Changing To Fleece Flooring

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Inkywig

Inkywig

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Hi all :)

I know there's loads of fleece threads but just wanted to double check i got all the info i needed before swapping from sawdust (which is irritating me and I think one of my piggies isn't happy with it either. And it's really messy)

So i need to layer newspaper, then towel and the fleece? Will the guinea pigs not try to snuggle under it? Or drag it away from where it's meant to be?

Is it suitable for outdoor hutches? Is there anything else I've missed? (I know it needs spot cleaned a couple of times a day/changed and washed 3/4 days.

What do i wash it with? Non bio? No softener? Can it be any kind of fleece?

Wow, had more questions that i thought! Thanks in advance :)
 
I did not like fleece, it smelt very quickly. I moved back to 'back 2 nature'.

But many on the forum do use it very successfully. You will need to secure it, on indoor hutches this is easy as you just have to bring it up the slices of the base and clamp it under the top. Not sure how you do this on an outdoor hutch, but I am sure someone will know.

Just make sure you have a wash bag/ pillow case to wash the fleece in, to avoid your washings machine getting clogged with fur and hay.
 
I found fleece did not work for me. It is extremely time consuming. The hay sticks to it no end and if you don't get all the hay off it messes up your washing machine. You will also need a hay box so piggys can go to a closed off area from the fleece to have their hay this will need woodshavings or carefresh or something similar. It also needs to be changed daily. Over all I didn't like it as the hay tray takes up to much space the hoovering is never ending and so is the washing and after all that it has to be changed twice a week
 
Oh no! I thought everyone got on with fleece. I guess it's maybe better for inside cages. Might go back to the drawing board, we definitely need to change from the wood shavings, I'll head back to the bedding thread.

Thanks :)
 
I use vet bed and I love it. It is perfect for guinea pigs. Have a read of the vet bed review to learn more.
 
Inkywig said:
Oh no! I thought everyone got on with fleece. I guess it's maybe better for inside cages. Might go back to the drawing board, we definitely need to change from the wood shavings, I'll head back to the bedding thread.

Thanks :)
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I thought exactly the same as you, but since I mentioned I didn't, loads have said they don't either!
Try back 2 nature, it is expensive, but it lasts if you put it deep enough. I say it ins expensive, but not as expensive as a new washing machine if it gets clogged up with hair and hay.
 
I love vetbed too! Swapped recently from wood shavings, less mess and the guinea pigs love it!
 
Just thought add this in as something to consider as I know there are many pros to having fleece but I do feel if you are the one washing and drying it you have to think about the cleaning of it.

If I didn't have a whole family worth of washing each week, and tons of human towels/bedding to wash and dry then its something I would have tried. I don't have a separate utility room in my house, and I work at home from my kitchen area, so the additional time and noise of the washing machine and tumble drier working to wash the additional loads of fleece/towels would do my head in.:mal::D

Also storing the dirty bedding until I could wash it would be a problem too for me as my house is so small :)) I would be unhappy if my house became a laundrette most days of the week as that would torture me!

At the moment I have made a few cuddle cups and matts for lap time when the piggies are in the house, and I can just about find time to sneak that wash on while everyone is out (don't think my OH would be impressed that I do them in the machine, I put them in a duvet cover knotted up to contain any stray stuff - so that's our little secret :tu:).

So excluding the cost (which many find is cheaper with fleece) you do need to consider the cost to your sanity if anyone is in a similar position to myself - unless your name is Dot Cotton :lol:
 
I just wanted to add, my washing machine has a 'short' cycle which means my piggie load is done in 50mins! That's a bonus!
 
I think fleece is very good! Although It needs to be washed and hay sticks to it I have found some resolutions!

Well hay is not really a problem for me as I just use my hand held vacuum cleaner. It picks them up pretty well. I got my vacuum cleaner of ebay for $30 or 15 pounds. They are really useful!

Washing only takes minutes to do one batch! I wash my piggy stuff with my hands because my mum is picky about the fur :P I'd say it is easier to use a washing machine but really not hard to wash them just give the fleece a nice shake off to get extra hay off :)

Hope this helped!
I would really recommend fleece!
 
Smart thinking Cookie16, my washing machine has one too, and its a life saver.:)

If only I could invent a self emptying laundry basket that could fire the clothes straight into a totally silent washing machine, then dry them, iron them and store them I would be very happy, and rich! Then my piggies could lay in fluffy fleece all day long - and they would love that! :love: especially Freckles who really, really loves his cuddle cups.
 
I use fleece and have no issues washing it. Getting it dry can be an issue as we have no outside space but it dries eventually. I have washable incontinence bed pads under mine.

If your pigs are outside though and you want to stop using shavings I recommend Fitch. www.fitchrecycling.co.uk

I also second Piggyfan's Vetbed recommendation, I use this too.
 
I've been surpised how quick leg vetbed dries considering it's quite thick! I actually only have one set per cage at the minute so I wash and dry in a couple of hours while they are in the run! I will tumble try when winter comes though.
 
