Cleaning C&C and bedding naturally

[Jemima]

Hello.

I need to do a clean of the C&C cage as in a wipe down beneath the fleece etc, as Ive only so far been removing wet newspaper and hay every morning, and washing fleece once a week. My questions are...

1. What can I use that is natural, chemical free and not heavily odoured to do the weekly deep cage clean?
2. I have been using a very small amount on non-bio washing powder so it doesn't scent their bedding too much. And then air drying where possible. Is there a good scent free option for washing fleece?
3. On a different note, would it be OK to do floor time twice a day, or is that too much? How long do you do floor time for, if you do any? We have a minimum space cage (4x2 + 2x2 loft) so I'm aware they need enrichment and space where possible. At the moment, they tend to have had enough by around 45 minutes. I could potentially let them stay in there for longer as I work from home and can work in the same area so I can keep a watchful eye! Then it wouldn't need to be a twice daily thing. it is really time consuming preparing it all and then putting it all away! My work hours have decreased since these boys came into my life.

 

[CV26]

1. I use F10 which is a veterinary grade disinfectant. It's not a natural product or chemical free but it can be made up in various concentrations depending on the bugs you want to get rid of (handy if you have an illness going on) and the concentrated stuff last ages for the price. It doesn't smell strongly either when diluted.

2. I used the same wash powder that OH and I have...Asdas own sensitive non bio powder. For the piggy bedding I'll put on an extra rinse and I don't use too much powder. I think some forum users regularly add white vinegar to their washes.

3. My boys have a 120 x 60cm cage each with a split down the middle. Their floor time play pens are 75 x 115cm so not any different really, but it has different toys in it. If they got on they'd have a way bigger space!

We have a cat so it's tricky to let them run round a larger space. They don't seem to mind though and will do zoomies in both their cage and play pen. They have about 3-4 hours a day in the play pen for a change of scenery. I just leave them to it and they play / eat / snooze as they wish.

 

[Jemima]

Thank y

1. I use F10 which is a veterinary grade disinfectant. It's not a natural product or chemical free but it can be made up in various concentrations depending on the bugs you want to get rid of (handy if you have an illness going on) and the concentrated stuff last ages for the price. It doesn't smell strongly either when diluted.

2. I used the same wash powder that OH and I have...Asdas own sensitive non bio powder. For the piggy bedding I'll put on an extra rinse and I don't use too much powder. I think some forum users regularly add white vinegar to their washes.

3. My boys have a 120 x 60cm cage each with a split down the middle. Their floor time play pens are 75 x 115cm so not any different really, but it has different toys in it. If they got on they'd have a way bigger space!

We have a cat so it's tricky to let them run round a larger space. They don't seem to mind though and will do zoomies in both their cage and play pen. They have about 3-4 hours a day in the play pen for a change of scenery. I just leave them to it and they play / eat / snooze as they wish.

Thank you for all your answers! I will look up the F10 spray. I need to get something in time for Saturday - where do you get it from?

I think I'll keep them in their floor time space for longer, so they can rest and explore as they please. My only issue is pee! We have wooden floors, so I put towels and bath mats down. Hopefully that'll be enough...?!

We also have cats! I do have a lid for their run so I may bring that in. But I can also shut the cats in the other part of the house while they're sleeping.

P.S. Any tips on how to get an extremely wriggly piggie out of his C&C? I have tried to lure him in to a box, but he's worked out what I am trying to do! He took the melon and skedaddled! I have once picked him up quickly, and he squeaked so I didn't like to do that, he was fine whilst on me. But he is an escape artists and really does not want me to pick him up at the moment, hence why I have so far trapped him in a box. It's just now that he's worked it out, he won't go in - and, he goes down the far end of the C&C under the loft, so I can't reach him there anyway! Cheeky Pip! I tell him its for his own benefit, but he doesn't appear to be listening.

 

[CV26]

I got my F10 from Amazon. But you can get at places like VioVet and other pet suppliers too. You add a few ml to a fair amount of water so you don't need much each time. I bought some spray bottles to store it in.

My play pens are on carpet so I have some tarp / plastic sheeting underneath. Then I have the towel and fleece. Not had a pee problem yet...although they do fling poop around when they're zooming

I've got quite well behaved piggies when it comes to catching them I'm afraid so don't have any tips really. The main thing I do is be calm and purposeful - I've learnt their tricks so I can usually guess where they're going to go and they often end up running into my hands now if they are being awkward.

 

[Eddie & Elvis]

1) I don't know about any chemical free disinfectants, sorry.
2) I use a non bio detergent then air dry my fleece too and haven't noticed it smelling very strong at all.
3) At the weekends by boys come out in the floor everyday as there is the space without them being in the way and it's not like I've got anywhere to go so I'm in the house while they're out. In the week they get a good few hours still. I know a lot of people don't do this much floor time but I can so I do as it's nice for them to have so much space.

By 2 don't like being picked up so I started off by herding them into a specific fleece tunnel and they quickly realised they go fun places if they get in the 'magic travelling tube' so now they hope straight in Giving them a treat onces they're in and transported will definitely encourage them to be brave and try it out.

 

[Jemima]

1) I don't know about any chemical free disinfectants, sorry.
2) I use a non bio detergent then air dry my fleece too and haven't noticed it smelling very strong at all.
3) At the weekends by boys come out in the floor everyday as there is the space without them being in the way and it's not like I've got anywhere to go so I'm in the house while they're out. In the week they get a good few hours still. I know a lot of people don't do this much floor time but I can so I do as it's nice for them to have so much space.

By 2 don't like being picked up so I started off by herding them into a specific fleece tunnel and they quickly realised they go fun places if they get in the 'magic travelling tube' so now they hope straight in Giving them a treat onces they're in and transported will definitely encourage them to be brave and try it out.

I think that is the key, I need to find a round tunnel to get them into. One of them will get into what is called a fleece pepper pot, then I close the two entrances gently and pick him up, which is no problem. Only then I have to often take him back because it has been impossible to bring in his mate!

 

[Eddie & Elvis]

Hopefully if one is starting to get the idea then the other will see that's it's not that scary after all and give it a go themselves