Still haven't cleaned...

[Ralph the hamster]

So, now that our guy is more settled, we are trying to figure out how to clean up around him. He really isn't using the sandbox and hasn't been bringing out soiled bedding. When do we have to bite the bullet and go in there and clean? I'm not talking about wrecking his tunnels and trails and such, but rather taking the lid off his chamber house and poking around. He's been in there about 6 weeks. Do we clean when he's awake? Asleep? Help!

 

[elusive]

I would definitely clean when he’s awake rather than wake him up to clean.
Does he have any out of cage time? That’s the best time really.

 

[Ralph the hamster]

I would definitely clean when he’s awake rather than wake him up to clean.
Does he have any out of cage time? That’s the best time really.

No, he's not out yet. Based on how the last couple weeks have gone, I'd imagine he'd be doing more outside the cage time the beginning of August. Is it ok to leave it that long? The cage doesn't stink or anything and he seems happy and clean when we hang out.

 

[elusive]

I wouldn’t wait that long, it’s less stressful for them if you do a little bit of a clean, even if that means leaving some of the peed on substrate in for a bit, a bit more frequently rather than leaving for that long by which time you would probably need to do quite a big clean.
You could try taking the top off his house to have a look when he’s wake & up in the cage, do a bit of spot cleaning then if he doesn’t get too stressed or if need be you could put him a carrier for a short while & have a look in his house then.