Cleaning Wire Cages...

[Random Rabbit]

I'm posting this for DH ( i promised him i would do this )... A couple sets of cages he got could really stand a Super cleaning. They have the dreaded corner pile-up. He would like to find out the best way to get those yucky corners cleaned out.
Right now they are outside where the rain can loosen them up a bit. Thanks for ideas and suggestions. :bunnyhop:

 

[MaggieJ]

A strong wire brush helps a lot. Sometimes I sort of use it to bang on the wire... the wire bristles seem to loosen things up that way. Putting them out in the rain was a good idea. After the worst is removed, a clean toilet brush is a pretty good tool for scrubbing. I like to use white vinegar as well and then rinse it off so it doesn't damage the galvanized wire. Vinegar is an effective deodorizer and sanitizer and is very safe.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

go Maggie;s route-- followed by several hours in the sunshine.... I used to have enough cages, that I would turn over packed cages, and let nature do most of the work. Now, with these stackers, I do not have that option( But I am planning a sort of shelving unit for them, which would make it possible!)

 

[Thumpersden]

It's not fun when that happens.... If I am in a hurry I put the buns in carriers and then take the cages to the car wash!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Got a pressure washer? LOL I do like Maggie does, I bang on the caked on stuff with the bristles...seems to get them off better than scrubbing at them. After you get all the obvious stuff off, sanitize with bleach water or vinegar water, rinse well and let sit in the sunshine for a couple of days.

 

[ladysown]

wire brush, pressure washer, and if possible...soaking with a vinegar/water solution. A scraper (like a putty knife) can be a useful tool as well. I use a toilet brush for hair removal. Works really well and is safer to use around a curious boy than fire.

 

[MaggieJ]

A jug of HOT water poured slowly over the poop corner will really help soften it... faster than just the rain.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Thank You all so much for the suggestions !!! We do not need the cages for a little while so the rain and sunshine will be a Big help.

DH says "Thank You" as well .

 

[Miss M]

I burn mine with a torch. :twisted: If needed, I wash them first.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Again... Thank You !!! The hot water suggestion really helped. We had set the cages outside up side down. After a few showers had gone thru DH poured hot water on the corner areas ... and voila ... they cleaned right out. He also broke a (clean) toilet bowl brush and wore down the grill brush ... but the cages look Great !

 

[Miss M]

I seem to recall that wire brushes can take off the galvanizing (so can my torch :? ). You can patch the wire with your favorite color spray primer. For cages that already have rust on the wire, you can just use that Rustoleum stuff that bonds to the rust and keeps it from getting worse. I don't remember where I read this. Maybe over at HT.

 

[Mosherd1]

I currently do not have rabbits but are you guys talking about cleaning cages that you have purchased or cages that you are cleaning weekly? If you are using all wire cages, how often should the cages themselves be cleaned? I would have dirt below the cages for the waste to drop on.

 

[MaggieJ]

They need cleaning as often as poop builds up, Mosherd1. Some rabbits, the poop pretty much always falls through leaving a very clean cage. Some rabbits, it seems to build up in one corner if you don't keep after it.