Steam Cleaner Woes

[katie_fleming]

My steam cleaner arrived last week, yay! Ended up costing me $70 after the exchange rate but at least I got one.

Unfortunately I'm a complete noob and it took me over an hour on the weekend to clean Jasper's cage lol (not to mention a few burns on the hands haha)

Maybe I'm using the wrong attachments, I don't know. I used one of the extenders to do the entire cage - maybe I should try the wide one that looks almost like a vacuum cleaner attachment, because the stream is so fine I felt like it kept going through the bars so it took me awhile.

The bottom grate was a challenge. I used the attachment with the scrubber but it seems like the scrubber was going on either side of the bars, so I ended up using my normal cage scrubber instead.

So I guess what I'm asking for are some tips...how are you guys cleaning a huge cage in 15 minutes?!

I also had to take out the wooden perches because there's just no room to move around inside with the machine. And it didn't clean them well anyway (took them to the bathtub to spray in there, but it really wasn't working, so I ended up soaking them like I normally do).

Tips please!!!

 

[MikeyTN]

I would never steam clean a big cage, I yank my cages outside and spray down with hose to soak then scrub. It takes awhile to do one cage, about an hour or so? The steam cleaner is meant to sanitize to kill off any virus or bacteria. So after scrubbing clean, then use the steam cleaner to go over it. It shouldn't take more then 10min.

 

[lizard]

I take all of my perches out and soak and scrub like you do. Then I spray poop and food areas with bird cleaner and scrub with a sponge and hot water. Then I clean with the steamer using a cloth as I go to wipe up anything left/get the water off the bars.

In the summer I wheel it right outside and hose off. So much easier lol.

 

[Birdman666]

OKAY... I'VE GOT A HOT TIP FOR YOU (PARDON THE PUN!)

I don't use the attachments. I use the open steam nozzle. (i.e. you just don't put any of the tips on it.) This gives you more steam out the end...

I pull the bottom grate out, and set it down on a cleaning towel. Then blast it really good with the steamer until the poop literally melts. Then I let it cool down for just a second, and wipe it down with the scrubbing side of a normal large scrubber sponge. (The kind you use for heavy duty cleaning.)

Then flip the grate over and do the other side.

Then wipe it down with an old cleaning towel.

DONE!

With poop spots on the bars of the cage, and perches, same deal. Get it nice and soft with the steam. Give it a second so you don't burn yourself, then just wipe it clean.

If the sponge is getting nasty (and it will), you just rinse it in a bucket of clean water.

I've been doing this for 10+ years. After awhile, you just get faster, and faster.

Measure carefully. Don't over fill the tank, and keep your flesh (and all feathered flesh) away from the steam end of the thing.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Anything that can go out the door I clean on the deck BUT My cage will not fit thru the door and to take it apart every week would just cause me to lose my mind. LOL

I do steam but do not use the extension . Also after cleaning one side I wipe that side down . Yeah it will burn the crap out of you so hands clear.

I don't clean the tray or grate with it. Just easier for me to take those on the deck . A little Gain and warm water and they look like new.

It normally takes me about 30 - 45 minutes to clean the entire cage . I do go slow with the steamer

Trying to think of the name of the tool I use at the end . It just shoots out a narrow shot of steady steam


I do buy water for my steamer only because the instructions said DO IT

That is the same attachment I use Mark thanks

 

[Birdman666]

I take all of my perches out and soak and scrub like you do.

That would take me A WEEK!

I just zap them in place as needed.

 

[Christinenc2000]

I take all of my perches out and soak and scrub like you do.

That would take me A WEEK!

I just zap them in place as needed.

Same I hit them all . Leave in place . Including any ropes . New to steaming so i am sloooooooooow

 

[katie_fleming]

Perfect, thank you! I am literally going to print these out so when I clean it again on Saturday I won't forget haha

Yes, Jasper goes on his birdie playgym on the other side of the living room while I clean his cage every week

I live in an apartment. Absolutely impossible to clean his cage outside.

Good idea with removing the grate, I didn't think of that. I can set it in the bathtub and clean it there, that should work!

 

[Birdman666]

I'm actually very lucky as mine seem to go in the same spots over and over again. So really, you are giving the whole grate a once over, but there's only a couple of spots you really have to blast clean. And I just zap it until the poop melts and then wipe clean...

So I guess having "creatures of habit" makes cleaning faster for me as well.

 

[Birdman666]

I take all of my perches out and soak and scrub like you do.

That would take me A WEEK!

I just zap them in place as needed.

Same I hit them all . Leave in place . Including any ropes . New to steaming so i am sloooooooooow

Ropes I pull out, and throw in the washing machine, then hang dry.

And yeah, mine get a bit defensive when I mess with their boings!

HEY! THAT'S MY FAVORITE... WHERE ARE YOU TAKING IT... NOOOOOO!

 

[katie_fleming]

And yeah, mine get a bit defensive when I mess with their boings!

HEY! THAT'S MY FAVORITE... WHERE ARE YOU TAKING IT... NOOOOOO!

