What to do with old bricks?

Question

I keep a brick in my pet rats' cage because it helps to keep their filed down. The problem is that after being in their cage for a few weeks, they get peed on so much that they are horribly stinky. Even after soaking them for a week in soap/bleach water, they still smell like rat urine.

They are cheap, so I don't feel bad about buying new ones every few weeks, but I do feel bad just throwing the old bricks away. I was thinking I could save them and use them in my garden, but the smell of rat urine is very strong and I am afraid it will attract other unwanted animals to my home.

Does anyone out there have any other suggestions of what to do with them? I'd hate to just throw them in the trash!

Answer 1

have you tried soaking them in a a solution of baking soda vinegar and hot water.....

1 cup vinegar

1 gallon hot water

1/2 box of baking soda

soak overnight.....

i would be very worried about attracting wild mice and rats with the odor still on the bricks. gosh. i hope the vinegar works out.

if not post them for free on craigslist and i am sure someone will want them....

i am out of ideas! i hope something works out for you. :)

Answer 2

Where did you get the idea to use bricks?  The dust is not digestible and can block your rat's intestines.  I use cooked beef bones and throw them away every few days.

Answer 3

Muratic acid after you save a bunch paint that stuff on um its is strong stuff and will even smoke if not diluted make a patio floor out of um after.

Answer 4

i never know people give their rat brick. well i gave my rat sand box and i change it when it get a bit smelly. and for the sand i wash it with bleach, boil it to get dry and put the sand under sun for a whole day ( that's how you can reuse it: only for two times cause it start to get smelly after two times ). i bath my rat and clean the cage once a week and it seldom get smelly.

well maybe you can try to use baking soda ( my teacher think baking soda may help ), if it does not work i don't think you can do anything with those old brick, but what i'm thinking is that if your garden is very clean i don't think those unwanted animals will want to stay even if they had come ( they will leave soon ). rat will not chose a place where it can't find food to live, trust me cause we never find any rat in the house before: you will be surprise about how many rat my neighbor has under her house.

i hope this helps you : )