Advice about Hygiene Around Pet Snakes
Hi, this is me asking for advice, specifically around general hygiene practices you use around your snakes.
To preface this, I have contamination OCD, which makes me extremely nervous about things becoming contaminated or having dangerous germs on them. I am not asking for advice about the OCD, I just thought that was an important thing to note.
I have a pet corn snake, who I have owned for quite a few years now. When I first got him, the OCD wasn't as bad and I could clean his enclosure and handle him fine without much stress. Over the years my mental health has deteriorated, leading to greater anxiety surrounding him. It has unfortunately led to my parents having to take care of him for me, as I was unable to do it without excessively cleaning everything he may have touched.
I want to try and clean him out myself again, but I have so many worries surrounding it. This is why I am asking, how do you clean out your snake's vivarium and what hygiene practices do you follow? Do you disinfect the temporary enclosure you place them in while cleaning? If substrate gets on the floor (it is carpet), should you disinfect the floor?
One of the main things I miss is taking him out and handling him, but if he even brushes my clothes I feel the need to take them off and wash them. What do you do with your clothes after your snake touches them? Is this a rational worry or am I overreacting?
Thank you to anyone who can help me with this, I really appreciate it! : )