There’s nothing quite like the smell of a rabbit hutch that needs a good cleaning. In the heat of the summer, you’ll become even more aware of this distinct smell.
Rabbits like a clean hutch, but they don’t like the smell of harsh chemicals. This means it’s vital to find a way to keep their hutch hygienically clean without restoring to anything that could leave a residue or smell behind.
An important part of keeping your rabbits healthy and happy will be to ensure their living quarters are regularly cleaned. If you want to keep bad smells at bay, try the following cleaning tips.
- Commit to daily hutch cleaning
It might sound like an arduous task, but daily hutch cleaning is essential, and it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. You can often complete the task while you are delivering your rabbit’s feed.
Start by removing uneaten fresh food from the hutch. Food that hasn’t been touched for 24 hours is likely to be spoiled and will only contribute to bad smells if left.
You should also remove any wet or soiled hay from the hutch to help prevent a buildup of bacteria. Other daily tasks include cleaning out the food bowls and water bowls or drip feeders. Cleaning and not just refilling is essential, as these can be breeding grounds for bacteria.
- The weekly hutch clean
Once a week, you should complete a more thorough cleaning of the hutch to remove all food and bedding and replace it with fresh material. You should also wipe down the hutch with hot water. Your rabbit won’t like harsh cleaning materials like bleach, but you can use vinegar to help lift urine stains and prevent bad smells.
This won’t leave a harsh smell behind and it is completely safe for your rabbit. You should also remove and clean all of the accessories, including the litter tray, water bottle, feeding bowls and the hay box.
- Periodic disinfection
Disinfecting the cage will only be suitable for plastic, glass or metal components. For wooden hutches, this method will not be effective as any disinfection spray will simply soak into the wood and the smell will linger. This is likely to be very unpopular with your rabbit.
If you do use a disinfecting spray, make sure you wash this away thoroughly to help keep your rabbit safe. If you cannot guarantee you’ll be able to wash this away completely, consider sticking to a vinegar spray as this is safe to use around pets.
The vinegar will help to dissolve the calcium deposits in urine that lead to a bad smell build up. Choosing the right litter can also help to make light work of the cleaning process and help to keep bad smells under control.
Final thoughts on cleaning your rabbit hutch
Cleaning is an essential part of keeping your rabbits happy and healthy. It will help to stop bad smells from developing and will also keep your pets safe by ensuring they do not have a build up of bacteria in their environment.
The best way to keep your rabbit’s hutch clean and hygienic is by doing little and often. A small amount of cleaning every day can save you from having to do extensive disinfecting cleans more frequently. This approach can also help to avoid lasting damage to the rabbit hutch.
Regular cleaning will also remove the need to use more intensive cleaning products that could leave behind a smell or taste that is unpleasant for your rabbits. The best cleaning solution for getting rid of rabbit urine is a simple vinegar spray.
