To keep everyone in your home happy and healthy, it's important to practice regular cleaning and sanitation of your foster space. You probably already have basic soaps and disinfectants at home that you can use to keep your foster space clean!
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Great Resources For Disease Control!
Great Resources For Disease Control!
How Often to Clean and Disinfect
How Often to Clean and Disinfect
Before any new foster pets or resident pets are brought into the household
At least daily if a foster pet or resident pet has an infectious disease
At least weekly if all foster pets and resident pets are healthy
As needed to clean up messes such as vomit, diarrhea, and nasal discharge
Cleaning With Soaps & Detergents:
Soaps and detergents are cleaning agents that work by suspending dirt and grease and breaking up organic matter. Soaps do not necessarily kill germs, but they assist in removing the germs from the environment. Dish and laundry soaps are common examples of detergents.
Cleaning is the removal of dirt and debris – like cat litter or pieces of food -- followed by washing with soap or detergent and water. Cleaning mechanically removes viruses, bacteria, and other germs, but it does not kill them, no matter how hard you scrub.
This is where disinfection comes in. Non-porous items such as plastic toys or food bowls of various materials can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Bedding, towels, stuffed animals, toys with fabric, and clothes worn while handling your foster pet should be laundered in hot water, separately from other laundry, with both detergent and bleach. It is best to use separate bleach and detergent cycles. If you can still see or smell stains or odors, machine wash again and add baking soda or an enzymatic cleaner.
Disinfection:
Disinfection is the application of any agent, such as diluted bleach, that actually kills the germs. While some disinfectants serve a dual purpose and have some cleansing properties, many disinfectants do not effectively remove dirt and grease.
The best choice for a disinfectant in foster homes is a dilution of household bleach. It is highly effective, and inexpensive. A 1:32 dilution with the recommended 10 minute contact time kills most infectious diseases except ringworm.
If you are using 8.25% concentrated household bleach to make a 1:32 dilution, you should add 1/3 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water, or 17 ml, which is 1 TBSP + 1⁄2 TSP, to 32 oz. of water. A typical spray bottle is 32 oz.
What Cleaning Should I Do Between Foster Pets?
What Cleaning Should I Do Between Foster Pets?
Throw away all disposable items (anything that cannot be thoroughly sanitized, such as cardboard).
Remove all soft items (blankets, towels, etc) and thoroughly wash them!
Spray ALL hard surfaces that the pets have touched with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe to remove all organic matter/debris
Spray ALL hard surfaces with bleach spray or "Rescue" disinfectant and let sit for approx. 10 minutes.
Wipe off and repeat step 4 two more times (This should be done if your foster pets were ever sick, have parasites, etc).
You're set for your next foster pet!
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