Bleach when washing fleece?

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skrikopanik

skrikopanik

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Surfing around on guinea pig sites I found some advice on fleece. The article says to wash towels and fleece with chlorine bleach to combat bacterial build up. Is this something you do?

One of the reasons I do fleece is because I don't have access to a compost and don't want to create a lot of waste. Washing and reusing was more environmentally friendly, but half a cup of chlorine bleach each time just erases any environmental gains in my thinking... Sure, if the stuff smelled or if a piggy was sick it could be done, but every time?

I wash towels at 60 and fleece and vetbed at 40. The things look clean and don't smell... Could there still be bacteria in the fabric?
 
It's not something that particularly concerns me. If one of the pigs is ill then yes, a hot wash and/or using a dash of bleach (plus extra rinse) could be done, but not day to day.
 
Vet-Bed is designed to be autoclaved, ie sterilised under pressure at 135C.
The next best thing is to wash it at the highest temperature your washing machine has, which is usually 90C. At that temperature you need not use bleach everytime you wash the bedding.
If the Vet-Bed has a lot of hay/grass on it, rather than risk blocking the filter on the w/m, I will give the bedding an initial clean with a pressure washer.
 
Mine only have pieces of vetbed to snuggle with... Is it wash at 90 degrees for the pigs sake or the material? I'm just thinking that I wash my own clothes at 40, underwear etc at 60. Are piggies more sensitive than people? Do they need their bedding sterilised? Also, whatever is washed at 90 degrees/bleached will only be "sterile" for a very brief time...
 
I think bleach is a bit harsh. I either use vinegar or Napisan - the latter being designed for babies' nappies so if bedding needs disinfected I'm happy to use that.
 
sk agreed, but 90C will do more damage to the unwanted visitors than 30C !
 
I'm really starting to find my fleece stinks (but any more than 40 degrees is going to shrink it). I use one of those oxygen powder supplements, which does seem to help a bit, and a few drops of citricidal (grapefruit seed extract) but I wish I could wash hotter.

This is what put me off about using fleece for so long, ie knowing it could only be washed at 40. Vetbed (the proper Petlife version) is great in the sense that it can be washed so hot, but is expensive, and I've found my pigs hate it.
 
Hi
I use vet bed.
Before washing my vet bed i hoover it gets up all the hay and hidden poos that sweeping just wont do.

normally wash on different temperatures over 2 weeks to save on electricity bills. week one 30deg wash with a cap full of white vinigar (same stuff i use to clean out cage).
Week 2 50 deg wash with cap of vinigar.

Putting vinigar in with the washing really helps nurtilise any oders. If its extra stinky i use the spray bottle i use to spray out the cage and give it an extra spray before popping it into the wash.
 
"I use vet bed.
Before washing my vet bed i hoover it gets up all the hay and hidden poos that sweeping just wont do. "

It is interesting to learn about the sleeping habits of people in different areas of the country.
 
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