Short answer: empty it every day, wash it once a week, and never make it smell of bleach. Here is the routine in full.
Every day
- Sweep loose hay back into the tray or the bin.
- Remove wet litter and droppings, or pull the disposable liner and drop in a fresh one.
- Top up the hay rack.
- Rinse the water and food bowls.
Daily emptying is what keeps the smell down. Rabbit urine concentrates fast, and a box left two or three days will make a whole room smell even though the rabbit itself is perfectly clean.
Once a week
- Wash the tray with warm water and a little white vinegar — vinegar dissolves the calcium deposits that rabbit urine leaves behind.
- Wipe down the grid and the frame and let everything dry fully before it goes back.
- Check the wood or plastic for chewed edges and cracks.
Once a month
Take the whole station apart, clean every surface, and check the joints and hardware. On a magnetic modular unit this takes a couple of minutes; on a glued or screwed box it is the job everyone postpones.
Leave one thing behind
After washing, put a small amount of used litter or a few droppings back in the corner. That scent tells your rabbit the box is still theirs. A box that smells completely neutral is a box some rabbits will simply stop using.
What to avoid
- Bleach and strong scented cleaners — the smell drives rabbits away from the box and the fumes are not good for them.
- Clumping cat litter — dangerous if eaten.
- Leaving the wooden frame wet — dry it before reassembling.
If the smell will not go
Persistent smell despite daily cleaning usually means one of three things: the box is too small so urine is going beside it (check our size guide), the rabbit is standing in damp litter because there is no raised grid, or there is a health issue worth a vet check. Strong-smelling urine and a sudden change in habits are worth taking seriously.
See the removable tray and liner system — or buy it on Amazon.