Cleaning Supplies

[MinatoandChili]

Hi, I wanted to know if anybody had any recommendations for cleaning supplies for my chinchillas cage? I’ve been using water and vinegar for the main part, but since Minato’s cage is fully covered by blankets and towels I do wash each one. I’ve just been looking to buy cleaning supplies like sprays or odor scents to make his cage smell nicer. I know chinchillas are very sensitive to certain strong scents, but would you recommend any that wont harm him? Thanks!

 

[Amethyst]

I'm not really sure there is anything you can use for scent sprays on the cage. You can get an air purifier and/or those carbon odor absorbers if the room smells, but it shouldn't if you clean the cage regularly. Anything you spray on the cage or on things in the cage needs to be safe, no chemicals, no oils, etc. Also if it has a scent and is accessible it can encourage chewing. If the cage stinks even after cleaning the liners it may be time to do a deep clean of the cage, wiping down the frame and bars, as well as wipe down anything around the cage, the wall(s), floor, and anything near the cage that could have gotten pee splatter on it.

Also you say you use towels, I don't advised that, it's your risk to take but if he decides to chew on them the strings can get tangled in his gut, or even around a leg or his neck. Anti pil fleece is the only safe fabric. Even if the towels are under the fleece if the chin decides to chew through the fleece it will have access to the towel. If you need extra layers to absorb pee the safest option is to just go with more fleece, my liners for example are 3 layers thick on top of the pans.

 

[MinatoandChili]

I'm not really sure there is anything you can use for scent sprays on the cage. You can get an air purifier and/or those carbon odor absorbers if the room smells, but it shouldn't if you clean the cage regularly. Anything you spray on the cage or on things in the cage needs to be safe, no chemicals, no oils, etc. Also if it has a scent and is accessible it can encourage chewing. If the cage stinks even after cleaning the liners it may be time to do a deep clean of the cage, wiping down the frame and bars, as well as wipe down anything around the cage, the wall(s), floor, and anything near the cage that could have gotten pee splatter on it.

Also you say you use towels, I don't advised that, it's your risk to take but if he decides to chew on them the strings can get tangled in his gut, or even around a leg or his neck. Anti pil fleece is the only safe fabric. Even if the towels are under the fleece if the chin decides to chew through the fleece it will have access to the towel. If you need extra layers to absorb pee the safest option is to just go with more fleece, my liners for example are 3 layers thick on top of the pans.

Thank you Amethyst! I do clean his cage regularly, I clean it once in the morning and once at night so 2x a day. I think I’ll just stick to the water and vinegar since I don’t want to cause any risk. I think the cage could smell because his cage is build of wood. Regardless, my husband has been thinking about getting a humidifier for the room during the time of winter.

About the towels, Minato is for sure not a chewer. Since he’s on the lazy side, the only thing he chews on are his food and treats. I watch him all day everyday and he just sleeps. If I hear him chewing, I would check up to see what he’s chewing on but it’s never the towel so that’s good. But taking your advice, I will be buying fleece for him. After all, I want the best for him and you’re the person who always gives the best recommendations for care. Would you mind telling me which photo is better to get him? I listed them below. Thank you!

 

[Amethyst]

Oh, yeah if the cage is wood that could definitely be a problem, it's one of many reasons I don't recommend wood cages. Metal cages you can actually clean them if they get pee on them.

I would be careful with using a humidifier in the room especially if you have a wood cage. Make sure it's as far away from the cage as possible and it doesn't raise the humidity up too high. One big issue with wood cages is if the chin gets a fungal infection, like from the room getting humid, all wood in the cage needs to be thrown away since it's nearly impossible to get the spores out of wood. If the cage is made of wood that means the cage needs to be thrown away.

The second two pics both look like anti pill fleece, but I would go with the middle one since the grey ones look like the paw is embroidered on. A lot of people also get fleece throws from Walmart or bargain stores for cheap if you want different designs. I got mine from a local bargain store as well as higher quality fleece with specific designs from a fabric store.

Honestly the fleece might be more comfy then the towel anyway. When I first switched to fleece liners from just using shavings, my boys actually stretched out sleeping in the middle of the cage floor. It was cute once I realized they weren't dead. (minor freak out moment) Just make sure you wick the fleece when you get it so it absorbs the liquid. If you don't know what that means, you wash it a couple times to remove the fabric softener they put on most fleece when it's made, it makes it looks and feel nice but also makes it less absorbent so the pee puddles instead of absorbs into the fleece. You will know it's good when it actually absorbs the water instead of coming out of the washer feeling dry. Also if you use throw blankets make sure you remove the string along the edges.

 

[MinatoandChili]

Oh, yeah if the cage is wood that could definitely be a problem, it's one of many reasons I don't recommend wood cages. Metal cages you can actually clean them if they get pee on them.

I would be careful with using a humidifier in the room especially if you have a wood cage. Make sure it's as far away from the cage as possible and it doesn't raise the humidity up too high. One big issue with wood cages is if the chin gets a fungal infection, like from the room getting humid, all wood in the cage needs to be thrown away since it's nearly impossible to get the spores out of wood. If the cage is made of wood that means the cage needs to be thrown away.

The second two pics both look like anti pill fleece, but I would go with the middle one since the grey ones look like the paw is embroidered on. A lot of people also get fleece throws from Walmart or bargain stores for cheap if you want different designs. I got mine from a local bargain store as well as higher quality fleece with specific designs from a fabric store.

Honestly the fleece might be more comfy then the towel anyway. When I first switched to fleece liners from just using shavings, my boys actually stretched out sleeping in the middle of the cage floor. It was cute once I realized they weren't dead. (minor freak out moment) Just make sure you wick the fleece when you get it so it absorbs the liquid. If you don't know what that means, you wash it a couple times to remove the fabric softener they put on most fleece when it's made, it makes it looks and feel nice but also makes it less absorbent so the pee puddles instead of absorbs into the fleece. You will know it's good when it actually absorbs the water instead of coming out of the washer feeling dry. Also if you use throw blankets make sure you remove the string along the edges.

Thank you! In that case, I won’t look into that humidifier. But for the wooden cage, I didn’t think it’d be a problem or else I wouldn’t have made it:/ But overall, thank you for the advice! I ordered the fleece liners so I’ll be getting those shortly. I’ll also go to bargain stores or Walmart for more since I don’t want towels anymore.