Shop vac?

[Cake]

Hi all!

I’m new here. Just brought home a 3 month old Netherland dwarf boy. His name is Indy. It’s our first bunny. This site has been really helpful.

As I found out today it’s very hard to suck up hay with a regular vac. What do you all use? A shop vac? Is there one that isn’t as loud?

Any tips you have on clean up would be great! I look forward to meeting all of you and your buns.

 

Thanks!

*cake*

[BinkyBunny]

Welcome Cake! Adorable bunny! I use the wall mount hang up shopvac pro. If you do decide to go the shopvac route, we were just discussing some of the ways to modify it to make it better. Let me see if I can find it.

[Cake]

Thanks Binky!

Do most of you just use a broom? Or is there another kind of vac that works good? See, I have hardwood floors so I just have this little vac and it hates hay.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Shop vacs are usually fairly loud, but a good way to pick up stray hay in my experience is a Shark Cordless Sweeper. It’s light and quiet and effective for picking up big pieces of stuff between real vacuuming.

[3crazybuns]

I too have wood floors, I sweep up some, but really to get them all up I have to vaccum, I use my Oreck handheld, I bought extra hose extentions so I could leave the base (noisy part) in the next room, so I don’t scare Oreo. I love both of my Orecks, they are wonderful, and super powerful!

Welcome, and CUTE Baby!!!!

[LilynJestersMama]

I have clogged up our upright vac AND our shop vac with hay recently. My husband had fun un-clogging them and reminded me that they don’t work well to suck up big strands of hay! hehe

I sweep as much as I possibly can (definitely all of the big pieces) and then I vacuum the super tiny pieces up without clogging the vacuum.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

If someone invents a vaccum that can handle a bunch of hay with no clog I will marry them

I have a bissel bagless vaccum and it still clogs up on hay but has been dealing with hay and bunny mess for years and still going strong! I love love love it. If there is a huge amount of hay I sweep it but generally it’s only stray strands (like a few handfuls) and my vacuum eats that no problem I actually found that shop vacs clog easier-but they might not if your more careful with them then I am

[Cake]

Ok so it’s not just me that has a vac that doesn’t quite get the job done.

I thought I read that a shop vac works well which is why I brought it up…but if it’s really no better (and louder) than a regular vac then I’m not going to bother.

I’m going to find a stiff broom and try that route.

Thanks all!

[Bunnies4ever]

Cake, your baby is soooo cute!

I use a variety of items for cleaning. I use a regular vaccuum with a hose, a broom, and one of those small brooms that come with a dustpan for picking up stray poops. My buns have gotten use to me cleaning around them and don’t mind it at all. I would use whatever you find that works best for you. Believe me, it’s a process. I experimented with different things until I found one that works quickly and effectively.

[Cake]

Thanks Bunnies4ever!

It’s a learning process isn’t it? I’ve had cats, dogs, ferrets, hamsters and even fish….and nothing is as hard as having a bunny. It’s rewarding…and he’s oh so fun to watch, but my goodness…It’s like having a baby again. LOL

[KatnipCrzy]

I use a handheld broom and dust pan- sweep up what I can- and then use my regular vacuum- a Dyson Animal.

When I got my first bunny I was concerned about the hay harming/being too hard on the vacuum- but if you get a fair amount up by sweeping first I find that the Dyson rarely even clogs and it does a great job at getting all the little hay pieces and any wood chips or “sawdust” created from the bunnies chewing on toys, baskets or apple sticks.  If you use the vacuum for “quality” of cleaning and not “quantity’ (sucking up large amounts of hay) I have found that it is easy to clean up hay mess.

I usually hand sweep it up- dump it in their litter box, then dump and clean the litterbox, vacuum and reset the cage up.

My room is carpeted- but I buy vinyl sheeting (sold by the yard off a huge bolt at JoAnn Fabrics).  The vinyl sheeting makes the hay mess easier to clean up and is inexpensive and can be replaced easily. 

[Bunnies4ever]

Cake, I agree! I have three buns and if I had the room I would have more! There are a joy to watch and I love them dearly even when they get into trouible (which they do quite often). Enjoy Indy and don’t catch the “bunny bug”! That’s what I did!

[Cake]

I think it may be too late as there is one at the shelter right now a big bunny girl….LOL

I may just go and spend some time with her.

[katiep]

OH he is SO ADORABLE!!!  I have carpeting and I have found the best way to sweep up hay is to use a actual broom for the big pieces and then vaccum with a regular vaccum the tiny pieces and hay dust.  It’s the quietest and doesn’t scare the bunnies! 

[bunnytowne]

Ohh what a beautiful little nethie… I like nethies they are so cute.  Is he an ermine color with the grey eyes.  His eyes sure look grey.

I gave in and got a shop vac last year.  What a difference.  After using the shop vac for several months I tried out the cannister oreck…. that thing had like no power. I was going what is this…..  How did I actually vac up hay with this thing.

[bunnytowne]

you know he may be a smoke frosted pearl   very pretty

[Cake]

Oh you know, the only thing I heard from the lady was that he was lilac. Would that be the correct color?

[bunnytowne]

yes I have heard of lilac…  if thats what the breeder told you then thats what it is…. just a lovely little fellow I just luv him… Cute face little ears.

[bunnytowne]

Oh this is the shop vac post….  I believe was BB that mentioned she cut the funny thing sticking out at an angle in the vacuum bag where it screws on…. she cut hers off..

So last nite I cut the curved part off and the back of the hose did have a clog…  I cleaned that out too now no more clogs it works great.

went to walmart where I bought it for vac bags but they only had the 31/2 -7 gal bags so I bought that… I am sure it will work out even tho mine is a 3 gal…I needed bags bad had no more.

[Author]

Messages