Does anyone just clean their cages with some windex? At work we use it to sanitize tables and a lot of stuff so i was just wondering.
Hmm, I may be wrong but I think windex contains phenols, which are toxic. Read the label thoroughly for any toxic warnings too. It's my understanding that there are a few different cleaners you can use safely: Inorganic iodine products (Betadine, povidone-iodine...) Ammonia (5% ammonia solution) Household bleach (5-10% mixture) Chlorhexidine products (Nolvasan) Quartenary ammonium products (Roccal-D) Personally I use a vinegar/peroxide solution for disenfecting and just dish soap and water for my monthly washdown.
I only use windex to clean the outside of my beardie's tank. I use it once a month inside during the big clean to shine it up, but I always rinse away the remannants. Windex however is a cleaner, not a disinfectant, so only use it to shine surfaces. Be sure to rinse the surfaces afterwards if it is used on the inside. As a disinfectant I use a 10% bleach and 10% vinegar (for decaying any bake-on stuff or limescale, it's a lot safer than CLR) and 80% water mixture to disinfect my tank, and I rinse twice after.
I spray one part of windex to four parts water on a paper towel and wipe the inside of my beardie's cage with it. I have to wipe it down really good because he tends to like to try to taste it.
Windex is toxic to animals (and humans) if ingested. I highly recommend avoiding it at all costs, just to be safe. Bleach water or vinegar water is much more safe but bleach should still be rinsed thoroughly. Chlorhexidine is also safe, but is more expensive than simple bleach.
A vinegar/water solution can be used to clean glass. We use it a lot. If you have really caked on dirt though, I'd use a mild detergent like a handsoap and rinse very well. But just as a window cleaner, vinegar works fine.
Vinegar also kills bacteria so it's more than just a simple window cleaner. I use a vinegar/peroxide solution which is supposed to kill more bacteria than most commercial cleaners. All you do is put white or cider vinegar in one spray bottle and peroxide in another spray bottle. Spray both on the surface and wipe clean. It's smells but it's effective, cheap, and non toxic. I'm planning on trying Nolvasan as well.
