Post by Karen R Quinn on Jul 18, 2009 8:10:43 GMT -7
Here are just a few natural non toxic cleaning solutions that you can use to clean and disinfect your parrots cage, perches and surroundings.
Things you'll need:
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Baking soda
CITRA-SOLV
OxyFresh
Method All Purpose Cleaner With Lavender
Add twenty drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract to a 32-ounce spray bottle filled with water. Use on all surfaces around the house and to clean sprouts, fruits, and vegetables before feeding to parrots.
Baking soda with water is a good all-purpose cleaner (1/4 cup baking soda to 1 quart water). Sprinkle baking soda on surfaces to be cleaned or make a paste with baking soda and liquid soap. Scrub with a damp nylon scrubbing pad, soft cloth, sponge, or very fine steel wool. White distilled vinegar diluted in water removes baking soda residue. Dry with a soft cotton cloth. Recycled cotton clothing serves as a good cleaning and drying cloth.
CITRA-SOLV natural cleaner and degreaser is a concentrated solvent made of citrus oils, surfactants, and limonene (from citrus peel oil) that safely cleans chewing gum, ink, oil, grease, tar, gummed labels, and even sticky fly paper "goo". It is the only solvent safe for use on bird feathers, but it should be removed after it does its work. Using your thumb and first finger, rub a few drops of the Citra-solv thoroughly into the sticky goo or grease on the feathers. Remove it with a washcloth. Then rub Dawn liquid detergent into the feathers. It is crucial NOT to add water until straight detergent has been worked into the feathers. ONLY after you have thoroughly worked the detergent into the feathers should you add warm water. This also applies to cleaning grease from feathers. If you cannot locate a source of Citra-solv, call the distributor at (800) 343-6588 from 9-5 EST.
OxyFresh also is an effective cleaner for grates and hardened dirt. It is non-toxic and is effective against polyoma.
Another good product is Method All Surface cleaner. It is also a non toxic product that is a very effective cleaning agent.
Tips & Warnings:
To catch droppings, use newspaper or brown paper rather than bedding which can hold moisture and rust out cage bottoms. Damp corncob bedding can develop dangerous mold spores. I personally use brown paper grocery bags cut to fit the bottom of the cage.
Never use toxic products to clean or disinfect your birds surroundings.
When in doubt ask your avian vets advice before using a product that you are unsure about.
Things you'll need:
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Baking soda
CITRA-SOLV
OxyFresh
Method All Purpose Cleaner With Lavender
Add twenty drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract to a 32-ounce spray bottle filled with water. Use on all surfaces around the house and to clean sprouts, fruits, and vegetables before feeding to parrots.
Baking soda with water is a good all-purpose cleaner (1/4 cup baking soda to 1 quart water). Sprinkle baking soda on surfaces to be cleaned or make a paste with baking soda and liquid soap. Scrub with a damp nylon scrubbing pad, soft cloth, sponge, or very fine steel wool. White distilled vinegar diluted in water removes baking soda residue. Dry with a soft cotton cloth. Recycled cotton clothing serves as a good cleaning and drying cloth.
CITRA-SOLV natural cleaner and degreaser is a concentrated solvent made of citrus oils, surfactants, and limonene (from citrus peel oil) that safely cleans chewing gum, ink, oil, grease, tar, gummed labels, and even sticky fly paper "goo". It is the only solvent safe for use on bird feathers, but it should be removed after it does its work. Using your thumb and first finger, rub a few drops of the Citra-solv thoroughly into the sticky goo or grease on the feathers. Remove it with a washcloth. Then rub Dawn liquid detergent into the feathers. It is crucial NOT to add water until straight detergent has been worked into the feathers. ONLY after you have thoroughly worked the detergent into the feathers should you add warm water. This also applies to cleaning grease from feathers. If you cannot locate a source of Citra-solv, call the distributor at (800) 343-6588 from 9-5 EST.
OxyFresh also is an effective cleaner for grates and hardened dirt. It is non-toxic and is effective against polyoma.
Another good product is Method All Surface cleaner. It is also a non toxic product that is a very effective cleaning agent.
Tips & Warnings:
To catch droppings, use newspaper or brown paper rather than bedding which can hold moisture and rust out cage bottoms. Damp corncob bedding can develop dangerous mold spores. I personally use brown paper grocery bags cut to fit the bottom of the cage.
Never use toxic products to clean or disinfect your birds surroundings.
When in doubt ask your avian vets advice before using a product that you are unsure about.