Guinea pigs are often known for having a longer lifespan than most other small animals, but in large part this relies on how you treat them and their environment.
Maintaining a clean living space is vital to keeping nasty respiratory illnesses at bay – saving you from expensive vet visits and, more importantly, keeping your guinea pig happy and healthy.
Take a read of this guide to learn how to clean out their cage, how often and which products to use, so you can be the best mom or dad to your piggies!
How Often Should I Clean Out My Guinea Pig’s Cage?
Although guinea pigs are commonly thought of as less high-maintenance than dogs and cats, as a pig owner you still will need to dedicate time daily and weekly to keeping their home clean and tidy.
You should aim to spot clean every day or, at the very least, every other day and do a more thorough full clean once a week. A spot clean is when you remove soiled bedding and any loose dirt, hay and poop. A full clean is your chance to clean the interiors of the cage and replace all the bedding. In addition, it is good practice to do a deep clean (sanitizing the entire cage and all accessories) once every month.
What Should I Use To Clean Out My Guinea Pig’s Cage?
You will need to choose a pet-safe cleaner to clean out your guinea pig’s cage. Avoid any harsh cleaners that contain ammonia, bleach or synthetic fragrances as the chemicals they contain are not safe for guinea pigs.
We recommend making your own natural cage cleaner using distilled white vinegar and water. Vinegar is an environmentally- and pig-friendly disinfectant which will both naturally sanitize and deoderize your guinea pig’s habitat. Vinegar is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and, as an acid, is fantastic at cutting through guinea pig urine. Not to mention, vinegar is super cheap by the gallon!
To easily make your own vinegar disinfectant, mix distilled white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio and decant into a sterilised spray bottle.
This cleaning solution will work for most of your cleans, however if your guinea pig has recently been sick, we recommend you consult your veterinarian on what to use to ensure your piggy does not become sick again or pass the issue to other pigs.
After spraying the disinfectant, you will need something to wipe clean the cage, such as a washcloth, paper towels or a soft brush.
You may also find a dustpan or mini vacuum helpful to pick up poop or loose hay.
How To Clean Out Your Guinea Pig’s Cage
Every Other Day: Spot Cleaning
Spot cleaning consists of refreshing your guinea pig’s cage every day so it doesn’t get too dirty. Follow these steps for an effective daily spot clean:
- Remove any waste or leftover food.
- Remove any loose hay and replace with fresh hay. If you have a hay rack you should ensure that this is always full.
- Remove any poops on your guinea pig’s fleece liner, if you have use one (you can use a brush or a mini-vacuum to do this).
- Remove any wet or soiled bedding. You can then either mix the remaining bedding or replace with new dry bedding.
- Replace water bottles with fresh drinking water. If needed, water bottles and food dishes can be cleaned at this point and returned dry.
Every Week: Partial Cleaning
Alongside your daily cleans, once a week you should partially clean your guinea pig’s home.
- Relocate your guinea pigs to a safe, enclosed area while you clean their cage. A run, indoor pen or travel carrier all work well.
- Remove any soiled fleece bedding, if you use it. Shaking or using a stiff brush, remove any stray poops, hair and hay. The fleece bedding can then be added to your laundry with a clean and clear detergent. Adding ½-1 cup of vinegar to the laundry cycle can help with disinfecting the fleece liner and neutralizing any odors.
- Empty and remove any additional soiled bedding and litter, and any remaining waste and debris.
- Remove food dishes and water bottles and clean using mild soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
- Spray your vinegar solution over the base and insides of the cage and wipe with a cloth or soft brush. Leave to work for 10 minutes then thoroughly rinse and wipe down with a clean cloth.
- Return a clean and dry fleece liner to the cage and replace bedding.
- Return clean, dry food dishes and freshly filled water bottles. Take care to return the water bottle to a suitable height on the cage for your guinea pig to easily drink from it.
- Replace fresh hay.
- Clean any cozies, hides and toys as necessary.
Every Month: Deep Cleaning
Monthly deep cleaning is similar to your weekly cleans but, you guessed it, deeper and more thorough.
- Remove your guinea pig to a safe place. A deep clean may take longer than your weekly cleans so you might think about giving them some food, water and a few toys to entertain your pig during this time.
- Completely empty their cage and dispose of any waste.
- Clean the cage using your pet-safe cleaner of choice. Once cleaned, rinse the interiors of the cage a few times to remove any remaining cleaner. Then, dry the hutch using towels or cloths.
- Clean all your guinea pig accessories such as food dishes, water bottle, toys, hides and shelves. Place in a bowl of hot soapy water or hot water and vinegar. To give them a deep clean, a bottle brush can be helpful to get into small cracks and crevices. Leave to dry thoroughly before returning them to your guinea pig’s cage.
- Replace all bedding and accessories. Guinea pigs should have at least 2-3 inches of bedding and don’t forget to refill your food bowl and water bottles.
- Reintroduce your guinea pig to their cage. You may find they seem a little uncomfortable for the first couple of hours as their cage will no longer smell like them. Give them time and space to adjust, they will soon be happy in their newly cleaned home!
Tips and Things To Remember
Different Types of Enclosures
We are all busy so saving time on cleaning your guinea pig’s living space without compromising on the effectiveness of the clean can be helpful. One way to do this is to choose a cage rather than a hutch for your guinea pig as they are generally a bit easier to clean.
Cages usually have plastic bases whereas hutches have wooden bases. Therefore, cages are much easier to wipe clean quickly with a soft cloth while a hutch with a wooden base may require a harder scrub with a brush and a bit more elbow grease.
Dampness
As a rule of thumb for guinea pigs, their bedding and habitats need to be as dry and clean as possible. Damp, unsanitary surfaces are a breeding ground for bacteria which can lead to piggy life-threatening illnesses such as URIs (upper respiratory infections), bumblefoot and ringworm. Daily spot cleaning and keeping a watchful eye on your guinea pig’s cage is vital to keeping them happy and healthy.
Daily Health Checks
In addition to preventing illnesses from starting, your daily spot cleans can be a good time to check your guinea pigs for any developing health issues. Adding this step to your daily cleaning routine can be a good way to keep on top of your piggie’s general wellbeing. Take a look at this guide to learn the best way to check over your guinea pig.
