A clean environment will help keep your pets healthy. It is essential to do a thorough cleaning of the cage once a week (this varies depending on cage size and number of occupants) and a spot cleaning once or twice a week. Urine in the cage transforms into ammonia, which emits unpleasant odor and is harmful to the pet and owner's respiratory system. Moist bedding and litter can cause fungus growth. Fecal matter, especially if it is an area where it gets wet, can give rise to harmful bacteria that can be ingested or even inhaled, making your pet ill. A clean cage will make your home environment healthier and odor-free. Remember that if you smell dirty cages, your pet is as stressed as you are.

Removing Visible Dirt and Debris. Use a plastic broom to sweep the feces in the cage. Scrub and rinse dirt pan with soap and water to remove urine odor and stains. Spray the cage then with water to soften the residue. Clean the cage by using an ordinary detergent soap or all-purpose cleaner. A scrub brush and pressure nozzle for your hose will help you to dislodge stubborn debris from the cage and cage accessories. Small cage accessories may be soaked in a sink full of hot soapy water and scrubbed before disinfecting.

Disinfecting (destroying microorganisms and pathogens). Spray the cage and the cage accessories with your chosen disinfectant. Let the solution remain on the articles long enough to disinfect them. These solutions may also be used on floors and walls around the cages as long as your rinse them well.

Drying. Put the cage under the sun to dry. Air-drying under the sun is particularly good if you want to make sure all organisms are killed.

Fabric accessories. You will want to thoroughly clean all cloth items used for your pet. Change the towels, nest bedding, hammocks and other fabric items as they get soiled. When using bleach or disinfectant, rinse twice to be sure that all chemicals are removed.

Cleaning tips:
- Avoid perfumed household cleaners.
- Spot-clean in-between cage cleanings.
- Keep a smaller cage for your hamsters to go in during cleaning.
- Remove all cage accessories and clean well.
- Be sure all debris are removed before disinfecting.
- Leave disinfectant for a minimum of 10 minutes.
- Rinse carefully to remove all cleaning agents.
- Dry cage before putting your pets back in.
- Use direct sunlight to dry and sanitize whenever possible.
- Refill water bottles and food dishes.
- Clean nursery cages.