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Buying guideFeeding & Care Gear

Best Bird Cage Cleaning Supplies (2026): Enzyme Sprays, Liners, Baths and Covers

By Bird Cage ReviewPublished 9 min readHow we research

Affiliate disclosure: product links on this page go to Amazon, or to the maker's own store for brands that sell only direct. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you; a link to a maker's store earns us nothing. No retailer or brand sees our picks before they are published or has any say in them. How we choose.

Cleaning a cage is a sequence, not a product. The California Department of Food and Agriculture's bird-housing guidance gives it in order: remove the bird and everything loose, dry-clean the droppings and debris, wet-clean with soap and water, rinse, apply a disinfectant exactly as its label directs and for the label's contact time, and leave the housing empty until it is completely dry. VCA Animal Hospitals add the daily part: dishes cleaned and disinfected every day, and perches and toys washed. Everything on this page is picked for one step of that sequence, and the cleaners are described only by their own label directions, because we do not mix dilutions for other people's birds. The Nature's Miracle bird cage cleaner ($5) and Absolutely Clean ($17, 16 ounces) are the enzyme sprays for daily droppings; Natural Rapport ($16, 32 ounces) is the big bottle; Vitakraft's liners ($9, 20 by 18, seven), the Firdnyohs non-woven liners ($18, 11 by 20, a hundred) and the HA SHI unprinted newsprint ($28, 31 by 21.5, 120 sheets) are the tray papers; Lixit's Quick Lock bath ($14) and the BUCATSTATE bath ($25) let the bird do its own cleaning; Prevue's large cage cover ($25) is the one the setup guide discusses.

Our top picks at a glance

  1. 1. Best daily cleaner

    Nature's Miracle Bird Cage and Surface Cleaner, 24 oz

    Type: Bio-enzymatic cleaner, unscented (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: 24 oz spray (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Retailer copy of the directions: remove the animal, food, water, toys and bedding; spray; wait ten minutes; wipe; return the pet when the surface is dry

    Amazon

  2. 2. Best for dried droppings

    Absolutely Clean Amazing Bird Cage Cleaner and Deodorizer, 16 oz

    Type: Natural-enzyme cleaner and deodorizer (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: 16 oz spray (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Spray the soiled area thoroughly, let sit 3 to 5 minutes, wipe with a wet cloth (per the Amazon listing)

    Amazon

  3. 3. Best big bottle

    Natural Rapport Plant-Based Bird Cage Cleaner, 32 oz

    Type: Plant-based bio-enzymatic cleaner (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: 32 oz spray (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Spray on, let it sit, wipe; no scrubbing for caked droppings (per the Amazon listing)

    Amazon

  4. 4. Best fitted liner

    Vitakraft Absorbent Cage Liners, 20 x 18 in, 7-Count

    Type: Absorbent paper cage liner (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: 20 x 18 in; 7 sheets (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Lay in the tray, replace daily, trim to fit (per the Amazon listing)

    Amazon

  5. 5. Best liner by the hundred

    Firdnyohs Non-Woven Absorbent Cage Liners, 11 x 20 in, 100-Count

    Type: Non-woven fabric liner with leak-proof bottom (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: 11 x 20 in; 100 sheets (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Lay in the tray, cut to fit smaller cages (per the Amazon listing)

    Amazon

  6. 6. Best for big cages

    HA SHI Unprinted Newsprint Cage Liners, 31 x 21.5 in, 120 Sheets

    Type: Unprinted newsprint, unscented (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: 31 x 21.5 in; 120 sheets (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Lay across the tray, lift out and discard (per the Amazon listing)

    Amazon

  7. 7. Best bird bath

    Lixit Quick Lock Bird Cage Bath

    Type: Clear plastic hanging bath (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: Small to medium birds (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Twist and lock onto the cage; fill with fresh water; remove to clean (per the Amazon listing)

    Amazon

  8. 8. Best large bath

    BUCATSTATE Hanging Bird Bath with Pull-Out Drawer (7.05 x 6.69 x 7.74 in)

