Guinea Pig Cage Wash Procedures

Cleaning guinea pig cages should be a daily part of guinea pig care. It is best to remove wet spots every day and do a through change of the bedding once or twice a week, depending on how many guinea pigs live in the cage. According to the book "Guinea Pig" by Audrey Pavia, the cage itself should be washed once a week.

  1. Securing Cavies

    • Guinea pigs (also known as cavies) should not be in the cage when it is being cleaned. They should either be placed in another cage, in a cat carrier or other pet carrier used for transporting the guinea pig to the vet, or in a secure play area inside of the home. The holding area needs to be well ventilated and away from drafts or direct sunlight. A secure play area is needed for the guinea pig to exercise on a daily basis. It needs to be away from other pets, electrical cords or any small spaces under furniture or in walls where the guinea pig can get stuck. The guinea pigs can be placed there directly before cage cleaning begins.

    Washing

    • All of the bedding inside of the cage is removed. Do not leave some in thinking it's clean and dry and therefore can be used a little longer. It will still harbor bacteria that can make the guinea pig sick. Take the cage to the bathtub or outside. Use an old spatula or cat litter scooper to scrape off any hardened lumps. Mix one part plain bleach to 20 parts hot water and scrub the cage with it. Do not use other cleaning products such as Lysol because they will be far too strong for a guinea pig's respiratory system to handle. Dry off the cage.

    Bedding

    • In "The Guinea Pig Man," Peter Gurney advocated using newspaper for the bottom layer of the bedding, then placing a thick layer of hay and wood shavings on top. When it came time to clean his huge cages, which could house up to 30 cavies, Peter Gurney simply rolled up the newspaper. Newsprint is not good for guinea pigs to swallow, so plain paper is best. Some people use a layer of old towels and then place the bedding on top. These old towels would need to be either thrown out or laundered in mild detergent every time the cage is cleaned. Be sure to clean any spilled bedding around the cage and the play area so bacteria does not have a chance to grow.