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 2023
Image Product Details
Hepper Advanced Bio Enzyme Pet Stain
32-ounce bottle
Neutral scent
Tackles urine, poop, vomit, and drool
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Natural Chemistry Healthy Habitat
Bulk bottle
Reasonable price
Targets both odors and stains
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Oxyfresh Crate & Cage Cleaner
Fast acting
Bleach and alcohol-free
Safe for sensitive pets
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Kaytee Clean Cage Habitat Deodorizer
Safe for small pets
Leaves no residue
Environmentally friendly
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Alpha Tech Pet Inc. Odor Pet Concentrate
Lasts for a long time
Lavender-scented
Suitable for a variety of habitats
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The 8 Best Odor & Stain Removers for Hamster Cages
- Hepper Advanced Bio Enzyme Pet Stain Odor Eliminator Spray – Best Overall
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Quantity: 32 ounces
Scent: Neutral
Features: Stain and odor removal
Box type: Spray bottle
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.
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Quantity: 32 ounces
Scent: Neutral
Features: Stain and odor removal
Box type: Spray bottle
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.
Pros
32-ounce bottle
Neutral scent
Tackles urine, poop, vomit, and drool
Works on various surfaces
Easy to use
Cons
A bit pricey
Disclaimer: [At [Petkeen] 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 cat company!
32-ounce bottle
Neutral scent
Tackles urine, poop, vomit, and drool
Works on various surfaces
Easy to use
- 32-ounce bottle
- Neutral scent
- Tackles urine, poop, vomit, and drool
- Works on various surfaces
- Easy to use
A bit pricey
- A bit pricey
Natural Chemistry’s Healthy Habitat Enzyme Powered Cleaner & Deodorizer is our best odor and stain remover for the money 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.
Quantity: 1 gallon
Scent: None mentioned, possibly flowery
Features: Stain and odor removal
Box type: Bulk bottle, no spray pump
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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.
Pros
Bulk bottle
Reasonable price
Targets both odors and stains
Works on various surfaces
Natural ingredients
Cons
Some 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.
Bulk bottle
Reasonable price
Targets both odors and stains
Works on various surfaces
Natural ingredients
- Bulk bottle
- Reasonable price
- Targets both odors and stains
- Works on various surfaces
- Natural ingredients
Some may find the scent off-putting
- Some may find the scent off-putting
Quantity: 16 ounces
Scent: Scent-free
Features: Removes odors and buildup
Box type: Spray bottle
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.
Pros
Fast acting
Bleach and alcohol-free
Safe for sensitive pets
Tackles buildup
Cons
Expensive
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.
Fast acting
Bleach and alcohol-free
Safe for sensitive pets
Tackles buildup
- Fast acting
- Bleach and alcohol-free
- Safe for sensitive pets
- Tackles buildup
Expensive
- Expensive
Quantity: 32 ounces
Scent: None mentioned, may be lemon-scented
Features: Odor removal
Box type: Spray bottle
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.
Pros
Safe for small pets
Leaves no residue
Environmentally friendly
Quick and easy to use
Decent bottle size
Cons
May not be strong enough for stubborn odors
Pricey
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.
Safe for small pets
Leaves no residue
Environmentally friendly
Quick and easy to use
Decent bottle size
- Safe for small pets
- Leaves no residue
- Environmentally friendly
- Quick and easy to use
- Decent bottle size
May not be strong enough for stubborn odors
Pricey
- May not be strong enough for stubborn odors
- Pricey
Quantity: 64 ounces
Scent: Lavender
Features: Odor and stain removal
Box type: Bulk bottle
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.
Pros
Lasts for a long time
Lavender-scented
Suitable for a variety of habitats
Vet-formulated
Cons
Needs to be diluted prior to use
- Absolutely Clean Small Animal Cage Cleaner & Deodorizer
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Quantity: 16 ounces, 32 ounces, 128 ounces
Scent: None mentioned
Features: Odor and stain removal
Box type: Spray bottle
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.
Lasts for a long time
Lavender-scented
Suitable for a variety of habitats
Vet-formulated
- Lasts for a long time
- Lavender-scented
- Suitable for a variety of habitats
- Vet-formulated
Needs to be diluted prior to use
- Needs to be diluted prior to use
Quantity: 16 ounces, 32 ounces, 128 ounces
Scent: None mentioned
Features: Odor and stain removal
Box type: Spray bottle
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.
Pros
Natural formula
Fast acting
No harsh chemical scents
Various bottle sizes available
Cons
Expensive
- Wee Away Bird Cage Cleaner
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Quantity: 16 ounces, 1 gallon
Scent: Scent-free
Features: Odor removal
Box type: Spray bottle
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.
Natural formula
Fast acting
No harsh chemical scents
Various bottle sizes available
- Natural formula
- Fast acting
- No harsh chemical scents
- Various bottle sizes available
Quantity: 16 ounces, 1 gallon
Scent: Scent-free
Features: Odor removal
Box type: Spray bottle
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.
Pros
Affordable
Works on various pet habitats
Environmentally friendly
Available in spray form and concentrated form
Cons
Some users mentioned leakage in delivery
Doesn’t tackle stains
- Nature’s Miracle Small Animal Cage Scrubbing Wipes
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Quantity: 30 wipes
Scent: None mentioned
Features: Odor and buildup removal
Box type: Dispenser box
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.
Affordable
Works on various pet habitats
Environmentally friendly
Available in spray form and concentrated form
- Affordable
- Works on various pet habitats
- Environmentally friendly
- Available in spray form and concentrated form
Some users mentioned leakage in delivery
Doesn’t tackle stains
- Some users mentioned leakage in delivery
- Doesn’t tackle stains
Quantity: 30 wipes
Scent: None mentioned
Features: Odor and buildup removal
Box type: Dispenser box
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.
Pros
Convenient and efficient
Grip-dot texture for extra scrubbing power
Makes cleaning cage accessories easy
Cons
May not last long if used to thoroughly clean larger cages
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.
Convenient and efficient
Grip-dot texture for extra scrubbing power
Makes cleaning cage accessories easy
- Convenient and efficient
- Grip-dot texture for extra scrubbing power
- Makes cleaning cage accessories easy
May not last long if used to thoroughly clean larger cages
- May not last long if used to thoroughly clean larger cages
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 value, we selected Natural Chemistry’s Healthy Habitat Enzyme Powered Cleaner & Deodorizer, which combines a cleaning and deodorizing power with affordability. Our premium choice is the Oxyfresh Crate & Cage Cleaner, a product that has garnered many great reviews but is on the pricey side.
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
