litter box training

Question
Ok so I have 2 male ferrets, Willy and Punk.  I got them at the end of December and I was living with 2 roommates at the time.  They had a pretty big cage that they were in whenever I wasn't home.  They were good about using the litter box when they were in the cage but out of the cage, they would poop and pee wherever they wanted.  I recently moved to a much smaller apartment by myself.  They get the run of the house because I feel bad keeping them in their cage all day long because I'm not at home quite as much as I used to be.  They started out pretty good with the litter box as I put a couple around my apartment.  But lately they've been going to the bathroom next to the litter box but not in it.  I actually invested in some potty pads to put on my carpet in areas where they like to do and that seemed to work for awhile until they started dragging them under my bed!  I've tried spraying that stuff that gets rid of their scent on the areas so they wouldn't go anymore.  Usually when I'm awake they'll go in the box because they know I'm watching but when I'm sleeping they go wherever.  I'm not really sure what else to do.

Answer
Yeah, not all ferrets will concistently use a litter box.  My suggestion would be, for litter use and safety, only let them out when you are home.  This way you can monitor them and make sure they use the litter boxes.  You could also let them out in a smaller room with lots of litter boxes, but knowing they may go on the floor.  Bathrooms sometimes work well since the floor is earier to clean.  Sprays and anything they can move, like the puppy pads, generally don't work!  Making sure the ferrets have east access to litter boxes, lots of litter boxes, and you watching them are the only ways to really make sure they don't go where you don't want them to go!