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Q: Methods of Removing Urates from Cages
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Sonja K. Reptiles

What have you found to be the most effective way to remove those particularly stubborn urates from your enclosures? (and also from your water dishes) I am especially interested in what you use in the plastic ones such as those from Animal Plastics or Boaphile. Thanks everyone!

Points: 50
Topics: Caging , Disinfectants
Tags: Caging, Cleaning, Disinfectants, Urates
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Member Comment 11/18/2009 1:50:07 PM

bwaffa
Great question, Sonja!  I'll be interested to see what people suggest.  I use a bleach solution and sometimes switch it up with a very dilute chlorhexidine scrub if I think things might be getting grody.  But neither of these are disinfectants, and they're not particularly effective at removing said "stubborn" surface urates -- especially in those AP cages with the tight corners!
 
Member Comment 11/18/2009 1:50:58 PM

bwaffa
*Correction, BOTH of those are disinfectants (not "neither) -- NEITHER are particularly effective at... etc.
 
Author Comment 11/18/2009 1:56:22 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles
I have my Dumeril's paired right now, and OMG do they know how to make a mess! LOL Maybe I should add that they have it on the acrylic doors, too, which scratch if you try and scrape it off.
 
Member Comment 11/18/2009 3:47:57 PM

Allysen
Paint scraper! The rectangular-shaped ones, they work like a charm!
 
Member Comment 11/18/2009 7:15:29 PM

iatro
if it's really nasty, I'll drape a warm wet rag over the spot and let it sit for about 15 minutes, kind of get the stuff re-hydrated... then just scrub, scrub, and scrub s'more! I prefer to just use those dark green scrubber-sponge things, and wipe up after the mess that'll make with paper towels.
 
Member Comment 11/18/2009 9:15:16 PM

bsharrah
Just don't use any type of abrasive or scraper (such as a paint scraper) on PVC cages such as Boaphile or AP.  Once the smooth surface is scraped from this material, the porous interior is exposed.  Once nasty stuff gets in it, it ain't never coming out completely.
 
Member Comment 11/19/2009 12:20:00 AM

RB3067
There is a product made for cleaning bird cages called Poop Off (Really, I'm not kidding). It's a non- toxic, biodegradable enzyme cleaner that is extremely effective at liquifying dried on, rock hard bird droppings. I've been using it to clean my Parrot cage for about 2 years and have recently started to use it to spot clean those hard to remove urates in my boa enclosures with excellent results and no ill effects. I spray it on, let it sit for a minute or two then wipe it off.
 
Assisted Answer 11/19/2009 12:20:00 AM

RB3067
There is a product made for cleaning bird cages called Poop Off (Really, I'm not kidding). It's a non- toxic, biodegradable enzyme cleaner that is extremely effective at liquifying dried on, rock hard bird droppings. I've been using it to clean my Parrot cage for about 2 years and have recently started to use it to spot clean those hard to remove urates in my boa enclosures with excellent results and no ill effects. I spray it on, let it sit for a minute or two then wipe it off.
 
Member Comment 11/19/2009 6:04:40 AM

iatro
... a friend of mine has a couple of birds and totally swears by Poop Off! if it's safe for parrots it's gotta be good for anything, don't they have ridiculously sensitive lungs?
 
Assisted Answer 11/19/2009 3:44:11 PM

magsj387
I use rubbing alcohol on my cages because they are pvc and acrylic. That is the best thing and really the only thing your supposed to use on them, but the poop off really works magic! It will cut through things you couldn't imagine.
 
Member Comment 11/19/2009 6:08:16 PM

Katie M
the plastic paint scrapers, like Allysen, work super well on Boaphiles
 
Member Comment 11/19/2009 6:18:42 PM

Damiens daddy ken
I usually just use a little bit of dish soap and ver very hot water,First i let it soak for about ten to fifteen mins in the hot water.Then i get a rag with hot water and some dish soap.You can usually only stand a second or two in the water thats how hot i get it,i've actually blistered my hands before from the water being that hot.Then after i get it pretty clean i rinse it out that doesn't have to be so hot this is just to get rid of the soap,after that soak again in very hot water.I use that method for the water bowls.If just in the tank if you use a standered aquarium.I just get a rag with water as hot as you can stand it because you will need to have it in your hand for awhile to scrub,and some dish soap scrob until clean,wipe of with a rag with just plain hot water,then dry it.
 