    Type: Hanging AS-plastic bath, bowl or house (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: 7.05 x 6.69 x 7.74 in (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Hang on the cage; the bottom drawer pulls out for cleaning (per the Amazon listing)

    Amazon

  9. 9. Best cage cover

    Prevue Large Bird Cage Cover, black (cages to 41 x 25 x 48 in)

    Type: Breathable dark fabric cage cover (per the Amazon listing) · Size or count: Fits cages up to 41 x 25 x 48 in (per the Amazon listing) · Directions on the label: Drape over the cage at night; machine care per the tag

    Amazon
1

Best daily cleaner

Nature's Miracle Bird Cage and Surface Cleaner, 24 oz

Nature's Miracle's unscented bio-enzymatic bird cage and surface cleaner, 24 ounces, $5: spray, wait, wipe, return the bird when dry, per its directions.

Type
Bio-enzymatic cleaner, unscented (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
24 oz spray (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Retailer copy of the directions: remove the animal, food, water, toys and bedding; spray; wait ten minutes; wipe; return the pet when the surface is dry
Claims
"Safe for pets and home when used and stored as directed" (listing); a cleaner, not a registered disinfectant

Pros

  • Unscented
  • Bird-specific label
  • $5

Cons

  • It is a cleaner and deodorizer, not a disinfectant; the CDFA sequence still needs a disinfectant step when one is called for
  • Read your own bottle; the retailer copy is what we had
  • The small-animal version is the same formula at $6

Nature's Miracle's bird cage cleaner is listed as a 24-ounce unscented bio-enzymatic spray formulated for birds and small animals, with the manufacturer's usual safety line: safe for pets and home when used and stored as directed. A retailer's copy of the directions reads: remove the animal, its food, water, toys and bedding; spray the surface; wait ten minutes; wipe; let dry before the animal returns. Follow the bottle in your hand, not this page. It is the daily spray for the tray, grille and perches; it does not replace the disinfectant step, which the cleaning guide covers from the CDFA's list.

Check price on Amazon
2

Best for dried droppings

Absolutely Clean Amazing Bird Cage Cleaner and Deodorizer, 16 oz

Absolutely Clean's enzyme spray: the label says spray, let sit three to five minutes, wipe with a wet cloth; 16 ounces, made in Colorado, $17.

Type
Natural-enzyme cleaner and deodorizer (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
16 oz spray (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Spray the soiled area thoroughly, let sit 3 to 5 minutes, wipe with a wet cloth (per the Amazon listing)
Claims
No harsh chemicals or noxious fumes; "veterinarian approved" is the seller's phrase (listing)

Pros

  • Directions on the listing
  • Also sold for upholstery, so one bottle does the couch the bird sits on
  • US-made by a named small company

Cons

  • $17 for 16 oz against $5 for 24
  • "Veterinarian approved" names no veterinarian
  • A cleaner, not a disinfectant

Absolutely Clean's bird cage cleaner is listed as a 16-ounce natural-enzyme spray from a family company in Colorado, with directions on the listing: spray the area with droppings thoroughly, let it sit three to five minutes, wipe with a wet cloth. It is the spray for a grille that has dried for a day, and the bottle's own directions are the ones to follow.

Check price on Amazon
3

Best big bottle

Natural Rapport Plant-Based Bird Cage Cleaner, 32 oz

Natural Rapport's 32-ounce plant-based enzyme spray, alcohol-, bleach-, ammonia- and chlorine-free by its label, $16.

Type
Plant-based bio-enzymatic cleaner (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
32 oz spray (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Spray on, let it sit, wipe; no scrubbing for caked droppings (per the Amazon listing)
Claims
Free of alcohol, bleach, ammonia and chlorine; light scent (listing)

Pros

  • 32 oz for $16
  • States what it does not contain
  • Works on liners, covers and windows by its label

Cons

  • Scented, lightly, by its listing; the Nature's Miracle is unscented
  • "Safe for all birds" is the seller's claim
  • A cleaner, not a disinfectant

Natural Rapport's cleaner is listed as a 32-ounce plant-based bio-enzymatic spray with no alcohol, bleach, ammonia or chlorine, made in the US, that is sprayed on, left to work and wiped; the listing says it leaves a light scent. For a big cage cleaned daily, the 32-ounce bottle is the economy.

