8 Best Odor & Stain Removers for Hamster Cages in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

One of the challenges of keeping small furries is tackling those not-so-pleasant cage smells. Urine smells in hamster cages can really build up and become noticeable in a short amount of time. Certain foods—like fruits and vegetables—that are left in the cage too long can also start to stink, adding to your misery.

To combat this problem, the most important thing is to do daily spot cleans and remove soiled bedding and spoiled food. The cage should be cleaned thoroughly at least once weekly. For cleaning your hamster’s cage, you’ll need a cage cleaner with deodorizing power or, if stubborn stains are the issue, with stain-removal power.

We’ve rounded up the most highly reviewed hamster and small pet cage cleaners, odor removers, and odor and stain removers to help you decide which product might work best for you. Read on to check them out!

Note: Please do not spray or wipe any of the below products directly on your pets—they’re formulated for surface cleaning only.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Hepper Advanced Bio Enzyme Pet Stain Eliminator	32-ounce bottle Neutral scent with no chemical fragrance Eliminates stains & odors from urine, poop, vomit, and drool	Check Price
Budget Buy		Natural Chemistry Healthy Habitat Cleaner	Bulk bottle Reasonable price Targets both odors and stains	Check Price
		Oxyfresh Crate & Cage Cleaner	Fast acting Bleach and alcohol-free Safe for sensitive pets	Check Price
		Kaytee Clean Cage Habitat Deodorizer	Safe for small pets Leaves no residue Environmentally friendly	Check Price
		Alpha Tech Pet Inc. Odor Pet Concentrate	Lasts for a long time Lavender-scented Suitable for a variety of habitats	Check Price

The 8 Best Odor & Stain Removers for Hamster Cages

Hepper’s Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator is our pick for the best overall odor and stain remover for hamster cages. This neutrally-scented product aims to eliminate bad smells on a variety of surfaces without leaving behind harsh or overpowering chemical scents. It’s a little pricey but comes in a 32-ounce bottle, which is double the more standard 16-oz bottles you often find.

To use Hepper’s stain and odor eliminator, you simply spray it on the stinky or stained spot and leave it to work for 10 minutes. You then blot the area to finish up. Allow the area to dry completely before putting clean bedding inside the cage.

This product is an option well worth considering if your cage cleaner alone just isn’t tackling odors as well as you’d hoped. Clean your hamster’s cage as usual, then apply this product if you need some extra deodorization or stain removal.

At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!

Natural Chemistry’s Healthy Habitat Enzyme Powered Cleaner & Deodorizer is our budget recommendation. Perfect for those looking to buy in bulk, this one-gallon bottle has received plenty of customer praise for its odor-elimination power and how effective it is for homes with multiple pets.

This enzyme cleaner is made of natural ingredients and is designed to get rid of smells and stains caused by soiling and food. It can be used in small animal cages and all other animal habitats, so it’s a solid choice if you’ve got several different types of pets.

The bottle doesn’t mention a specific scent, but users have commented that there is a mild, barely noticeable scent. One user described it as “flowery” while another described it as strong and “perfumey”. On that note, those who are sensitive to these kinds of smells may find the scent off-putting.

Oxyfresh Crate & Cage Cleaner is a bleach-free formula, making it safe for small furries and other pets with more sensitive respiratory tracts. It’s fast-acting—you just need to spray it, wait 60 seconds, and then wipe it away. This is something that, as pet parents, we can really appreciate as some products need to be left for much longer, thereby slowing down our cleaning session.

Though the product doesn’t market itself as a stain remover, it does target buildup left behind by soiled bedding, which is another problem commonly faced by small pet parents. On the downside, it’s quite expensive for a 16-ounce bottle, but according to several users, it really gets the job done and leaves cages smelling fresh and clean.

If odors are a bigger problem for you than stains, you might want to give the Clean Cage Habitat Deodorizer by Kaytee a try. It’s suitable for hamster homes and other small animal habitats, including mice, sugar gliders, and ferrets. To use it, you just spray it on smelly areas in the cage and then wipe the area. According to the product description, it does not leave residue behind.

