Question about reusing hamster items

[Jellie2626]

Hello! I recently took in a rescue hamster from someone on Facebook marketplace who really loved him but was unable to care for him due to illness. I had been in the market for a hamster so I had everything prepared and this seemed serendipitous as I’d rather rescue than buy from a pet store and we have no ethical breeders in my state.
I had Toast the little dwarf hamster for exactly one week when I was begged by the previous owner to give him back as she was able to move in with her parents who would be willing to help take care of him and even said she would pay me for him back.
I was torn but in the end relented as we hadn’t bonded yet as I was mostly leaving him along to get used to his new home and she really did seem to love him and he came to me well cared for.
So. Now I am in a position where I have used everything for a week with a hamster I no longer have.
I have a 75 gallon tank which I am planning to clean with vinegar and water, as well as the glass dish sand bath, mason jar hide, water bottle, ceramic hide and wheel.
I’m tossing all the sprays, play tubes and balls, bedding, whimzee exc.
All my wood platforms, dig box, bridges are niteangel and I know you are supposed to bake the wood objects after, but also worried about these breaking down due to the glue niteangel uses not holding up to baking. I was going to wash with vinegar and water, bake at 200 for 10 min and then leave in the sun.
Do you think that would be enough to get rid of the smell of the previous hamster if I only had him a week? He was peeing in his burrow so I don’t think he marked anything heavily, but don’t want to deal with fear or territorial issues if I get another hamster. Will this be okay?

 

[Maz]

Hello. That has been tough for you and a lot of hassle, and it was very kind of you to return the hamster - nightmare! And you've already set up a lovely environment.

First thing is - it sounds more about scent removal than disinfecting - if the hamster was not unwell then no need to fully disinfect everything. Things like hyacinth (tubes and balls) you can just pop in the freezer for a few days and that should help remove any scent With the wood items, I would just wash them! Just a sponge and water and some dish washing soap and then rinse off. That cleans them and removes scent. If you wanted to be doubly sure, you could pop those in the freezer for a few days as well once they're dry after washing (if space! Houses are bulky).

Replacing the sprays and whimzees are necessary as you have done. Any wood items that have been pee'd on, it would depend how bad they are. I've sometimes washed, dried and then sealed the wood with a layer of plastikote.

I think the house is probably the main thing that could have hamster scent - the platforms I would wash leave to dry and then freeze for a few days (or the other way round!). You could do the same with the house, but personally I would then paint/seal it with plastikote just to be sure there are no aromas.

Washing wood items like niteangel houses does mean they take a while to dry - maybe a day or so fully in a warm area.

Hope that helps and hope you find another hammy soon

 

[Maz]

Can you get plastikote in the US? I think at one point it was possible but possibly a bit expensive. If getting another hamster quite soon, you could maybe make a cardboard shoebox house instead, and give the current house some time - annoying though. It's in the Uk Hamsterstorefront below in the Accessories and Emergencies list. If clicking on it, it should show if it ships to the US or not I can't find it on Amazon.com so haven't added it to the US storefront but I've linked both below

However I see the price has gone up a lot! It used to be £4 a bottle and now it's about £7.50!


Uk Storefront

The Hamster Forum's Amazon page

Shop for recommended products from The Hamster Forum on www.amazon.co.uk. Learn more about The Hamster Forum's favourite products.

www.amazon.co.uk

USA Storefront

The Hamster Forum's Amazon Page

Shop recommended products from The Hamster Forum on www.amazon.com. Learn more about The Hamster Forum's favorite products.

www.amazon.com

 

[Jellie2626]

Looking on Amazon it’s quite expensive with shipping here. The little guy honestly didn’t go inside the one I have much - his favorite place was deep in his burrows and occasionally in the big tipped over glass mason jar he had filled with all his favorite bits and buried himself within, but I have a muitichamber, mason jar, usually put a few empty toilet paper rolls and a ceramic mushroom hide so I can always freeze the house and add it later, but honestly I’m having such a terrible time finding a hamster to rehome near me it might be fine!
He was perfectly healthy, so I won’t go overboard on the disinfecting and just try to freeze things in batches I think.
I had everything for a month before I found this little guy. I will keep scanning Facebook marketplace, as the shelters near me seem to only have rats and Guinea pigs but usually no hamsters!
Thank you so much for the help!

 

[Jellie2626]

This was little toast. Absolutely cutie pie, so bummed he couldn’t stay with me.

 

[Maz]

It's not fair. So sorry. If he didn't really use the house, then I'd just pop it in the freezer for a few days then get it a wash with soapy water and dry. I think that would wash any scent away.

 

[Maz]

You're maybe missing him a bit. Even in a week they feel like you know them and something has started. I hope you find another hammy soon you can keep