Non-toxic cleaning products?

[Pantalaimon]

I am looking to buy a spray of some kind for cleaning the cage during my weekly cage emptying and deep cleaning. I want something that isn’t environmentally horrible as my drainage system is a digester and the good bacteria would be killed by anything too strong or toxic.

I have looked at the F10 sprays but there are so many I don’t know which one to go with! I have also used safe4 in the past while volunteering with rescues, but it is quite strongly scented and that is not something I like as I am very very sensitive to smells.

Does anyone have any recommendations that fit this?

 

[Piggies&buns]

F10sc disinfectant or
F10scxd disinfectant cleanser

either one is fine but the xd version is a cleaner as well as a disinfectant.

I buy the concentrate as it is more cost effective and make up to general dilution level in a spray bottle.

I then use it as general deep cleaning.
(If you were to them have ringworm or parasite you can make up a stronger version in another bottle)

 

[Pantalaimon]

F10sc disinfectant or
F10scxd disinfectant cleanser

either one is fine but the xd version is a cleaner as well as a disinfectant.

I buy the concentrate as it is more cost effective and make up to general dilution level in a spray bottle.

I then use it as general deep cleaning.
(If you were to them have ringworm or parasite you can make up a stronger version in another bottle)

Thank you!

I think I will do that. I have a lot of other animals as well as guinea pigs so buying the concentrate is probably a good idea.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes it is a good idea - my bottle has lasted absolutely ages! I have two rabbits as well as my piggies so it gets well used!

 

[Wiebke]

I am looking to buy a spray of some kind for cleaning the cage during my weekly cage emptying and deep cleaning. I want something that isn’t environmentally horrible as my drainage system is a digester and the good bacteria would be killed by anything too strong or toxic.

I have looked at the F10 sprays but there are so many I don’t know which one to go with! I have also used safe4 in the past while volunteering with rescues, but it is quite strongly scented and that is not something I like as I am very very sensitive to smells.

Does anyone have any recommendations that fit this?

Hi

You can use warm water with distilled white vinegar for cleaning (pure vinegar for heavy soiling), let stand for a quarter of an hour and then use your arm muscles for scrubbing.

I would still recommend a monthly deep clean with F10 solution. Wipe everything down and then dry with disposable kitchen paper, which you can then get rid off via your household rubbish without it going through your digester. Reusable rags are in this case not ideal because the F10 will still end up in the digester although much more diluted when rinsed out.

I use old spray bottles for my own made up F10 solution but you can do the same with basically anything. It is actually much cheaper to buy any disinfectant fluid as a concentrate because it is much cheaper - that principle also works with the vinegar as well for lighter soiling.

It is the best compromise between safety for your piggies and your environmental requirements that I can think of.

 

[Pantalaimon]

Hi

You can use warm water with distilled white vinegar for cleaning (pure vinegar for heavy soiling), let stand for a quarter of an hour and then use your arm muscles for scrubbing.

I would still recommend a monthly deep clean with F10 solution. Wipe everything down and then dry with disposable kitchen paper, which you can then get rid off via your household rubbish without it going through your digester. Reusable rags are in this case not ideal because the F10 will still end up in the digester although much more diluted when rinsed out.

I use old spray bottles for my own made up F10 solution but you can do the same with basically anything. It is actually much cheaper to buy any disinfectant fluid as a concentrate because it is much cheaper - that principle also works with the vinegar as well for lighter soiling.

It is the best compromise between safety for your piggies and your environmental requirements that I can think of.

I think I’m going to get some F10 and use it every other week. My vet has said the vinegar isn’t strong enough to help with things like hay mites. I also hate having my whole room smell of vinegar as they are currently in my bedroom.

That’s a really good idea about the kitchen roll, thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

I think I’m going to get some F10 and use it every other week. My vet has said the vinegar isn’t strong enough to help with things like hay mites. I also hate having my whole room smell of vinegar as they are currently in my bedroom.

That’s a really good idea about the kitchen roll, thank you!

No, vinegar is not strong enough against bugs and germs on its own, hence why you need to deep clean regularly. However, hay mites come with the hay and not from a regularly cleaned cage unless you have or have had a recent outbreak.

Kitchen paper is not the most environmentally friendly solution but you want to use something absorbent that doesn't go into your digester via the washing machine, kitchen sink or toilet or trust that the dilution is great enough when you wash your dedicated rags and towels in the washing machine.