I don't see the point of using antiseptic/disinfectant solutions, when dish detergent and a dish sponge, and garden hose works just fine. Sure, it doesn't kill the germs, but the action of detergent is that it loosens the germs and they rinse off with the water.
This is how we clean our dishes, which we eat off of-- I don't know of anyone who dips their dishes in antiseptic solutions, and I don't see why we need to for bird cages. Further, the first thing they teach you in medical school is that antiseptic/disinfectant solutions don't even work when there is biological material present--which means that the cage has to be pretty much already clean for them to be effective.
I also really dislike the smell of most antiseptics, including the home made 'alternatives'.
Please enlighten me?