Birdcage Cleaning.
- Put three tablespoons of baking soda into a basin. Used for the removal of bird odors since it is non-toxic
- Add three cups of warm water. Warm water removes organic matter from the birdcage.
- Add three tablespoons of lemon juice. The enzymes in lemon juice are necessary for breaking down the droppings and food on the birdcage.
- Add three drops of dishwashing liquid into the solution in the basin and shake well for proper formation of the mixture.
- Finally, pour the solution into the spray bottle and get ready for cleaning.
Steps for cleaning your Bird’s cage.
Now that you are through with the pre-cleaning preparation, it is time to begin the cleaning. Here, I have identified various steps needed for the thorough cleaning of your birdcage.
Scrub The Cage
Use the cleaning solution prepared and your brush in scrubbing each square unit of the cage. Similarly, an old toothbrush can be useful in brushing tightly spaced units of the birdcage. Brushing is crucial since it helps in removing initially unrinsed dirt and debris from the spaces and surfaces of the cage. In case of stubborn gunk, you can allow cleaning solution float on the surfaces for a while before scrubbing.
Rinse The Cage
You should rinse your birdcage by immersing it in hot water. Take the cage into the bathroom, open the shower, and turn it into the highest temperature that your hands can tolerate. The more powerful water spray is vital for better removal of any stuff wedging in the cage bars.
The use of cold or warm water in rinsing the birdcage is necessary for the removal of any cleaning solution residue. Besides, it would help if you did not leave any residue in the cage; otherwise, it may expose your bird to potential danger.
Change The Cage Liner.
Replace the liner of the cage regularly using newspapers with white and black ink sine colored materials that can be toxic to the bird. Black and white papers not only facilitate easy replacement, but they can also allow for better observation of the bird droppings.
Wash Food And Water Dishes.
Clean the dishes for food and water using soapy, hot water, and dry them thoroughly. You can as well use a dishwasher in providing a more cleaning power. Besides, drying food dishes before adding food help to prevent faster molding of damp seeds and pellets.
The use of great impact plastic dishes or stainless steel is a good alternative due to their ability to withstand hot water, repeated washings, and disinfectants.
Disinfect The Cage.
Disinfecting all bird accessories and the birdcage surfaces is essential, especially if the bird has a recent sickness. Disinfectants help to remove unshed microorganisms that are still present on various surfaces of the birdcage. It is essential to ask for the appropriate disinfectant from your vet for cleaning purposes.
Alternatively,
Prepare a bleach solution by mixing a half cup of the bleach with one gallon of water if the disinfectant solution is not available. It is vital to have doors and windows full open when preparing to allow complete dissipation of fumes. Notably, the prepared solution should be strong to kill disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Drying
Dry the accessories either under the sun or use a cage towel in wiping them. It is imperative to practice thorough drying of the cage before returning the bird to avoid subjecting it to stress
Clean The Cage Surrounding.
Dot not forget sweeping and cleaning the floor of the propped birdcage using the right solution in disinfecting them.
Put the cage liner and return all the accessories. Then you can safely bring back your bird into its cage.
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Final Word
Maintaining a conducive environment for your bird can take a few minutes but may add years to the life of the bird. Accordingly, regular cleaning of the cage may seem to be tedious, but sticking to the above outlined schedule can make the cleaning task effortless. Therefore, it is essential to play your part in making sure that your bird lives comfortable and happy by keeping his cage tidy, fresh, and free from germs.