Pet Profiles  |  Choosing Your Pet General Care  |  Housing Your Pet Feeding Your Pet   Small pets like to stay clean and dry. A dirty cage causes stress and illness. Parents should always supervise cleaning routines. Clean your pet's cage every second or third day, removing soiled litter and replacing it with fresh wood shavings or wood chips. Once a week, completely empty, wash and rinse the bottom of the cage with mild detergent. Fill with fresh shavings, corn cob litter, or recycled newspaper litter. Watch for the food which your hamster has stored away which may go off and will need to be cleaned out.