Since no one has posted anything here...and HOW MANY people have had questions about what to use? I thought I would offer several options that have been used for cleaning our precious herps' enclosures. This is mostly for solid and sealed enclosures. Mesh enclosures can still be cleaned with this stuff, but it will have to be sponged on or dipped in a bucket, tote, or tub depending on the size.

1. For general regular weekly cleaning I use this recipe which came from Melissa Kaplan which works great and doesn't leave streaks:

* 1 cup rubbing alcohol
* 1 TBSP white vinegar
* 2-3 drops of dish soap
* water

Combine this all in the a garden sprayer. No rinsing is required. I really like this for the everyday stuff. I write the recipe right on the bottle for easy remembering.

2. Nalvosan - I use this occasionally...mostly when I've had a sick reptile. I use it approx. 5:1 water:Nalvosan. It still disinfects well while cutting your replacement cost immeasurably. The prices vary greatly. I got mine for a 32 oz. bottle for $9. Kind of high really. Sally's Beauty Supply sells it under it's real name: chlorhexidine. Nalvosan is just a brand name. Another user on another group says with the right water ratio a gallon can make 128 gallons. I still get streaks with this product at any cut ratio though and sometimes have to go back over spots with a second set of dry paper towels.

3. Listerine - I haven't tried this, but some do. Tattoo artists use it to sterilize the area to be worked on. Use it diluted 3:1 Listerine:water to cut strength and smell and it still disinfects well and I'm sure smells pretty good!

Attached Images

cleaning_solution.jpg (8.4 KB, 1 views)

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Veronica
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Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry Co.
~~Rescue - Rehab - Rehome~~

I use the vinegar and water trick. For things that come out and get washed, i use dish soap and rinse really well.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

I used to use the vinegar and water - but adding the alcohol really sped up the drying time and the dish soap cuts into the oils some "body funks" leave behind.... I use soap and water for the pull-outs too. A good rinse and their good to go...:-)

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Veronica
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Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry Co.
~~Rescue - Rehab - Rehome~~

body funks... HAHAHHAA

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

I am all about the chloahexidine,, or the bleach but I am a germ a phob, lol. If it is the really big enclosures I take out the gigantic logs to the back yard spray them down with bleach solution, then pressure wash them.

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I have sucker tattood on my forehead

Vanodine for me it owns Nalvosan

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LOL! I hear ya!
The branches in Zok's (iguana) cage periodically come down with what we refer to as "Lizard funk".
I use an enzyme cleaner from Natural Chemistry called Healthy Habitat. Just spray down the enclosure and branches and the smell goes away!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I use some all natural cleaners to sterilize. Some stuff my mother used to sell, but works really well. One is a germacide that is pretty nice. Does not harm the animals, but will kill germs and parasites. We use it around our house for ourselves, too.

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"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

There are some great ideas here. I've heard of the Healthy Habitat, but I've never seen it used.

Typhanie - is the stuff you use still available through another supplier?

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Veronica
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/_^.)///////////,,,,,
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..._//......_\\
Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry Co.
~~Rescue - Rehab - Rehome~~

Yeah. It's just Shaklee. There's probably a hundred dealers in your area.

It's a little pricey, but very concentrated, so it lasts for a really long time. As much as I hated when my mother sold it, I have to admit it really works. The stuff I use to clean cages is called basic G, although I've been told they just changed all their product names, so just look for the germacide. I mix a few drops with water in a spray bottle, then I spray down the area that needs cleaning. Then I wipe it up and rinse the whole thing with plain water.

It's surprising how well it works. We used to live in apartments that tended to get roaches. We began wiping the walls with this stuff and just leaving it up there, and the roach problem just disappeared.

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"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.