That's why I bought Jasper 2 of them! He'd get all sad when it went away for a day because it had to dry LOL

Spoiled baby

 

[Birdman666]

Perfect, thank you! I am literally going to print these out so when I clean it again on Saturday I won't forget haha

Yes, Jasper goes on his birdie playgym on the other side of the living room while I clean his cage every week

I live in an apartment. Absolutely impossible to clean his cage outside.

Good idea with removing the grate, I didn't think of that. I can set it in the bathtub and clean it there, that should work!

THEN YOU HAVE TO SCRUB THE TUB. JUST LAY OUT A CLEANING TOWEL. MUCH EASIER TO JUST THROW THAT IN THE "NASTY CLEANING TOWEL LOAD" IN THE LAUNDRY...

(ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO TO THE LAUNDRYMAT AND DON'T HAVE TO CLEAN OUT THE WASHER AFTERWARD...)

 

[Birdman666]

And yeah, mine get a bit defensive when I mess with their boings!

HEY! THAT'S MY FAVORITE... WHERE ARE YOU TAKING IT... NOOOOOO!

That's why I bought Jasper 2 of them! He'd get all sad when it went away for a day because it had to dry LOL

Spoiled baby

Oh yeah... Sally has two boings and a rope swing all of which she spends a considerable amount of time on, especially her rope swing in the window...

She gets quite distressed when you remove them, and doesn't really relax until you give them back.

 

[katie_fleming]

THEN YOU HAVE TO SCRUB THE TUB. JUST LAY OUT A CLEANING TOWEL. MUCH EASIER TO JUST THROW THAT IN THE "NASTY CLEANING TOWEL LOAD" IN THE LAUNDRY...

(ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO TO THE LAUNDRYMAT AND DON'T HAVE TO CLEAN OUT THE WASHER AFTERWARD...)

Hahaa you're 10 steps ahead of me, awesome. I need to see if I have a big enough towel hmm...might have to stop by the dollar store. Thanks for the tips! Hopefully attempt #2 will be more successful hehe

Oh yeah... Sally has two boings and a rope swing all of which she spends a considerable amount of time on, especially her rope swing in the window...

She gets quite distressed when you remove them, and doesn't really relax until you give them back.

Do you happen to have a picture of the rope swing? I'd like to get something for Jasper so he can be by the window as well!

 

[lizard]

That would take me A WEEK!

I just zap them in place as needed.

Same I hit them all . Leave in place . Including any ropes . New to steaming so i am sloooooooooow

Ropes I pull out, and throw in the washing machine, then hang dry.

And yeah, mine get a bit defensive when I mess with their boings!

HEY! THAT'S MY FAVORITE... WHERE ARE YOU TAKING IT... NOOOOOO!

The washing machine, duh! I put two in the dishwasher. I'm sure you can imagine that outcome.

 

[OOwl]

Like Birdman, I discovered the open tip spray (wider coverage) and I do that, melt and wipe with rag that I throw in laundry (well, several). I also wash boings in the washing machine and hang in sun to dry. I have a swap and spare system for those because my Grey NEEDS his boing and acts like a fool if I mess with it.

You'll get the hang of the steamer. I'm amazed at your price though. Which model did you get?

 

[katie_fleming]

This one: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/HLA-ui-243-32e-Handheld-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B003TJ4T8S/?tag=skim0x14770-20"]Amazon.com - Handheld Steam Cleaner - Handheld Steamers For Cleaning[/ame]


I'm in Canada, and on the Amazon.ca site it was $170, so I purchased from the US one. It was $25 shipping (so $50 total) and the exchange rate is terrible right now, bringing it up to $70

 

[Christinenc2000]

This one: Amazon.com - Handheld Steam Cleaner - Handheld Steamers For Cleaning


I'm in Canada, and on the Amazon.ca site it was $170, so I purchased from the US one. It was $25 shipping (so $50 total) and the exchange rate is terrible right now, bringing it up to $70

I paid about $79.00 for mine on sale Katie that one should do a good job for your cage

Here is the one I bought . Small but I like it

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-915-0282014-500-Watt-On-Demand/dp/B003PGQI3Y/ref=pd_sim_sbs_201_28?ie=UTF8&dpID=41v5PNSJf6L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=17R572VVRJ6EFS436GHW"]Amazon.com: Wagner 915 (0282014) 1,500-Watt On-Demand Power Steamer and Cleaner: Home Improvement[/ame]

 

[katie_fleming]

Considering that was my price range anyway it's fine. I'm more upset about the exchange rate being so terrible right now lol

 

[Birdman666]

I clean enough as it is. I DO NOT need to clean something else because I just cleaned something! (I don't think so! Homie don't play dat!)

I'm a California Surfer boy. I have a blanket sized (beach blanket towel) that I actually used to protect the interior of my car when I moved out here, which comes in very handy for things like this now that I don't surf anymore, and don't live anywhere near a beach...

I'll see if I can find a link to the rope swing. Sally LOVES her swing... it's starting to get worn out, but god forbid I should remove it, or replace it...

IT'S MINE!!!



It's actually the round rope perch on Sally's table, which just happens to be perfect for sitting in the window. THAT is her spot! NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO GO NEAR IT...

And of course, Tusk does, just to get her riled up... (then runs off laughing!)