Check price on Amazon
4

Best fitted liner

Vitakraft Absorbent Cage Liners, 20 x 18 in, 7-Count

Vitakraft's absorbent 20 by 18 inch pre-cut liners, seven to a pack, trimmable, $9.

Type
Absorbent paper cage liner (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
20 x 18 in; 7 sheets (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Lay in the tray, replace daily, trim to fit (per the Amazon listing)
Fits
Prevue F040, Yaheetech 52, most medium cages

Pros

  • Absorbent
  • Fits a medium tray without cutting
  • Vitakraft

Cons

  • Seven sheets is a week
  • $1.29 a sheet against pennies for newsprint
  • Listing figures only

Vitakraft's liners are listed as pre-cut 20 by 18 inch absorbent sheets, seven to a pack, that fit most standard cages and trim to size. VCA's housing advice is to line the tray with paper that is changed daily so the droppings can be seen; a fitted, absorbent sheet is the convenient version. For the cost per day, the newsprint below wins.

Check price on Amazon
5

Best liner by the hundred

Firdnyohs Non-Woven Absorbent Cage Liners, 11 x 20 in, 100-Count

A hundred 11 by 20 inch non-woven absorbent liners with a leak-proof backing, $18.

Type
Non-woven fabric liner with leak-proof bottom (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
11 x 20 in; 100 sheets (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Lay in the tray, cut to fit smaller cages (per the Amazon listing)
Fits
Small and medium trays; two sheets for a wide one

Pros

  • 18 cents a sheet
  • Absorbent with a backing, so the tray stays dry
  • Does not tear when wet (listing)

Cons

  • 11 inches wide: two sheets for most cages
  • Non-woven synthetic; keep it under the grille where a chewer cannot reach it
  • Listing figures only

Firdnyohs' liners are listed as 100 pre-cut 11 by 20 inch non-woven absorbent sheets with a leak-proof bottom that resist tearing when wet. They are a daily liner at 18 cents a change; because they are synthetic fabric, they belong under a grille, not on a floor a parrot reaches.

Check price on Amazon
6

Best for big cages

HA SHI Unprinted Newsprint Cage Liners, 31 x 21.5 in, 120 Sheets

120 sheets of unprinted, unscented newsprint at 31 by 21.5 inches, $28: one sheet across a macaw tray.

Type
Unprinted newsprint, unscented (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
31 x 21.5 in; 120 sheets (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Lay across the tray, lift out and discard (per the Amazon listing)
Fits
Prevue 3154, 3157, Flyline and A&E trays in one or two sheets

Pros

  • Ink-free, so it is the paper VCA's advice implies
  • Covers a large tray in one sheet
  • 23 cents a sheet

Cons

  • Not absorbent like a backed liner; change it daily
  • Bulky pack
  • Listing figures only

HA SHI's liners are listed as 120 flat sheets of unprinted, unscented newsprint about 31 by 21.5 inches, for large cages and other enclosures. Plain paper changed daily is what lets an owner read the droppings, which VCA's housing page gives as the reason for paper over litter; unprinted newsprint is that at the macaw size.

Check price on Amazon
7

Best bird bath

Lixit Quick Lock Bird Cage Bath

Lixit's clear twist-and-lock bath for finches, canaries, budgies, lovebirds and cockatiels, mounts inside or outside the door, $14.

Type
Clear plastic hanging bath (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
Small to medium birds (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Twist and lock onto the cage; fill with fresh water; remove to clean (per the Amazon listing)
Fits
Standard door openings; outside mount keeps splash out of the cage

Pros

  • Mounts outside the cage, so bath water does not foul the tray
  • Twist-lock stays put
  • Lixit

Cons

  • Plastic
  • Not for conures and up
  • Empty it after the bath; standing water is a dish

Lixit's Quick Lock bath is listed as a clear durable plastic bath for lovebirds, canaries, finches, parakeets and cockatiels with a twist-and-lock mount that fits most cages inside or out. A bath is the bird's own cleaning; the outside mount is why this one is picked, because the splash lands on the floor, not in the seed.

