While you’re preparing your reptile’s vivarium, lighting, and accessories, it’s a good idea to consider cleaning it. Make sure you are able to easily clean all items. 

Building your vivarium cleaning kit early-on will help make your regular cleaning process easier. Make sure you always have the following cleaning tools in your home, so you can clean your reptile’s vivarium easily whenever you need to: 

• A secure temporary home for your reptile 
• Buckets 
• Disposable gloves 
• Brushes 
• Sponges 
• Paper towels 
• Reptile-safe cleaning product 
• Dish soap 
• A sand sifter (for desert vivariums) 

Your reptile’s home will only usually need to be thoroughly cleaned once a week. It is important to spot clean each day. To do this: 

• Wipe up any spills 
• Remove uneaten food (including uneaten live food and especially anything fresh that will decay) 
• Clean water and food dishes in hot soapy water and let them dry thoroughly. Do not clean with your own washing up or dishes 
• Clear any shed skin 
• Clean out any urates or faeces (if you’re using a sand substrate, sift it through) 

If you have all the equipment ready, you’ll find that this daily cleaning routine can be completed very quickly. While you’re performing your daily clean, you should also take the opportunity to check your reptile for parasites, shedding, and to ensure they’re consuming the normal amount of food and water. 

If you have a bioactive vivarium, these cleaning processes may not necessarily be applicable. 

Most vivariums are not bio-active and require regular deep cleaning. This is essential for your reptile's health and to provide them with a comfortable, safe environment. The frequency depends on the type of reptile you have but on average a monthly deep clean is recommended. 

Follow these steps to maintain the best environment for your pet: 

• Remove your reptile from their vivarium and place them in secure temporary housing 
• Remove all vivarium accessories 
• Clean, rinse and dry water and food bowls 
• Scoop up disposable substrate, put it into a bag, and throw it away 
• Clean the inside of the vivarium with reptile safe disinfectant, loosening any hardened mess with a vivarium cleaning product and, if necessary, a blade or toothbrush 
• Rinse inside of the vivarium thoroughly 
• Disinfect the inside of the vivarium 
• Rinse away disinfectant 
• Wash, rinse and dry all vivarium accessories 
• When the vivarium and accessories are completely dry, reassemble your reptile’s home 

When the steps have been completed, you can carefully place your pet back inside their home. Make sure you clean your equipment ready for next time, and wash your hands well. 

You should always use a specific reptile safe disinfectant. This will ensure that the chemicals are effective at removing bacteria and viruses from the environment but will not harm your pet. 

If you do not clean your vivarium, parasites, bacteria and viruses will multiply and this will affect the health of your pet. They could become very ill.. The vivarium will also become very smelly and it will become more difficult to interact with your pet. Odour will interfere with your reptile's olfactory system (sense of smell). This is vital for hunting and feeding. 

Do a thorough deep clean of the vivarium: 

• Take everything out of the vivarium 
• Give the vivarium and all of its furniture a thorough clean with a reptile safe disinfectant. 
• Clan all artificial plants with a reptile safe disinfectant 
• Allow everything to dry thoroughly. 
• Consider replacing any items that are too soiled and cannot be cleaned further (such as wooden hides or live plants) 
• Put fresh substrate in your vivarium 
• Replace the furniture and decorations. 
• Reintroduce your pet once the temperature and humidity return to the correct levels 

Human hygiene 

Reptiles, and other pets can carry various organisms which could affect humans. Reptiles can carry Salmonella in their digestive system. It is important to teach children not to not to put them or anything from their vivarium near their mouths. Salmonella is found in reptiles’ droppings, so always wash your hands thoroughly after feeding, handling, or cleaning, and disinfect surfaces well. Do not clean their equipment with your normal washing-up. Children under five years old, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems should pay extra attention to hygiene with all pets.