Is it Safe?: Cage Disinfectant spray

[d3bugu]

Is it safe or necessary to use product such as disinfectant or odor removal spray for cages?

[heatherbunnie]

I think a vinegar-water mixture works well for getting rid of the odor, and it's safe for the pigs.

[aqh88]

Vinegar is the safest. I use it straight but it smells strong and if you mix with water it lasts longer. If you wanted to put it in a spray bottled I'd probably do half vinegar and half water. Vinegar evaporates as it dries so you don't have to worry about rinsing it back off again. Just make sure the cage is dry before you start adding bedding and put the pigs back in. Even if an animal ingests straight vinegar they generally won't have worse than a stomach ache.

Bleach also works but isn't as nontoxic as vinegar. I wouldn't use it straight. Most mix it at least 50/50 and make extra certain it's dry before adding pigs. Alot of people wipe the cage down with plain water after the bleach to remove it and then dry. Once bleach dries it just leaves behind a salt residue which is nontoxic so it's still safe as long as you take extra precautions that it's dry before adding pigs.

[Ly&Pigs]

When I've had to use bleach, it's been in a 90/10 concentration. 10 parts bleach to 90 parts water. Vinegar, I've used straight on tough pee spots but normally use a 50/50 concentration.

[athread678]

I've used the vinegar and water, but I've also used the Clean Cage spray for small animals. It's not very cost effective, but my sister bought it as sort of a "guinea pig welcome pack". But the vinegar is much cheaper and goes a long way.