How to Clean a Hamster, Guinea Pig or Rabbit Cage

Hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits live in a small space with their food, water, bedding and toilet all close together. Without regular cleaning, the bedding gets wet, droppings pile up in the corners, the water bottle goes green and the whole room starts to smell of urine. The good news is that small pets are easy to keep clean with a short daily routine and one bigger clean a week or so. This guide covers the daily spot clean, the full clean, the litter tray, water bottles and hay racks.

It follows the care advice of the RSPCA for hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits, the Idaho Humane Society’s hamster care guide, and the House Rabbit Society on rabbit urine odor. Your pet’s needs may differ, so ask your veterinarian if you are unsure.

How often to clean

Guinea pigs: the RSPCA says guinea pig accommodation should be deep cleaned at least once a week on average, and spot cleaning should be carried out daily. How often depends on the size of the cage and the number of guinea pigs in it.
Rabbits: the RSPCA says a rabbit’s home should be thoroughly cleaned around once a week, but the toilet areas should be cleaned every day. The more rabbits you keep together, the more often you will need to clean the whole enclosure.
Hamsters: advice differs. The RSPCA says a deep clean once or twice a month should be enough in most cases, with spot cleaning to remove soiled bedding, uneaten food and droppings every few days. The Idaho Humane Society says to spot clean the bedding daily and change all the bedding 2 to 3 times a week. Go by your hamster’s cage: the RSPCA says it depends on the cage size and whether your hamster uses one corner as a toilet.

A cage that smells, or bedding that is wet, needs cleaning sooner than the schedule says.

The daily spot clean

Scoop out wet and soiled bedding from the toilet corner, plus any droppings you can see.
Take out uneaten fresh food before it spoils. The RSPCA notes that wet food can be hard to clean out of a hamster cage and can grow mould and bacteria.
Top up with fresh, dry bedding where you took some out.
Check the water. The RSPCA says to check a guinea pig’s water twice a day and a hamster’s bottle every day for leaks or blockages.

Most small pets pick one or two corners as a toilet, which makes this a few minutes’ work.

The full clean, step by step

Pick the right time. The RSPCA says to clean a hamster’s cage when the hamster is awake, not in the middle of the day while it sleeps, as the disturbance can be stressful. Cleaning is stressful for rabbits too, the RSPCA says, because it disrupts their routine.
Move your pet to a safe, secure spot such as a carrier or playpen while you work.
Take everything out: bowls, bottle, hides, toys, hay rack and litter tray.
Save a little clean bedding. Set aside a small amount of old bedding that is not soiled (see below).
Empty the rest of the bedding into a bag for the trash or compost.
Wash the base and bars with warm water and a mild, unscented dish soap, using a brush for the corners and the bars. The RSPCA says to only use non-toxic cleaning products or natural DIY cleaners on a rabbit’s home.
Rinse well and dry it completely. The RSPCA says to make sure a rabbit’s shelter is dry before you put the rabbits back.
Put in fresh bedding, mix in the saved bedding, and put back the clean accessories.

Keep some of the familiar smell

Small pets know their home by its smell. The RSPCA says to transfer a small amount of old, unsoiled bedding and nesting material when you clean out a hamster’s cage, especially if hamsters are housed in groups, and to clean or replace objects soiled by droppings, as these odours may trigger fighting. For rabbits, it says to put a small amount of the used bedding back after cleaning, so there is a familiar smell to return to.

Rabbit litter trays

The House Rabbit Society’s advice for keeping rabbit urine odor down:

Change the litter box every day.
Rinse the box thoroughly with water each time you change the litter, and wash the bottom of the box as well.
Give it a white vinegar rinse now and then. The House Rabbit Society says this helps keep calcium residues down and control the odor.
Check under and around the box. If urine seeps into one spot, take the box out, scrub the area with white vinegar and rinse it well with water.
Line the box with newspaper and a rabbit-safe litter. The House Rabbit Society says not to use clay-based or clumping cat litter, which can be dangerous if a rabbit eats it.

The House Rabbit Society says you might even use bleach on a soaked-in spot, but to rinse all the bleach away before your rabbit goes near the area. Never mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners.

