How to Sanitize a Bird Play Gym

It's important to sanitize your bird's cage, toys and play areas on a regular basis. Failure to keep these areas sanitized can have a negative effect on the overall health of your bird, and possibly even the other inhabitants of the home. While smaller daily cleanups can be done with regular soap and hot water, experts recommend that you thoroughly sanitize your bird's play gym at least once a month with a nontoxic disinfectant. It may even be necessary to do this on a weekly basis if you have a larger bird or a bird that tends to make more of a mess.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/8 cup bleach
  • 1 quart water
  • 40-oz. spray bottle
  • Dish soap
  • Scrub brush
  • Paper towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mix 1/8 cup bleach with 1 quart of water in a 40-oz. spray bottle. If you don't have an empty 40-oz. spray bottle handy, you can also mix this mixture in a large bowl or other container, and pour it into a few smaller spray bottles.

    • 2

      Fill your bathtub with hot water and allow the play gym to soak for about 5 minutes.

    • 3

      Drain the water out of the tub.

    • 4

      Apply 2 to 3 drops of dish soap to your scrub brush and scrub down the entire gym along with any debris sticking to it. If you have a large play gym, you may periodically have to add a few more drops of dish soap to your brush.

    • 5

      Rinse off the entire gym with clean water.

    • 6

      Spray down the entire gym with the bleach-and-water solution you made. You'll want to thoroughly coat everything and let it sit for approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

    • 7

      Rinse off the entire gym again with clean water.

    • 8

      Dry the gym with some paper towels, or allow it to dry naturally in the air, preferably in the sun, before allowing your bird to use it again.