Rope Perches -how do you clean them?

KatherineI · May 21, 2012

So I'm cleaning cages and it's a wipe-down day. Which means everything comes out. When I took out Sugars rope perches, I realized that both have poop on them :-/ I'm not sure how to clean it off either

I haven't encountered this problem because until Loki, I hadn't used rope perches and Loki has a playstand with its own catch tray on top. I usually arranged his cage in such a way that he can't poop on to his other perches while on a perch. Sugar runs around on top of her cage, but it's a dome top, so no catch pan.

Any suggestions?

Mayden · May 21, 2012

I get a scrubby brush, 'soak' the perch in hothot water with a bird safe cleaner the scrub the poop off as best as I can.

Best thing is to try and move it out of poop shot in her cage so she doesn't keep messing it up. Merlin has a robe springy perch... nightmare >.>

Lesa1211 · May 21, 2012

I throw mine in the washer, but I dont put them in the dryer. I just let them air dry then put them back in.

Lesa1211 · May 21, 2012

Let me add I DONT add soap to the washer, just hot water.

KatherineI · May 21, 2012

Mayden said:
I get a scrubby brush, 'soak' the perch in hothot water with a bird safe cleaner the scrub the poop off as best as I can.

Best thing is to try and move it out of poop shot in her cage so she doesn't keep messing it up. Merlin has a robe springy perch... nightmare >.>

Until I can get her a different cage with a play top, no place is out of poop shot, unfortunately. We have to wait until after we move to get her a new cage, since it's so close. Makes no sense to buy her a new cage now and in 2-3 weeks have to move it. This cage will become their shared outside cage after we get Sugar's new cage.

Lesa1211 said:
I throw mine in the washer, but I dont put them in the dryer. I just let them air dry then put them back in.

Hmm. Not sure my HE washer will like washing 2 rope perches. It's finicky, if it doesn't have a full load, it gets angry at me

I guess I'll scrub it as best as I can, but not sure what I'll use.

Mayden · May 21, 2012

KatherineI said:
Mayden said:

I get a scrubby brush, 'soak' the perch in hothot water with a bird safe cleaner the scrub the poop off as best as I can.

Best thing is to try and move it out of poop shot in her cage so she doesn't keep messing it up. Merlin has a robe springy perch... nightmare >.>

Click to expand...

Until I can get her a different cage with a play top, no place is out of poop shot, unfortunately. We have to wait until after we move to get her a new cage, since it's so close. Makes no sense to buy her a new cage now and in 2-3 weeks have to move it. This cage will become their shared outside cage after we get Sugar's new cage.

Lesa1211 said:

I throw mine in the washer, but I dont put them in the dryer. I just let them air dry then put them back in.

Click to expand...

Hmm. Not sure my HE washer will like washing 2 rope perches. It's finicky, if it doesn't have a full load, it gets angry at me

I guess I'll scrub it as best as I can, but not sure what I'll use.

If you just use boiling hot water and give it a right good scrub it's gonna be fine.
Johnsons Bird Clean 'n' Safe 500ml | Medicine | Pet Bird | Pets Corner

this is the stuff I use for disinfecting etc. I get the dried poop off first. Sprits the perch with that, leave it for 5-10 mins, soak it, then scrub with a hard bristled brush.

Hope the move goes okay btw!

KatherineI · May 21, 2012

I'll have to try that later. I kinda need to clean it and put it back together in the next hour or so, lol. Thanks Mayden!

Mayden · May 21, 2012

No worries. When I first realised I had to clean the rope perch I was just like "uhhh. so how do i go about this... :|"

Have fun cleaning

Lesa1211 · May 21, 2012

I dont have an HE Kathrine lol. Good luck!

IcyWolf · May 21, 2012

I use rope perches in my baby cages and they can get very messy very quickly! I just spray them down with white vinegar and then let them soak in the tub with scalding hot water. After a few minutes of that I just scrub them with a sponge and then let them air dry, they are good as new after that.

Spiritbird · May 21, 2012

I just put most of the cage items in the dishwasher, even the wooden perches.

Rio Mom · May 21, 2012

I put mine in the top rack of the dishwasher too. I don't put in a soap tab, just some bleach in the bottom. They come out nice and clean.

KatherineI · May 21, 2012

IcyWolf said:
I use rope perches in my baby cages and they can get very messy very quickly! I just spray them down with white vinegar and then let them soak in the tub with scalding hot water. After a few minutes of that I just scrub them with a sponge and then let them air dry, they are good as new after that.

Thanks! That's exactly what I eventually came up with and they're drying now. I boiled some water (thank goodness I didn't get rid of my old tea kettle!!) and after wiping most of the poop off with a rag, soaked them in a white vinegar solution until the water got about lukewarm, then I rinsed them really well and they're drying in front of the heater, lol.

I'll have to try the dishwasher method once we have a dishwasher that's not a portable one. That thing is already on it's last legs, but seeing as I don't own it, I don't really care! Can't wait to move!

evesta · May 21, 2012

Great topic!!! I'm trying the dishwasher first!

amysaviary · May 21, 2012

I use the dishwasher also. I run a bird load every other day or so. I put perches, bowls, toys anything I can. I have a sanitize cycle so I use that and they all come out great!!

MikeyTN · May 22, 2012

We use the dishwasher as well!!!! BUT I'll tell you one of the best way to deal with poopy rope perches, trash!!! LoL....I don't like them, some of our birds came with those and I took them out and threw them out the door. After having one of your birds get caught in it one day when they decide to rip the strings apart, you learn to toss it....

KatherineI · May 22, 2012

MikeyTN - I don't have that issue, at least so far. My guys don't chew on their perches and I don't have any loose strings. I'd toss them as soon as I saw loose strings, particularly for Sugar since she's sooooo clumsy! I also love the rope perches

But I only have 2 for each cage, the rest of their perches are natural wood.

Safira · May 22, 2012

If its just a quick-scrub day I squirt with viniger and water and scrub it off. If i'm taking everything out, dishwaser

KatherineI · May 22, 2012

Safira said:
If its just a quick-scrub day I squirt with viniger and water and scrub it off. If i'm taking everything out, dishwaser

I think the next time I do a thorough cleaning, I'll have to figure something like that out. My current dishwasher will NOT handle it, I have to pre-wash everything that goes in the dishwasher to begin with. I live in a very old, historical home that was owned by the Navy but thanks to PPV, is now owned by a cruddy company that refuses to fix, upgrade or do anything about our issues. Our pipes need to be replaced badly, but they refuse to do it. Another reason I can't WAIT to move - I'll have a real kitchen with a real dishwasher!

That'll probably the first thing I do in the new house - find the bird supplies and start throwing them in the dishwasher, lol!

Oedipussrex · Jun 3, 2012

We had a rope 'boing' and we just soaked it for a bit in boiling water and then ran it through the washer and put it on the clothesline to dry

Rope Perches -how do you clean them?

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Why is it so hard to find well-designed cages for smaller parrots?

Do you think this would be a good cage?

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