Spring Cleaning 101

Spring is a great time to thoroughly clean your Bird's Cage Here are a few tips to help you out. Tip 1 - Remember to remove bird from cage to fun play area with lots of things  to keep your bird occupied before beginning. Some birds simply do not like  anyone messing with their stuff. Respect the bird if you value fingers and such. Tip 2 - Remove all bird toys and perches from cage prior to cleaning. This is a  great time to thoroughly inspect all toys for wear and tear and throw out anything  that might not still be safe. Check for strings, shredded cloth or rope, bird poop that can't be cleaned away, chewed wood that has any sharp places, and so on. When in doubt, throw it out. Tip 3 - Wooden and trimming perches can be soaked  in a sink or bathtub in gentle  dish detergent and water but be sure to thoroughly rinse and dry before returning  to the cage. Rope and Sisal or other material perches can be brushed with a stiff  bristle brush to help remove dried on poop, or food.  Although some people may  gasp, both wood and rope or cotton perches  can be run through a dishwasher cycle  once brushed, to better clean.  Make sure they are dry before returning to cage.  Throw out any perches that look like they might trap tiny toes or toenails.  Good  time to add new perches and throw out the old, using different sizes for foot exercise. Tip 4 - Cages can be washed with vinegar  and water, or a mixture of gentle dish  detergent and water.  Always rinse well after cleaning.  Our bird store also carries  products specifically made to clean cages, perches, and toys, that are bird safe.  NEVER use cleaners such as  Mr. Clean, Lysol, Soft Scrub, Windex, 409, etc. to clean  anything your bird can come in contact with.  Almost all household cleaners  can be deadly to your bird. Bleach is not recommended for cleaning as it is toxic if  inhaled by your bird  (or you for that matter), is very caustic to cage finishes, and can burn skin if splashed accidentally.  If your cage is small enough, try putting it  in the shower or bath tub  for cleaning.  Be sure to put down a towel or bath mat  to prevent scratching tub or shower finishes.  You can also roll larger cages outdoors and use a garden hose to clean.  If using a power washer, you will probably need to set to a low pressure setting to prevent paint damage to cage. Tip 5 - Once everything is nice and clean, add a couple of new toys as a reward before returning your bird to his or her home.  After all, your bird is going to now you   have been messing with his or her stuff, and new toys may help soothe things  over for you.