Look for any droppings or wet areas in the bedding material. You can spot remove some areas. However, if there are a lot of them you should change the bedding. Pick out any leftover food that your hamster may have left laying around the cage. Change the water daily. If the bedding material has become soaked or damp near the water dispenser, you may want to change the bedding out. If the walls of the enclosure are looking dirty or smudged, it may be time for a full cleaning. If the cage smells you must clean it fully. Hamsters have a very sensitive sense of smell and can fall ill if the cage is unclean or the air quality is too poor. [2] X Research source
Wash cloth or baby wipes. This will be used for scrubbing and cleaning the cage and anything in it. Disinfectant. You can use mild, antibacterial hand or dish soap. Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach as these can harm your hamster. Pet stores will often carry safe and approved cleaning solutions as well. New bedding to place in the cage after you’ve cleaned it. Keep about a third of the bedding so they don’t get stressed.
Handle your hamster gently as you remove them from the cage. Cup your hamster in your hands, fully supporting their entire body. Don’t put your hamster in an exercise ball as they can be highly dangerous and is even considered to be cruel by some people. Wash your hands before and after handling your hamster to protect both of you from spreading germs and getting sick. You can use regular unscented hand soap for this.
Remove all food and water bowls or dispensers. Take out any toys or exercise equipment.
You may want to seal the old bedding in a waste bag of its own to lock in any smells.
Spray or soak cage items in your cleaning solution to disinfect them. Use your washcloth to clean the cage items as thoroughly as you can. Make sure to get all corners or any tough to reach spots.
Use your disinfectant solution and cloth to scrub the cage clean. Some areas may have bedding stuck to the cage wall. These may need to be scraped away or scrubbed vigorously to remove. Soaking problem areas of the cage can help break them up and allow for easier removal. If your cage is a wire or mesh cage, make sure to clean each bar. Some cages are aquariums and these will require you to completely clean each surface and corner.
You can towel dry the cage and items if you want to hurry the process up. Leaving the cage in the sun can help it dry faster. Sunlight can also help to disinfect the cage, due to its UV light rays.
Place fresh, clean bedding in the cage first. Put any toys or exercise equipment back in the cage, on top of the bedding. Add fresh food and water to your hamster’s bowls or dispensers and place them back in the cage. Place your hamster back in the cage and allow it time to adjust and relax before interacting with it again. Try giving it a few hours to get used to the cage again before interacting with it.
Regular cleaning of your hamster’s cage is necessary. Clean the cage fully at least once a week. Marking down the cleaning schedule on a calendar can help serve as a reminder.
Remove any visible droppings. Remove, clean, and refill your hamster’s water dispenser. Take out any fresh food that your hamster didn’t eat. Add more bedding if needed.
Pododermatitis affects the foot, causing raised red patches and results from extended exposure to urine and feces. Wet-tail is an illness that is caused by stress, which a dirty cage can produce in your hamster. Wet-tail is a serious disease that can kill your hamster. Your hamster may also show signs of illness if it has a runny nose, weakness, or diarrhea. [13] X Research source