Member Comment 11/19/2009 9:09:58 PM

flboy21283
I use a diluted bleach solution with hot water, and get them as SOON as they appear.  I have Indigos and Cribos, and you'd think they paint with this stuff when no one's lookin. lol. Wet paper towels work. Bioenzyme spray is good to finish off with, just make sure the enclosure's dry before putting your reptile back in there. The faster you notice and get it out, the easier it is to remove.
 
Member Comment 11/20/2009 1:43:27 PM

xanaxez

I use warm water and a spoonge called (Magic Eraser)  you buy in the cleaning section at a local grochery store. best thing i have ever used.  works great one cages.  it's also great for using if you have toddles that like to mark on tvs and such also lol.  honesly alot of people would not believe how excellent these things really are.

 
Member Comment 11/20/2009 1:45:39 PM

xanaxez
oh and let me add  theres no hard scrubbing needed with them and they do not scratch your surfaces. try one and you will most likely never use anything else other than them lmao
 
Member Comment 11/21/2009 11:14:02 AM

shellboa
I use Poop off wipes for the bird too, but for the floor where it dries on and for those stubborn urate spots, (why do they always seem to be in the corners where its a pain to get ANY brush?) AND for that goo that resembles Vulkem that comes out of almost every corn snakes ass! I use Nolvasan...I'm pretty sure that it is some form of clohexidine but with perfumes etc.  Can't help it, this stuff cuts through just about every thing. I use it on that rock looking resin compound water dish that the lizards always seem to shit in and then shove under the basking light to dry-spray generously and let sit for 5 then rinse in hot and use a brush.

On the other hand, I knew a corn breeder who used nothing but rubbing alcohol for both the dishes and the racks (rubber maid) and it worked really well. I personally do not use alcohol because it burns my nose and makes me cough.
 
Accepted Answer 11/22/2009 5:11:28 AM

amarilrose
Especially for urates, I use full-strength white vinegar – the kind that is readily available for fairly cheap by the gallon at most grocery stores.  If the urates are particularly stubborn, I leave it to soak for a bit (go do something else) then come back to it and give it a try when I can, which for as distractable as I am, can be a while!  Vinegar does a great job breaking down & removing urates from pretty much any surface I've had to remove them from.  :)
 
 
Member Comment 11/23/2009 11:20:35 AM

Skelegirl
I discovered this weekend that super sani cloths take dried urates and poo off glass like nobody's business.  My sticky toed geckos just love to do their business down the front doors of their enclosures.  This is the first time I didn't have to scrape it off!  I'll be testing these things on my ABS cage this week...I have a feeling they will work equally well.  The best part is that they completely disinfect, too.  We use them to clean everything @ work (healthcare/clinical lab).
 
Member Comment 11/25/2009 12:17:32 PM

crazysnakelady
I use Odo-Ban and it seems to work really well. Elbow grease may be required, but I usually don't have to work too hard. And Odo-Ban smells great! Not only do I use it in my snake room (to clean cages and mop the floor) but all around my house too. Disinfectant, cleaner and air freshener in one!
 
Member Comment 11/26/2009 1:04:29 PM

aSnakeLovinBabe
I use a similar product to Poop off called Doo Dissolve. It's all natural, it's made for "digesting" bird and reptile poops, and it works. It also smells HEAVENLY.
 
Member Comment 11/26/2009 2:03:39 PM

Tinkerbell

Katie got me using the Plastic Putty Knife/paint scrapper and they work wonders.

*xanaxez- Magic erasers are WONDERFUL...at least for my 5 kids and 5 neices/nephews........never used them on my enclosures though...

 
Member Comment 11/26/2009 2:03:54 PM

Tinkerbell

Katie got me using the Plastic Putty Knife/paint scrapper and they work wonders.

*xanaxez- Magic erasers are WONDERFUL...at least for my 5 kids and 5 neices/nephews........never used them on my enclosures though...

 
Member Comment 12/2/2009 1:51:27 PM

Sydney
I agree with the Poop Off too, and also some steal wool. :)
 
Member Comment 12/29/2009 7:24:56 PM

AbsoluteApril
lots of elbow greese and swearing... (and paint scrapers can be a life saver, esp. on the boaphiles)  I am going to have to look into this poop off stuff.. hard to talk about this kind of thing with other people, only animal people can get so excited talking about poop. :)
 
Member Comment 1/19/2011 3:28:54 AM

abi21491

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