Steam Cleaning A Cage?

What do you think about steam cleaning a chams cage?

Got a new one for Christmas... I do a 'deep' clean on most cages at least once a month.

Vegas Chad said:

Got a new one for Christmas... I do a 'deep' clean on most cages at least once a month.

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Deep as in DEEP steam? I'm going to pick one up tonight cause I noticed some black spots from the water on my drift wood.

I got one of these in my stocking.
no more bleach!!

http://www.allergyasthmatech.com/P/Germ_Guardian_UVC_Sanitizing_Wand__LW18/977_332

I very much like having a quality steam cleaner! Between white vinegar and hot steam, I Rarely use chemicals around the house (or the cham houses) anymore.

does that UV wand actually work and how do you use it on chameleon cages

ageber said:

does that UV wand actually work and how do you use it on chameleon cages

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Ive never used one. But I've heard UV-C wavelengths/radiation does a good job of destroying viruses, bacteria, mold, yeast and mildew.

technically, UVC radiation kill everything organic on cellular level.
so, it should work.
Just remember not to expose the light to your chameleon.

Never thought on using that for chameleon cage. thanks for the idea.

I wash out the cages and dry them and then use the wand over the bottom and sides.
Its great for feeding cups and drippers too.

just wondering, if this uvc thing is effective against parasite eggs.

A virus is really just a strip of genetic material that implants itself into a host cell, so I'd imagine that any kind of high radiation should destroy them, parasite eggs too.
That's just my opinion, but I could be wrong.

Great idea Todnedo!

Justin Carl said:

A virus is really just a strip of genetic material that implants itself into a host cell, so I'd imagine that any kind of high radiation should destroy them, parasite eggs too.
That's just my opinion, but I could be wrong.

Great idea Todnedo!

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Just wondering if the radiation is fatal enough to penetrate oocyst stage of protozoan parasites.
Those walls they create b4 going into some kind of suspended animation are impervious to many things.

I know that hospital uses the UVC to sterilize thing.
But, is the one commercially available will have the same power as the hospital one?

I wish someone can chime in here.
If it's an effective equipment, I will buy it in a heartbeat.

lol.. in order to not steer away too much from the original thread. Yes, I have use steam cleaner.
I am a bit ambivalent about it.
I love the fact that I can clean without using harsh chemicals.
However, as far as the effectiveness, I cannot be 100% positive; UNLESS, if you are using one of this monster:
http://www.consumersearch.com/steam-cleaners/whitewing-steamer

You want the steam that come out from the nozzles to be as hot as boiling water temp to effectively obliterate parasites (esp coccidia), mold, etc etc.
I found that the cheap steamers simply does not release hot vapor by the time it came out from the nozzles.
It almost felt like I am cleaning with a tiny leaf blower.

Call Dave Weldon, he will know the answer.
I'd be intrested in getting one too.
They are cheaper then a steam cleaner, and also seem much easier to use.
They aren't as bulky, but it could be difficult to get into tight space.
That was the only problem I could see with it.

Justin Carl said:

Call Dave Weldon, he will know the answer.
I'd be intrested in getting one too.
They are cheaper then a steam cleaner, and also seem much easier to use.
They aren't as bulky, but it could be difficult to get into tight space.
That was the only problem I could see with it.

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I'll ask him tomorrow night at the meeting

there is a steamer we use for my embroidery business which comes out boiling, it has a hose and wand on it so it is something like a vacuum hose. I had never thought about steam cleaning the cages or using the UV. I think maybe a combination of both should work fine. It would be nice to know if the UV will really do the job. Does anyone use it for other reptiles besides chameleons. We have bearded dragons, crested geckos, a tortoise, besides the chameleons.

I would imagine that a virus is vulnerable to UVC, However because of the hard outer protective layer what will make the difference is the exposure time. For example to sterilize water the recommendation of boiling time is 15min, sterilization from steam is 3 min.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterilization_(microbiology)

I haven't found any data to suggest exposure time for UVC however there are some short comings that I can see. For example to effectively kill some thing with UVC, it needs to be exposed. That cant happen to all the nooks and cracks and crevices of a Cham viv. also exposure to UVC is also dangerous secondary to cancer causing effects. So it shouldn't be some naked bulb you want to be waving all over the place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_Germicidal_Irradiation

Steam sterilizers are great at sterilizing but the exposure time needs to be there (approx 3 min per site).

I am also very curious to hear what Dave has to say on this.

Hope that helps

OPI

opihiman said:

I would imagine that a virus is vulnerable to UVC, However because of the hard outer protective layer what will make the difference is the exposure time. For example to sterilize water the recommendation of boiling time is 15min, sterilization from steam is 3 min.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterilization_(microbiology)

I haven't found any data to suggest exposure time for UVC however there are some short comings that I can see. For example to effectively kill some thing with UVC, it needs to be exposed. That cant happen to all the nooks and cracks and crevices of a Cham viv. also exposure to UVC is also dangerous secondary to cancer causing effects. So it shouldn't be some naked bulb you want to be waving all over the place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_Germicidal_Irradiation

Steam sterilizers are great at sterilizing but the exposure time needs to be there (approx 3 min per site).

I am also very curious to hear what Dave has to say on this.

Hope that helps

OPI

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Ok... i talked about this to Dave last tuesday.
The gist is basically has been summarized nicely by Opihiman.
I thought i read it somewhere that the time needed for exposure is 30 seconds.
Some bacteria, virus, etc won't die immediately but the UVC will destroy their genetic material enough that they no longer can actively reproduce.

UVC is fatal for any organic beings. Therefore, parasites will also be affected.
Yet, with that said, our own safety becomes the concern here.
any exposure of the UVC light is very dangerous.
on top of that, if this is sort of concentrated light wand, we still have to deal with "reflected" light bouncing off from the surface.

i use my company's carpet steam cleaner.

industrial steam cleaner 220 degrees and lots of pressure behind the steam gun.

it worked very well on the cages.

Steam cleaning is the way to go.

I just pasted through our local Costco and noticed that they had a UVC sterilizing wand for sale...

Just thought that I would post and let those of you who were looking for one know....you may or may not be able to find it at your local store...


http://www.costco.com/Common/Search...e=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US

Hope that helps

OPI

Just wanted to update everyone! I bought a steam cleaner (this one: http://www.sales-innovations.com/Shark_SC618A_Steam_Bottle_Handheld_Steam_Cleaner_p1297.html) and used it for the first time this weekend on both of my cham cages.

REVIEW:

I used it on the bottom of the cage (PVC Board) and it steamed off all stains and poo stains very easy the board looks brand new again. I also used it on the soil of my plants just to kill anything that could possibly be in it. Same goes with the leafs of my plants I sprayed them down really quickly. No damage done to the plants no dead leafs or anything and it's been a week and I noticed a big difference in smell inside of the cages.