Check price on Amazon
8

Best large bath

BUCATSTATE Hanging Bird Bath with Pull-Out Drawer (7.05 x 6.69 x 7.74 in)

A 7 by 6.7 by 7.7 inch hanging bath with a pull-out cleaning drawer, for small birds through small parrots, $25.

Type
Hanging AS-plastic bath, bowl or house (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
7.05 x 6.69 x 7.74 in (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Hang on the cage; the bottom drawer pulls out for cleaning (per the Amazon listing)
Fits
Cages with about 2.2 mm wire (listing); check the door

Pros

  • Pull-out drawer
  • Big enough for a lovebird to get wet
  • Doubles as a feeder

Cons

  • $25
  • The listing's "cockatoos" is optimistic for a 7-inch bath
  • Listing figures only

BUCATSTATE's bath is listed at 7.05 by 6.69 by 7.74 inches in thick AS plastic with a pull-out drawer for cleaning, a fully transparent body and an optional shade, for lovebirds, finches, parakeets and mannikins (the listing adds cockatoos, which a 7-inch bath will not hold). The drawer is the reason to pay $25 over the Lixit.

Check price on Amazon
9

Best cage cover

Prevue Large Bird Cage Cover, black (cages to 41 x 25 x 48 in)

Prevue's breathable black cover for cages up to 41 by 25 by 48 inches, $25, for owners who cover, with the sources' split on covering shown below.

Type
Breathable dark fabric cage cover (per the Amazon listing)
Size or count
Fits cages up to 41 x 25 x 48 in (per the Amazon listing)
Directions on the label
Drape over the cage at night; machine care per the tag
Sizes
Medium to 20 x 20 x 30 ($25); playtop version for Prevue 3157 and 3155S ($30)

Pros

  • Breathable fabric, by Prevue
  • Three sizes, including one cut for Prevue's playtops
  • Washable

Cons

  • Merck's owner page says most birds should not be covered at night; PetMD says cover or darken the room. Decide for your bird
  • A chewer eats a fabric cover
  • A cover is not a substitute for a quiet, dark room

Prevue's large cover is listed as lightweight breathable black fabric fitting cages up to 41 by 25 by 48 inches, for night privacy and light control; the medium fits up to 20 by 20 by 30 and the playtop version fits Prevue's 3157 and 3155S. The sources split on covering: the Merck Veterinary Manual's owner page says most birds should not be covered at night, while PetMD's Dr. Latas says to cover the cage or darken the room for the bird's 10 to 14 hours of sleep. A cover is a tool for a bright or busy room, not a rule; the placement guide has both sources in full.

Check price on Amazon

How we chose

Cleaners by what their labels say and do not say (an enzyme cleaner is not a disinfectant; a scented one is a smell in a bird room), liners by cost per change and fit, baths by mount and cleaning, covers by fit, with prices from October 9, 2026. Nothing here is dosed or diluted by us; the label is the only instruction.

The sequence

StepWhatSourceProduct here
DailyChange the paper; wash and disinfect dishes; wipe perches and grilleVCA; PetMD (hot water and dish soap)Liners; enzyme sprays
1. EmptyBird out; toys, perches, dishes and liners outCDFATravel cage or stand
2. Dry cleanScrape and brush droppings and debrisCDFAScraper, brush
3. Wet cleanSoap and water, scrubbedCDFA; Prevue (mild soap and water, no abrasives)Enzyme sprays for the stuck-on
4. RinseAll soap offCDFAHose or shower
5. DisinfectApply per the label, for the label's contact timeCDFA (its examples: diluted household bleach, Virkon S, Nolvasan-S, Oxy-Sept 333 and others, each per its label)Buy by label; not picked here
6. DryLeave empty until completely dryCDFATime

Cleaner, deodorizer, disinfectant

The three sprays here are cleaners: enzymes break down droppings so they wipe off, and they deodorize. None is a registered disinfectant, and the listings do not claim it. The CDFA's disinfecting step uses products with a label contact time; it names examples, and the right one for your situation and the dilution come from that product's label and your avian veterinarian, not from a buying guide. The cleaning and disinfecting guide walks the whole sequence.

