Hamsters are very popular pets that many people love. You might enjoy spending time with your hamster because of how cute they are.
They can certainly be fun little animal companions, but you need to make sure that you’re caring for them well. If you don’t keep a hamster’s cage clean, then it’s going to start to stink after a while.
Most hamster owners know how to clean the hamster’s cage and how to replace the hamster’s bedding. However, some don’t take the necessary time to clean the hamster’s ball.
Hamster balls are great for hamsters because they help them to get exercise. They also allow them to explore outside of their cages without being put in any real danger.
These balls are going to get dirty over time, though, and it’s going to be up to you to clean them. Read on to learn how to clean a hamster ball so that your hamster will be able to use the ball safely.
How Hamster Balls Get Dirty
Hamster balls get dirty because hamsters will urinate and defecate inside of the ball sometimes. In fact, hamsters don’t always have great control over when they need to go, and this means that the ball could get pretty filthy very fast.
It’s also true that the ball is going to get dirty on the outside. Your hamster will be rolling the ball around the floor, and this means that the ball will be exposed to dirt, dust, and other types of debris.
If you don’t take the time to clean the hamster ball, then it’s not going to be very nice for your little hamster friend. Thankfully, there are good methods for cleaning the ball that won’t be too tough.
Continue reading to learn about the most practical methods for cleaning hamster balls. If you’re worried about this being tough, then you should rest easy.
1 – Simply Use Soap and Water
Simply using soap and water is the most practical way to clean the hamster ball. You’ll likely want to ensure that you’re using soap that doesn’t have any harmful chemicals that will be too harsh for your hamster, though.
There are many different types of organic soap that should be fine. You just shouldn’t use standard household cleaners since those aren’t going to be good for pets such as hamsters.
Approach this the same way that you would washing the dishes. You’re going to open the hamster ball lid and then rinse it out as thoroughly as you can.
Ensure that you get rid of any debris that might be present inside of the ball. This includes any urine or fecal matter that might be caked onto the ball.
Get a wet cloth or a wet sponge so that you can start wiping things down. Use a simple antibacterial soap to clean the surface of the ball and its interior.
Once you’ve scrubbed the ball enough that it looks clean, it’s going to be time to rinse the soap off. Rinse the ball thoroughly using clean running water.
Afterward, you’ll want to place the ball somewhere that has good airflow. This will allow the air to dry it so that it will be ready for your hamster to use it.
2 – Cage Cleaner Could Also Be Used
If you don’t want to use soap and water, then you could use a cage cleaner instead of soap. Most hamster owners buy what is known as a small mammal cage cleaner to clean out hamster cages.
You could spray some of this substance on the ball instead of using a little bit of antibacterial soap. There are many hamster owners who feel that this is the safer option.
Essentially, you already know that the cage cleaner is meant to be safe for hamsters. It shouldn’t give your hamster a bad reaction because this is the same stuff that you use to clean the hamster cage.
If you’re worried about using the wrong kind of soap or causing your hamster to experience issues, then it might make more sense to use the cage cleaner.
Also, you might have more cage cleaner than you need. If you already have a lot of cage cleaner in stock, then you’ll be able to use it to clean the hamster ball without it being an issue.
The method of cleaning will be pretty much the same as using soap and water. You rinse the hamster ball and then spray some cage cleaner onto a paper towel.
Wipe the hamster ball inside and out until it is completely clean. When you’re done, you wipe the cage cleaner off using paper towels before rinsing the ball using running water.
Air-dry the hamster ball just as described with the soap and water method. This is just another way of accomplishing the task.
3 – Vinegar and Water
Finally, it’s worth noting that some people use vinegar and water to clean hamster balls. Dilute one part vinegar with one part water and put it in a spray bottle.
Spray the ball with the liquid so that you can disinfect it. This will also deodorize the ball to get rid of any bad smells from urine or feces.
Now you just need to rinse the ball clean and set it aside so that it can be dried. Air-drying the ball is still going to be the best method to use.
The problem with this idea is that hamsters are very sensitive to strong odors. Your hamster is not going to like it if the hamster ball still smells like vinegar.
You’ll need to do your best to remove the vinegar smell before giving the ball back to the hamster. This means that you’ll need to be a bit meticulous about removing the vinegar.
For this reason, it might not be the most convenient method. This is probably the worst option of the three being presented here, but it still works fine if you’d like to go with it.
You now know about three viable options for cleaning hamster balls. All of them are easy enough to pull off.
It shouldn’t feel like a chore to clean the hamster ball every so often. Be sure to do so fairly often, though, because the hamster balls can get dirty fast with regular use.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard. I also like photographing wild birds, especially birds of prey.