Keeping walls clean!!!!

[cindy]

I bought two clear shower curtain liners to put up across the back of my shelves to help keep the wall clean. I washed them in vinegar and aired them outside for the day and indoors in another room for 4. There is no odor like with the cheaper ones. Do you think this will ok to use? it will hang from the back of the 72 in tall shelving not the cage itself and not the sides of the shelves.

[L in Ontario]

If there is no odour then they should be fine to use now.

[cindy]

I am concerned with the PVC but it does not smell...I also thought about putting a sheer lightweight curtain behind the shelving but I like the look of the cages on the white shelves. I have small crib sheets on the back of the cages until I could fine something to use. the sheeting collects the seeds and stuff.

[ac12]

I went to Home Depot and got a roll of plastic sheeting. Then I cut to fit the amount I need for a cage. I use paper clamps to hold the plastic to the cage.

[cindy]

what I was going to do is cut the shower curtain down the midle and use tiny clear shower hooks to secure it to the open weave edges of the shelf.

[FeatherHarp]

Cindy....here is a link to the post where I talked about putting clear vinyl sheeting on my cage. I works great and cleans up wonderfully and I like the fact you can hardly see it.

http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2 ... l+sheeting

[Finch Fry]

I went to Home Depot and got a roll of plastic sheeting. Then I cut to fit the amount I need for a cage. I use paper clamps to hold the plastic to the cage.

Yah, i got some 6 mil plastic drop cloth from menards and cut 3 flaps (back and both sides) for every cage. Hold it up with 2 clothespins for each flap. Everything hits the plastic and either sticks or goes straight down to the floor. Easy clean up.

[nixity]

I just use the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to clean the walls!!
I love them

[cindy]

Deborah and Chris, Does the sheeting have a shine to it. The clear shower curtain has a shine and glare when the cage light hits it?

Aren't the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers great! It cleans the top of the stove up nicely, takes marker off rubbermaid, etc!

[FeatherHarp]

Cindy....I guess it does have some reflection to it as you can see here in this photo of my cage. The flash from the camera reflects on it.

I have an aquarium light on the cage top and I rarely see any reflection from the plastic. The cage is not near a window either so I don't hardly notice any reflection at all and I have the plastic attached on 3 sides of the cage.



That magic eraser sounds wonderful....I will have to get me one and try it out!

[cindy]

I like your little swing. Thanks Deborah, I am going to go to Home Depot this weekend. As I was putting the shower curtain up I noticed it said Made in China on it in small letters near the top. I decided to skip it, I don't know how safe or regulated the use of PVC's would be next the finches. I would rather find the product you and Chris suggested, maybe something PVC free made in the USA.

[Finch Fry]

Deborah and Chris, Does the sheeting have a shine to it. The clear shower curtain has a shine and glare when the cage light hits it?

Umm.. maybe but I have lamps on top of my cages and have never noticed it... so it cant be too bad because I am pretty picky with stupid little details like that and I would have noticed if it was annoying.

As I was putting the shower curtain up I noticed it said Made in China on it in small letters near the top. I decided to skip it, I don't know how safe or regulated the use of PVC's would be next the finches. I would rather find the product you and Chris suggested, maybe something PVC free made in the USA.

PVC is not toxic to birds... at all. In fact, most perches that come in cages are made of PVC or PVC/additives. Some bird cages, with plastic bottoms have a blend of PVC and other plastics. Most large bird toys incorporate PVC in them because of their flexibility and durability.
The paranoia with PVC is evolved from the teflon scare. The teflon issue IS real and when temps over 500 F are reached, the teflon breaks down and gives off toxic gas. It would be toxic to us, but in such small doses, we are basically immune, for a bird, it wipes it out given how tiny their respiratory system is. Since teflon is basically classified as a plastic, all plastics are assumed to evolve toxic gases... which is an incorrect statement.

PVC away Cindy.. I promise. Just trying to dispel myths on plastic because I work in the plastics industry have heard just about every rumor under the sun when it comes to plastics.

[cindy]

What about products from China, some have a very strong plastic ordors? I will not use those if the smell after washing and airing them out. There is quite a bit of documentation about the "fumes" from various plastics.

I got rid of all teflon when I got back into birds years ago and use uncoated pans and cast iron only.

I am also big into IAQ, mold, allergy triggers and toxins.

[Finch Fry]

What about products from China, some have a very strong plastic ordors? I will not use those if the smell after washing and airing them out. There is quite a bit of documentation about the "fumes" from various plastics.

Its not the plastic, its the coatings and additives they used when they formed the thin sheet. Its a lubricant used to help uniformly apply heat to the plastic while they are "melting" it into a sheet. In more expensive plastics, they clean off the coating, in cheap plastics, they leave it on because its a costly manufacturing step... and the "smell" isnt an issue for humans since required toxicity levels are SOO much higher than for littler critters like birdies. Typically, a heavy degreaser or industrial strength soap will remove the additive (smell). You can even consider paint thinner. But at that point, you should have just spent 3 dollars more on the higher grade plastic curtain.

[cindy]

I washed the clear and white shower curtains in vinegar and laundry detergent, air dried on a line within the pool enclosure and then air dried, there is no odor. I did buy one from the grocery, oh my the odor opening the pack and after it washed and air was gross, it will be saved as a tarp for projects.

I have to admit, when it comes to using anything different with both the dogs and birds it makes me nervous. I don't want to cause them to get ill. Everyone is doing great.