Tips & Warnings

Some talented guinea pig owners manage to use newspaper to roll up the used bedding. If you can make this work for you, the cage cleaning will be much less time-consuming.

If using fleece, you'll need to spot-clean (pick up droppings0 daily, but the weekly cage cleaning will be much less time-consuming.

If you use disposable bedding and allergies are an issue, take the cage outside to clean or wear a surgical mask to keep the dust out.

Use bleach to remove stubborn stains on the floor of the cage.

When buying disposable bedding, please stick to absorbent paper products, such as Carefresh or Yesterday's News, aspen wood shavings or kiln-dried pine. Sawdust and other wood shavings, such as regular pine, cedar or corncob, can cause respiratory infections in guinea pigs that could kill them.

Source: E-How

Remove Old Bedding

Step1

Remove guinea pigs, igloos, food dishes, toys and anything else from the cage. Unhook water bottles and set aside. Clear out hay rack.

Step2

If you use disposable bedding in the cage, use the dustpan to scoop out old bedding and transfer it to the trash bag. When the cage is empty, use the hose attachment on the vacuum cleaner to get any stray bits of shavings still in the cage.

Step3

If you use fleece bedding in the cage, gather the fleece and toss it in the washing machine.

Source: E-How

Clean the Floor of the Cage

Step1

Combine vinegar and water in the spray bottle.

Step2

Spray the floor of the cage liberally with the water/vinegar solution. Guinea pig urine is a base (and can have an ammonia-like odor), and the acid in the vinegar acts as a neutralizer for the odor.

Step3

Wipe the cage down with a damp sponge. Dry completely with a paper towel.

Source: E-How

Line the cage with one to two layers of newspaper. If using disposable bedding, add two to three inches of shavings. Use the dustpan to spread it evenly throughout the cage and to pack it down so that the guinea pigs have a level floor to walk on. Step2 If using fleece bedding, stack two to three layers of towels, mattress pads or puppy pads over the newspaper. These layers will catch the guinea pigs' urine after it soaks through the fleece. Lay the fleece on top and secure it with binder clips or bricks. Step3 Replace igloos, toys and food dishes. Reattach the water bottles and fill the hay rack with fresh hay. Place guinea pigs back in the cage and watch them explore their freshly cleaned surroundings

Srouce: E-How

How To Clean After Guinea Pigs!

1. Take your guinea pig/s out of the cage and put it/them in a safe, enclosed space where they can't escape from. Ask someone around your house to watch them while you clean their cage. This will ensure that none of them will get out or get hurt. If you don't have someone to watch them keep them near you.


2. 
   Take all of their toys, food bowl, water bottle, and hiding place out. Empty the water bottle and food bowlTake them to a sink and rinse off their hiding place if it can get wet. Then run some hot water and submerge the water bottle and food bowl. Leave them there while you clean out the cage.


3. 
   Take your cage to where you plan to clean it and get a large garbage bag. Carefully dump the old substrate into the bag. For really big cages, it is handy to have a cat pooper scooper to scrape out the cage. Do not use the same one as yur cat. Buy your guinea pig its own. While you are cleaning the cage, make sure your guinea pig is safe from loud noises, heavy objects that could fall on them, as well as prying cats and dogs!


4. 
   Spray the inside of the cage down with a 50/50 mixture of distilled white vinegar and water to clean it. This works better and is safer for your guinea pig than any other cleaning agent. If you don't, it just gets nastier each time! For deeper stains and messes, use undiluted vinegar, but make sure to clean off well afterwards! Dry it with a towel or ,if you have the time, you can let it air dry.


5. 
   Fill up the cage with fresh and clean new substrate. Be sure the cage is completely dry or mold and other fungi may grow in or on the cage.


6. 
   Put the cage back together (if you took it apart) and put the toys and things back in different positions, or put new things in, to add a bit of diversity and entertainment! Hide their favorite treats in paper towel rools or hang them up buy a piece of string. Now put your guinea pig/s back and watch them conduct a full-on search to find their favorite toy!

Source: WikiHow - Guinea Pig Cages