Rule number one of bathing a hamster- never use water! Hamster's are not naturally accustomed to water and it's very dangerous to use water when bathing a hamster. Instead- use sand. Chinchilla bathing sand to be exact. It can be found at almost any pet store. Bathing a hamster is actually quite simple. And we've made it even easier by listing a step by step process of how exactly to give a hamster a bath.
Find A Dust Pan: What exactly is a 'dust pan'? Well it's sort of a bubble bath for a gerbil. Basically it's a shallow container that can be filled with two to three inches of sand for our hamster to roll in. A small tupperware container or even a terra cotta planting pot on it's side make really good dust pans. You can also purchase a hamster bath house.
Fill With Sand: Look for 'Chinchilla Bathing Sand' at your local pet shop. Avoid dusts, as they can get into the air and cause respiratory problems in hamsters. Instead look specifically for sand. Fill your dust pan with it approximately two to three inches high.
Place Your Bath In The Habitat: Place the bath and sand in your hamster's habitat. Put it in an open area where you can easily access it and you can supervise your hamster. Keep it on a flat area where it won't easily spill or tip over.
Let Your Hamster 'Check it Out': Be patient and let your hamster inspect the sand. It may take them a while to figure out what exactly it's for- and some will be skeptical to go inside at all. But try it a few times and after a while your hamster will get the idea and happily roll around the second it finds sand in its home.
Remove After 5 to 10 Minutes of Bathing: After your hamster has rolled around and fully dusted itself remove the bath. The correct approximate time of bathing is between 5 and 10 minutes, but if your hamster finishes up quicker that's okay. Don't let them bathe too long or else the sand will dry out their skin.
Repeat Once or Twice a Month: Hamster's should have the opportunity to 'take a bath' once or twice a month. Rolling in sand helps keep their fur clean and healthy (you might even start to notice a shine after a few months!).