Tips for cleaning a bird cage

​Cleanliness is key in maintaining a good quality of life both for us as humans and for our feathered friends. Whether all you want to do is a quick daily clean or a thorough cleanup of the cage, the following tips would help ensure your pet birds are living in a hygienic and comfortable home.

Daily cleaning Tips:

• Clean the dishes: Dishes used for food and water should be cleaned out everyday with hot water and soap and dried with a clean towel. Animal-safe detergents available in local pet stores or grocery stores should be used to wash the dishes.
• Clean the cage accessories: Swings, ladders and other toys should be washed in hot water and pet-friendly soap. Accumulations of droppings on perches should be scraped off.
• Sweep the area around the birdcage. Food, feathers and droppings can fall off from the cage to the area surrounding the cage. Use a handheld broom or vacuum to clean the area and wipe off spilled liquid.
• Change the cage liner: Cage liners should be replaced everyday to prevent the emission of unpleasant odor. Completely remove the old liner, use a damp rag to remove any part of the liner that sticks to the cage and place the new liner down in several thin layers. Newspaper liners (with black or white ink only as other colored ink may be toxic), recycled paper lining and any other store-bought paper linings are a good choice for liners as they are easily replaced and allow for good observation for droppings.

Tips for thorough cleaning:

• Before cleaning, place a garbage can next to the cage to make cleaning easier.
• Carefully remove the bird from the cage to an alternate safe place away from the fumes from the cleaning supplies.
• Empty out the cage: Remove all toys and accessories from the cage; also, remove the cage liner.
• Wash dishes, toys and accessories thoroughly with pet-friendly detergent and hot water. Dry them completely.
• Using a scrubbing pad and pet-friendly detergent, scrape off debris and droppings from the cage surfaces. For wooden perches and toys, you can use sandpaper to scrape off stubborn debris.
• Wash the cage completely using hot water and pet-safe soap or detergent.  This can be done in a sink for small cages or outdoors with a hose for larger cages. Wipe down the cage with a clean towel after washing to soak up any excess water pooling in the cage.
• After washing, disinfect the cage with a cage disinfectant spray. These can be bought online or at a local pet store. Homemade disinfectant can be made using one part distilled white vinegar with two parts water. Alternatively, the disinfectant can be made at home with three tablespoons of baking soda mixed with three tablespoons of lemon juice.
• After disinfecting, rinse the cage thoroughly with water and air-dry in the sun (if possible) completely before returning the bird and other cage accessories.

​A clean cage will reduce your pet’s risk of infections and ensure that your bird stays happy and comfortable.