Clean my rabbits' hutch with me, by Bunintended on YouTube. 11 min 40 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 40 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Move your rabbit into a secure run or carrier with water and a handful of hay before you start. Close doors and windows nearby so it cannot bolt.
Put on gloves and bag up all the old bedding, hay and droppings. Scrape the corners with a dustpan to get the stuck bits out.
Take the hutch apart if it comes apart. Scrub the tray, floor, walls and mesh with a stiff brush and warm water to lift the mess.
Apply a rabbit-safe disinfectant. Mix it at the dilution on the label and leave it wet for the stated contact time, usually a few minutes.
Rinse every surface with clean water and wipe off the residue. Let the hutch air dry completely, because damp wood or bedding can make a rabbit ill.
Wash the food bowl, water bottle and toys in hot soapy water, rinse well and refill the bottle with fresh water.
Check the hutch while it is empty. Look for chewed wood, sharp wire, loose hinges and broken latches, and fix anything unsafe before refilling.
Add fresh bedding and a thick layer of hay. Put the rabbit back only when the hutch is bone dry and smells of nothing but clean wood.
Tips and common mistakes
Never use bleach, pine or phenol-based cleaners, as rabbits are very sensitive to fumes and residue.
Spot clean the toilet corner and wet bedding every day so the weekly deep clean takes far less time.
Pick a warm, dry day and work in the shade so the hutch dries fully before your rabbit returns.
Keep a spare run or pen so your rabbit is not shut in a small carrier for the whole clean.
Questions
How often should I fully clean a rabbit hutch?
Do a full strip-out and disinfect once a week, and spot clean wet patches and the toilet corner every day. Two rabbits or a small hutch means cleaning more often.
Can I use vinegar or bleach instead of a pet disinfectant?
White vinegar in water is fine for everyday wiping, but use a proper rabbit-safe disinfectant for the weekly clean. Skip bleach and pine cleaners completely.
What if my rabbit gets stressed during cleaning?
Work quickly and keep its companion, food and water with it in the run. Give it a hide box and put it back as soon as the hutch is dry.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