There is no specific scent listed on the bottle, but users have described it as having a fresh, lemony aroma. Positive user reviews have mentioned that this product effectively eliminates odors and smells pleasant. On the other hand, some have said that it just isn’t strong enough to deal with particularly stubborn odors and buildup. It’s also a tad on the pricey side.

For those who prefer products with a specific scent (lavender in this case), the Alpha Tech Pet. Inc Odor Pet Concentrate Stain & Odor Remover, which is vet-formulated, is worth considering. In addition to odors, this product targets stains. It comes in concentrate form, which is great for making products last a lot longer. You do need to dilute it in lukewarm water first, though, which may be a bit of a pain for some.

This odor and stain remover can be used in a wide variety of animal habitats, including kennels, litter boxes, and small animal cages. You can also use it on various surfaces, including wood, carpet, and upholstery. According to user reviews, the scent is pleasant, and the product is effective.

The Absolutely Clean Small Animal Cage Cleaner & Deodorizer is formulated to clean cages and break down stains naturally without leaving behind a strong chemical scent. Another fast-acting formula, all you need to do is spray the area, leave it for up to 5 minutes, rinse it off, and wipe the area dry.

We consider this a decent option if you’re looking for an all-over cage cleaner that won’t leave residue behind. There is no scent listed, though user reviews describe it as being non-lingering and pleasant. You can also get various bottle sizes, ranging from 16 ounces to 128 ounces. As for downsides, this cleaner doesn’t exactly come cheap.

Though the Wee Away Bird Cage Cleaner is marketed as a bird cage cleaner, it’s also suitable for small animal and reptile cages because it’s formulated with natural, non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning compounds and ingredients. This makes it a good choice for those with a variety of pets at home.  You can also use it on any mess left behind by wild birds on your outdoor furniture.

It comes in two bottle sizes—16 ounces and one gallon and is, in our opinion, pretty reasonably priced in comparison to many of its competitors. User reviews are largely positive, though a few users mentioned that the bottle arrived leaking or broken. It’s also not designed to tackle stains.

If you’re looking for the ultimate efficiency and convenience, you might want to consider cage wipes like these Nature’s Miracle Small Animal Cage Scrubbing Wipes. The dispenser box contains 30 wipes with a grip-dotted texture to make it easier to scrub away buildup while deodorizing the cage.

These inexpensive wipes seem like a good option for daily spot checks when all you want to do is freshen up a specific area quickly without removing all the accessories. They may not be the best option for thoroughly cleaning large cages, though, as you may run out of them quickly.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Odor & Stain Removers for Hamster Cages

To make sure you’re getting your money’s worth when choosing an odor and stain remover for your hamster’s cage, it’s a good idea to carefully check the product specifications. Not every product targets both stains and odors—some are simply designed to deodorize.

So, if stains in your hamster’s cage are a problem for you, check that the product you’ve chosen does what you want it to do. Also check that the other product specifications, like the scent and how it’s used, are to your liking.

We say this because it’s really easy to pick up a cleaning product that looks great, pop it in your basket, and then end up disappointed because it doesn’t remove stains, isn’t strong enough to deal with your particular cage issues, is time-consuming to use, or has a scent that you can’t stand. We’ve all been there.

The most important thing, though, is to make sure you choose a cleaning product that is safe for small furries like hamsters. Small animals are more sensitive, so standard cleaning products may be too strong and harsh on their fragile systems. Prevent your pet from getting sick by always going for products that clearly state they are pet-safe.

Conclusion

Time for a quick recap before you click away. Our pick for the best overall odor and stain remover for hamster cages is Hepper’s Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator, which is safe and simple yet powerful when it comes to eliminating stains and smells.

For the best budget buy, we selected Natural Chemistry’s Healthy Habitat Enzyme Powered Cleaner & Deodorizer, which combines cleaning and deodorizing power with affordability.

If stubborn hamster cage smells and/or stains have been haunting you for way too long, we hope you’ve found these reviews useful and feel more confident about tackling the issue.

Featured Image Credit: Natalia Kopylcova, Shutterstock