I have made a real big mistake?

Iit was my turn to slop out my daughters hamster(one of the tail less variety)I did this in the bathroom when i managed to drop it into the toilet it made a plop noise which was what alerted me to its peril I then rescued it from the toilet and pegged it out on the washing line allowing it to drip dry my neighbour complained and the rspca took little hammy away should I have hoovered its cage instead?