How to Clean up After Your Guinea Pig

Last Updated: March 26, 2023 Approved

Guinea pigs usually do not cause large messes, but they can leave stains and droppings around their cage and your house. It is important to clean up after your guinea pig to prevent the spread of diseases. Clean out the cage at least once a week, and scoop up poop and wet spots every day. Always immediately pick up after your guinea pig after they have been outside of their cage.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Up an Accident Outside of the Cage

1
Return your guinea pig to their cage. If your guinea pig had an accident during floor time, it is best to wait until they are back in their cage before cleaning it up. If the mess is a bad one, cut floor time short. Put them back in their cage so that their shavings can catch any further droppings.
2
Pick up droppings with a scoop or a paper towel. If you have a plastic scoop or spoon handy, you can scoop up any poop pellets. Normally, guinea pig droppings will be small, solid droppings, and it will be easy to pick them up. If you do not have a scoop, you can use a paper towel to pick them up. Do not touch droppings with your bare hands.

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3
Blot out urine stains. If your guinea pig pees on a carpet, get a paper towel and fold it over to create a thick pad. Press the towel to the carpet spot to soak it up. Don't try to rub it away; this causes the urine to soak deeper into the carpet.
4
Spray with a disinfectant. Once the droppings and urine have been removed, you should use a pet-safe disinfectant. You can use conventional antibacterial sprays so long as you wait a day before reintroducing your guinea pig to the area.
- You can also use a solution made of equal parts of white vinegar and water.
- You can mix eight ounces of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of dish detergent as well. Test it on a small spot of your carpet to make sure that it won't damage it.^{[1]
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5
Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area. If the accident occurred on the carpet, you can use baking soda to remove the stench. Sprinkle a handful of baking soda over the spot, and let it sit for fifteen to twenty minutes. Vacuum it afterward. The smell should be gone.^{[2]
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6
Allow the area to dry completely. Before you let your guinea pig back into this area, make sure that the disinfectant has completely dried. This will prevent them from being exposed to chemicals. You may want to wait up to a full day before letting them back in the area.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Lining During Floor Time

1
Lay down newspaper or a fleece blanket before floor time. This will create a lining between the floor and your guinea pig. This lining will catch any droppings they leave behind while out of their cage. It will also provide a natural boundary for your guinea pig, encouraging them to stay in one place.
2
Roll up the lining after floor time. Once you have returned your guinea pig to their cage, you can remove the lining from the floor. Fold the edges over before rolling it up. This will prevent any debris from falling off the lining onto your floor.
- If you used newspaper, you can throw it out in the trash can.
- If you used a fleece blanket, gently brush off debris into a trash can. Wash the blanket before using again.
3
Scoop the droppings up with a plastic spoon and cup. If any droppings fell off of the lining, you can scoop it up quickly. Keep a plastic spoon and cup handy right next to the cage. Pick the droppings up with the spoon, and drop it into the cup. Dump the cup into the trash can when you are done.
4
Litter train your guinea pig. Your guinea pig may be able to be trained to only go on newspaper or litter. Every time you see your guinea about to go, move them to the newspaper or a box of litter. Afterward, give them a carrot or other vegetable. Over a few weeks, they may start to only use the litter.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning the Cage

1
Remove toys, bowls, and other objects from the cage. All items should be taken out of the cage. Unhook the water feeder from the side. Rinse out the food bowl and water bottle. The toys do not need to be cleaned unless they are covered in feces or urine.
2
Take the guinea pigs out of the cage. While you clean the cage, you can put the guinea pigs in a smaller carrier case or a closed-off pen on the floor. You can also allow another family or house member to hold them while you clean.^{[3]
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3
Scoop up the shavings with a dustpan. If you are using wood shavings, you can use a dustpan to scoop it up and dump it into a trash bag. Use a large trash bag and dispose of it immediately. Be careful not to spill any shavings on the floor.
- Afterwards, if you choose, you can vacuum up any remaining shavings or bedding.
4
Remove the lining. If you're using newspaper or puppy pads—either as bedding or as a lining beneath the shavings—you should roll it up before throwing it out. Fold over the edges so that feces and loose shavings do not tumble out.
5
Wash fleece bedding. If you are using fleece bedding instead of shavings, take it from the cage. Brush off any wood chips, shavings, or poop into a trash bag. Put the blanket in the washing machine. Use warm or cold water and a mild detergent. Hang to dry.
- You can add a half cup of vinegar to the wash to deodorize the fleece.
6
Spray down the cage with a pet-safe disinfectant. Spray the cage and allow it to soak. After letting the disinfectant sit for a few minutes, wipe it down with a clean, dry cloth. Pet stores will sell pet-safe disinfectants. You can also make your own by mixing one part white vinegar to one part water.
7
Replace the bedding. Wait until the cage is completely dry. Once it is, you can put fresh, clean bedding back in the cage. You want to make sure that there are no gaping spaces on the floor of the cage. This will make cleaning easier for next time.
- If you use newspapers, line the bottom with overlapping sheets so that the entire floor is covered.
- If you are using shavings, dump a fresh layer that is 1 to 1.5 inch (2.5 to 3.8 cm) thick.^{[4]
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- If you use a fleece blanket, drape it over the bottom and straighten it out so that the floor is completely covered.
8
Return the toys and feeders before putting your guinea pigs back. Make sure everything is dry before you put them back in. Don’t forget the water bottle and food bowls. Cleanings should take place weekly. Your guinea pig’s cage should not smell. If it does, it will require another cleaning.^{[5]
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9
Spot-clean your guinea pig's cage. Between cleaning sessions, scoop out any droppings, debris, or soiled patches and replace with fresh bedding. You should do this once a day to maintain the cleanliness of the cage. Keep a regular schedule for spot-cleaning.

Warnings

If you use a tablecloth or blanket to cover the floor, don't then use it for eating or as a blanket.

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Ensure that all free-roaming guinea pigs are confined somehow, or they could get into somewhere dangerous.

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Be careful with cleaning or handling guinea pigs while pregnant. Rodents can carry a virus that causes birth defects.^{[6]
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March of Dimes
Nonprofit organization devoted to improving the lives of mothers and babies.
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