RCReptiles.com

[ryancbj22]

I was looking for some input on how some of you clean your racks, and enclosure's. What exactly everyone uses as far as cleaning solutions, and what you do weekly or monthly. I guess i'm looking to copy some of your cleaning habits and type's of solutions I have my own routine's but I guess I feel like i should be doing a little more than what i've been doing.

[deborahbroadus]

There's a nice discussion going on here: http://www.rcreptiles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3489

It started out one way, but one thing lead to another and we are now in cleaning products, time needed to clean..we are learning if our present methods are sufficent to prevent the growth of bacteria/virus/mold etc anything that can cause illness in our snakes.

It might benefit to know kill times for bacterium etc. Some of us may be changing our cleaning process or changing the way or products with which we clean.

However, to answer your question:

I clean once a week and spot clean as needed. I have been using Chlorhexidine, but may now add bleach and detergent to the list of cleaning agents. It may now take me 2 days to finish my scheduled rack cleaning rather than the normal ONE day.

[GrayKat97]

Deb, you can add bleach to your chlorhexidine and eliminate a step. I used to work for a small animal vet and that's how we cleaned surgery after use. We always mixed the bleach right in with the chlorhexidine (turns it an ugly red color) but wow does it kick rear at getting rid of "bio" stains. of course that's only for cleaning don't want to bleach the snakes.

[deborahbroadus]

[GrayKat97]

Mix the chlorhexidine as usual then add bleach. I always used 1/4 cup to a gallon of Nolvasan mixed (I've been told I'm heavy handed when mixing both the Nolvasan and the bleach ) When using it to mop floors I'd just mop the whole floor then rinse when I was done (I have no Idea how long that actually took ) when cleaning off the Sx table and stands I'd spray it on, let it sit for about 15 minutes then wipe it off. I never noticed a strong bleachy smell from it so maybe the Nolvasan (easier to spell than Chlorhexidine ) tamed it somehow or (more likely) my sinus' are just bad enough that I didn't notice.

As for knowing what can be safely mixed together, it's a good question that I have no answer to. I only know about Nolvasan and bleach because another tech told me about it.