Cavies are very clean, neat pets, but there are a few things they need a little help with.
Bathing - Cavies lick and groom themselves very often and do not require frequent bathing. Too much of it can even be harmful. A cavy should not be bathed more than once every two months; if it's done more often it will wash out the natural oils cavies need to keep their skin soft and healthy.
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Bathing is best done with a small animal shampoo, (not the leave in kind) but in a pinch, baby shampoo works too. Regular shampoo has too many chemicals in it that can be harmful to cavies if ingested, which is exactly what they will do when they're grooming themselves after their bath. Have a towel on hand to put your piggie on when you're finished. For males, rubbing a little nail polish remover on the grease gland helps to loosen the oils, but always wash it off right afterwards as it can be very harmful if ingested and leaving it on too long can hurt his skin. Grooming (shorthairs) - As mentioned before, piggies are very clean and neat and short haired breeds like abyssinians, rexes and americans will take care of most of their grooming needs themselves. A little bit of brushing every few days with a soft bristle brush won't hurt though, it will keep their coats nice and shiny and help them not to shed as much. Many piggies really enjoy being brushed and it's a great way to get skittish piggies used to you.
Bathe him in warm water, not too hot. Be careful, he may get scared and try to jump out of the sink and a fall from that height can seriously injure a piggie. Never, ever, ever leave a cavy in a sink unattended. Make sure no water or shampoo gets in his eyes, ears, or nose. Rub the shampoo in and rinse it off until there are no more suds. Sop up the excess water with a towel and make sure he stays warm until he's dry.
Grooming (longhairs) - Pigs with long hair such as peruvians, shelties and texels need a little more help keeping themselves nice and neat. They should be brushed every day to prevent their fur from getting dirty and matted. If you show, you should roll up your longhaired piggie's fur in cloth wrappers to keep it clean and prevent it from getting damaged. If you just have pets, you can cut their hair to a managable length. Only do this if you're sure you won't be showing though, as haircuts can disqualify a show-pig.
Teeth - The teeth of a guinea pig are different from ours in that they have no nerves and they are always growing. If allowed to grow unchecked, they can actually prevent the cavy from eating so it's important to make sure he always has something to wear them down one. Some people like to use untreated wood blocks (you can get these at your pet store), but usually plenty of hay is enough to keep a cavy's teeth nice and trim. You can check the front ones by gently pulling aside the lips. The back ones are a bit more tricky, and you have to be brave to check them. Hook your finger through the side of the mouth until you feel the molars. If they feel nice and sharp, they are fine, if they feel smooth and curved then it's time for a vet trip. Most cavies hate having their back teeth checked and it's not very fun for the owner either. The good news is that you don't need to check them regularly; only when you have reason to worry, like if your cavy has stopped eating. If your cavy's teeth overgrow it can be dangerous as they can't eat so you'll need to take him to a vet to get them clipped.
Sometimes a cavy will break a front tooth, usually there's no reason to worry as it will grow back quickly. However if the tooth opposite it starts getting too long and he has trouble eating, then a vet trip to get it clipped is in order.
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Nails - A piggie's nails need to be clipped regularly to prevent them from getting long and twisted. Scissor style cat nail clippers work great for this.
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It's also a good idea to have a bottle of styptic powder (quick-stop) on hand to stop the bleeding if you accidentally cut the quick, which happens. Wrap up your piggie in a towel and lay him back, you may need someone to help you keep him still. A veggie will help to distract him while you clip his nails. With light colored nails, it's easy to see the quick and and know how far back to clip (always leave a few millimeters between the quick and the end of the nail.) With dark colored nails, it's best to play it safe and just clip off the ends. Hold your piggie's foot firmly while you're clipping as it may try to jerk it back.
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Grease gland - The grease gland on the rump of males and a few females can get quite messy at times and can be cleaned gently with a cotton ball wettened with eucalyptus oil. Be sure to wash the oil off thoroughly after you're finished. Right before a bath is a good time to do this, because you'll be cleaning the pig afterwards anyway.