Water bottles and bowls

Clean them every day. For rabbits, the RSPCA says to clean the water containers every day and change the water twice a day, even if it has not all been drunk.
Clean the nozzle too. For hamsters, the RSPCA says to change the water regularly, clean the bottle and nozzle properly, and check the bottle every day for leaks or blockages. A small bottle brush reaches inside.
Check the spout works. The RSPCA says to check bottles daily to make sure the end is not blocked.
Watch for algae. The RSPCA says that in summer the water or container may turn green, and to clean it thoroughly if you see any signs of algae.
Keep a spare bottle, as the RSPCA suggests, so there is always water while one is being cleaned.
Keep the nest away from the bottle. The RSPCA says to place a hamster’s nesting box away from the water, so it does not flood if the bottle leaks.

For washing the food bowls, see how to clean pet food and water bowls.

Hay racks, hides and toys

Use a hay rack. The RSPCA says keeping hay in racks or hanging baskets helps to keep it clean. Shake out old, trodden or wet hay every day and refill it.
Wash wooden hides and chews with plain water only, scrub them with a brush, and let them dry fully. Replace any that stay soaked with urine or smell.
Wash plastic hides, wheels and tunnels in warm, soapy water and rinse them well.
Fabric beds and hammocks go in the washing machine with an unscented detergent, if the label allows it. See how to clean pet toys.

Bedding choices that help

Unscented, absorbent bedding. The Idaho Humane Society says to always use unscented bedding for hamsters and to avoid cedar and pine shavings, as strongly smelling bedding can irritate the nose and lungs. It recommends paper-based beddings.
No pine for guinea pigs. The RSPCA says not to use softwood products such as pine for guinea pigs, and recommends dry, dust-free, absorbent wood shavings supplemented with hay on the floor.
No fluffy nesting material. The RSPCA says not to give guinea pigs nesting materials that separate into thin strands, such as cotton wool.

What not to do

Scented cleaners, air fresheners and scented bedding near the cage. Small pets live with their nose close to every surface.
Putting your pet back in a wet cage. Let everything dry first.
Throwing out every bit of old bedding each time. Keep a little clean bedding for the familiar smell.
Clumping or clay cat litter in a rabbit’s litter box.
Cleaning a hamster’s cage while it sleeps.

For a lizard or snake enclosure, see how to clean a reptile terrarium or tank.

Keep ferrets? See how to clean a ferret cage, litter tray and hammocks.

For backyard hens, see how to clean a chicken coop, nest boxes and roosts.

Keep pet rats or mice? See how to clean a rat or mouse cage.

Around the cage

Bedding and hay get kicked out of the cage, and a rabbit’s free-roam area gets the odd accident. Vacuum around the cage after each clean, and put a washable mat under it. For urine on the carpet or floor, see how to get pet urine smell out of carpet and pet urine on hardwood floors, and for a carrier your pet travels in, how to clean a dog crate or pet carrier.

For a budgie, canary or parrot, see how to clean a bird cage, perches and dishes.

For an aquarium, see how to clean a fish tank or aquarium.

For a hedgehog, see how to clean a hedgehog cage and wheel.

Keeping a chinchilla or gerbil instead? See how to clean a chinchilla or gerbil cage and dust bath.

Using fleece instead of loose bedding? See how to clean guinea pig fleece liners for washing and drying settings.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit has gloves, an enzyme odor product, an absorbent powder and a UV black light in one pouch, for accidents on the carpets and floors around the cage. It is not for inside the cage: clean that with mild soap and water as above, and rinse well.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean a guinea pig cage?

The RSPCA says to spot clean daily and deep clean at least once a week on average, more often for a small cage or several guinea pigs.

How often should I clean a hamster cage?

Advice varies. The RSPCA suggests spot cleaning every few days and a deep clean once or twice a month in most cases; the Idaho Humane Society says to spot clean daily and change all the bedding 2 to 3 times a week.

What can I use to clean a rabbit cage?

Mild, non-toxic cleaners, as the RSPCA says, such as warm soapy water. The House Rabbit Society suggests an occasional white vinegar rinse for the litter box to keep calcium residues down. Rinse well and let it dry.

Why does my small pet’s cage smell?

Usually because of wet bedding and urine in the toilet corner. Spot clean every day, change the litter tray daily for rabbits, and keep to a regular full clean.

Sources

RSPCA: Guinea pig environment and diet
RSPCA: Rabbit environment and diet
RSPCA: Hamster environment and diet
Idaho Humane Society: Hamster care guide (PDF)
House Rabbit Society: Four helpful tips for rabbit urine odor control

This guide is general cleaning information. If your pet’s droppings, urine or behavior change, or the bedding is wet more than usual, talk to your veterinarian.