Liners

Paper, changed daily, is the VCA advice, because droppings are the owner's daily health check and litter hides them. Three kinds here: fitted absorbent sheets (Vitakraft), backed non-woven sheets (Firdnyohs) and plain unprinted newsprint (HA SHI). Gravel or sandpaper liners are sold too; VCA's objection to sandpaper is about perch covers and sore feet, and PetMD's Dr. Latas says grit is not needed by parrots, so we did not pick one. Newspaper itself is the traditional liner; the ink question is why unprinted newsprint exists.

Baths

A bath is cleaning the bird does itself. Mount it outside the door (Lixit) so the splash misses the seed, empty it afterward, and wash it like a dish. For birds that will not use a bath, a mist from a clean spray bottle of plain water is the alternative owners use; we did not find a veterinary instruction on misting to cite.

Covers

Merck's owner page: most birds should not be covered at night. PetMD's Dr. Latas: cover the cage or put it in a dark room for 10 to 14 hours of sleep. Both agree the bird needs dark, quiet, undisturbed sleep; they differ on the cloth. A breathable cover in a room that is otherwise lit late is a reasonable tool; a cover over a cage in a dark bedroom adds nothing.

What to skip

Skip scented cleaners in the bird room, and any aerosol (VCA's hazards page on fumes). Skip using an enzyme cleaner as the disinfectant step. Skip gravel paper on the perches. And skip putting the bird back on a surface that is still wet, which every label here says.

Frequently asked questions

What is safe to clean a bird cage with?

Soap and water for the wash (CDFA, Prevue), an enzyme cleaner such as Nature's Miracle or Absolutely Clean for droppings, used per its label with the bird out and the surface dry before it returns, and for the disinfecting step a product applied exactly as its label directs. We do not give dilutions.

Is Nature's Miracle safe for birds?

Its label says safe for pets and home when used and stored as directed, and a retailer's copy of the directions says to remove the animal, spray, wait ten minutes, wipe and let dry before the animal returns. It is a cleaner and deodorizer, not a disinfectant.

How often should a bird cage be cleaned?

Daily: paper changed, dishes washed and disinfected (VCA), perches and grille wiped. A full empty, scrub, rinse, disinfect and dry on the CDFA sequence periodically, with the interval set by the bird's mess and your avian vet's advice.

What is the best bird cage liner?

Plain paper changed daily, so droppings can be seen (VCA). Vitakraft's 20 by 18 sheets for a medium tray, Firdnyohs' backed non-woven sheets at 18 cents a change under a grille, HA SHI's 31 by 21.5 unprinted newsprint for a large cage.

Should I cover my bird's cage at night?

The sources split: Merck's owner page says most birds should not be covered, PetMD's Dr. Latas says cover or darken the room for 10 to 14 hours of sleep. Both want dark, quiet, undisturbed sleep. Prevue's breathable covers are the ones if you do.

Do birds need a bath in the cage?

A bath lets the bird clean its own feathers; Lixit's mounts outside the door so the splash stays out of the cage. Empty it after and wash it like a dish.

Sources

  1. Bird housing: cleaning and disinfecting (backyard bird biosecurity), California Department of Food and Agriculture
  2. Housing Small Birds, VCA Animal Hospitals
  3. How to Set Up the Perfect Bird Cage, PetMD (Dr. Patricia Latas, DVM)
  4. Providing a Home for a Pet Bird, Merck Veterinary Manual
  5. Household Hazards and Dangers to Birds, VCA Animal Hospitals
  6. FAQs: Bird Cages (care instructions), Prevue Pet Products

Cover photo: Free cleaning tools, CC0 1.0, via rawpixel. Cropped.

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