Advice on cleaning Fleece Bedding

[aj322002]

Hi

I'm on my second week of using fleece bedding, and am so far enjoying the lack of mess from all the sawdust !

However, I'd appreciate some advice from those who are more experienced in using fleece on how to clean it.

I give it a good shake outside, and then I try to hoover it, but not much more comes off. I even tried a lint roller yesterday but that didn't remove much more hay either. It seems to embed itself in the fibres of the fleece. I'm worried about damaging my washing machine, and would be interested to know how other people get the hay off their fleece bedding prior to washing.

Thank you !

 

[Farquhar]

I put kitchen roll directly under the hay rack to minimise spillage. I find that rubber gloves are good for getting the smaller bits of hay up. I can never get all the hay off and out the fleeces into a quilt cover when washing them. Once they are dried then I find that any remaining bits of hay are easier to shake off..

 

[i-love-pigs]

I use a stiff brush and dustpan while it is still secured in the cage to get the worst off, then shake it outside like you said. I put mine inside an old duvet cover when its in the machine so that any stray bits of hay stay inside that rather than clogging up the machine - got that idea of someone on here xx>>>

 

[Joey&Gizmo]

I dont use fleece but have heard that if you put inside a pillow case and fasten the top with maybe Velcro the bits of hay etc stay in there and dont damage your washer. Apparently washing the fleece in vinegar can also stop the hay from sticking to it so i read.
Also inside of a lint roller you could use one of these http://dscrossstitchonline.co.uk/sh...9.html?zenid=3308b99f9c95f8ab41a56a2bf5da8b4c

But I'm sure someone with alot of knowledge on fleece will have the best answer!

 

[candywishes]

I have a c&c cage so have a seperate kitchen area where i use shavings and hay, but if you have a standard petshop cage try putting a cat litter tray directly under the hayrack to catch the hay

 

[aj322002]

Oooh, that's great thanks, guys. I hadn't thought of putting them into something else. I'll do that next time, and will get a stiff brush and look into the litter tray idea to catch the hay !

 

[KimberleysWheekers]

I dont use fleece but have heard that if you put inside a pillow case and fasten the top with maybe Velcro the bits of hay etc stay in there and dont damage your washer.

What a brilliant idea! I hadn't thought of that at all!


I have a dustpan and brush. I put the piggies either in a carry box or in the run and then I hang the fleece over the open top cage (so it hangs down into the cage) with the door leaning against the wall behind at an angle. I then brush all the rubbish into the base of the cage, move the fleece up a bit (so it's resting between the door and the wall on the top of the cage), brush again, move up a bit, brush, move up, brush etc. I then end up with all the fleece on top of the cage and all the mess in the cage which I then sweep up with the dustpan, spray the cage, wipe down etc and put new bedding in. Usually I'm left with the odd strand of hay thats stuck but it is minimal.

Before this, I would take it all outside, shake shake shake then spread out on the slabs, stand on it and brush brush brush! But since it has started to get windy and raining, I've learnt to do it on the cage!

Good luck

 

[Lisajazz]

I don't know what's different with my fleece but a good shake in the garden and it mostly comes off (enough for washing) - it was vet bed that I found a trouble to get the hay off.

The thing sticks to mine is hair. That's the peruvians fault I think. rolleyes

 

[MayDay]

Hair is the main problem here with Lily (nearly typed DD :redmallethead)!) too, fleece just comes off with a very good shake. Might start putting the fleece in a giant mesh pocket (a cloth nappying relic!) though just in case.