Fleece is alot more work. Get a good dustpan and brush, or a small hand held hoover for spot cleaning. get a large retangulat litter tray to go under the hay rack/bag/box, it takes up alot of space buy you can the water bottle in that area and place food bowls in it too aswell as any messy toys they like to detroy. the corner tray i got was useless, so i replaced it with one of my old cat trays, disinfected of course! and found it much better and alot less hay on the fleece. Before washing take all fleece and towels outside and give agood shake helps to remove excess and of course use a wash bag or pillow case to was in. Non bio washing powder or liquid, just use as directions say and then a slosh of some white vinigar in the soften bit works well.
 
Thanks y'all!

I thought i'd researched fleece enought but i've obviously got a lot to learn about guinea pig bedding! Vetbed looks like a good fleece alternative, i'll look into that and all the other options :)

Thanks again :)
 
I'm still a newbie, but i did find and alternative from shavings. its more paper base, doesnt smell quickly and it condenses well enough that benji cant fling it everywhere. its called clean and cozy by kaytee. super absorbent and cleans so easily
 
I have just put aubiose in my boys cage. First impressions, it flattens down well, and piggies like to lie down on it. Which they did not on the back2nature without hay on top. Let you know how we get on.
 
Gizi said:
I think fleece is very good! Although It needs to be washed and hay sticks to it I have found some resolutions!

Well hay is not really a problem for me as I just use my hand held vacuum cleaner. It picks them up pretty well. I got my vacuum cleaner of ebay for $30 or 15 pounds. They are really useful!

Washing only takes minutes to do one batch! I wash my piggy stuff with my hands because my mum is picky about the fur :P I'd say it is easier to use a washing machine but really not hard to wash them just give the fleece a nice shake off to get extra hay off :)

Hope this helped!
I would really recommend fleece!
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I would say you would need the heat a washing machine washes at, over hand washing to ensure all bacteria is removed from fleece, and putting White vinegar in the rinse to disinfect. I suppose it depends on how hot your domestic water comes out the tap. Electrically Heated water tends to be hotter, mine is from a gas Combi boiler. Washing machines will heat water to specific temperature, which hand washing doesn't do, you would definitely need rubber gloves on!
 
I use fleece in two cages, Fitch in one cage and Fitch in the hutch. I like them both.

I know it is not what most say but I notice the smell inside a little more from the cage with Fitch than the ones with fleece.

I don't find it too difficult to sweep up poops twice a day. It doesn't take long.

I think the washing is the biggest pain with fleece. I've never tried vetbed but I presume that has to be washed the same. I have the problem of a large family to wash for too.

I have found some types of hay stick to the fleece less than others. The meadow hay from hay for pets is terribly sticky on but the Ings from hay for pets comes off very easily. I also recently put a hay rack (be careful which sort you choose some are dangerous) in and that has made poo cleaning much much easier. I don't have a litter tray - just fleece where the hay is.

I have pre made fleece liners for one cage and do it myself n the other. The pre made ones are just on the bottom, not up the sides and I've not had any problems with the piggies trying to move it. I put towels and then puppy pads underneath.

In the cage I do myself it is just a cheap fleece from the Range which I do hold in place with the cage bars as others described but only because I am too lazy to cut the fleece to size!
 
i've just changed to fleece and find it a lot cheaper seeing as i finally tackled the sewing machine and made 2 liners myself (thank goodness the girls don't judge my squiffy sewing skills!) for less than a fiver. I use a deep tray (rescued from the skip at school) for their hay/food/water, which keeps the mess contained, and only need to spot clean once a day as they're out on the grass for 9 hours. Wash the fleece and their hideys/washable toys once a week with non-bio and white vinegar at 40 degrees in a duvet case to catch the hay. simples!
 
Treacle said:
I would say you would need the heat a washing machine washes at, over hand washing to ensure all bacteria is removed from fleece, and putting White vinegar in the rinse to disinfect. I suppose it depends on how hot your domestic water comes out the tap. Electrically Heated water tends to be hotter, mine is from a gas Combi boiler. Washing machines will heat water to specific temperature, which hand washing doesn't do, you would definitely need rubber gloves on!
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Our water is electically heated. It's actually quiet hot so much that it burns my hands.
I'm quiet sure it gets rid of bacteria :)
 
Gizi said:
Our water is electically heated. It's actually quiet hot so much that it burns my hands.
I'm quiet sure it gets rid of bacteria :)
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That is good then! My tap water would never get hot enough. Most UK houses, in cities that are on mains gas, and if they have central heating, now would have a Combi boiler, i don't think it would heat water hot enough, some might, mine wouldn't.
Do you put white vinegar in the rinse? That helps get rid of the detergent and kills bugs.
 
I use a layer of fitch then vetbed on top of that.....And my boys are outside. Works a treats for us and the vetbed keeps them nice and dry as well as warm :)
 
I find fleece is really good. I have it for an outdoor hutch, they do tunnel under it, but has been stopped recently for adding hay to burrow and extra loose pieces of fleece. It is much easier having the fleece in a c&c cage. It needs to be washed with a non bio liquid and no softener. Also a cap full of white vinegar removes odors and stains. I wash my fleece and towels at a 60 degree after ever 30 degree wash. To remove any bacteria. Needs to be spot cleaned 1 or 2 times day, I use net bags, to stop hay entering the washing machine, many people on here use horse bags. But for a hutch, definitely twice a day. I use anti pill fleece, micro fleece isn't very good for the main bedding, ok for toys etc. But also if you spend a little more money on the anti pill micro fleece it may be better. The only problems with drying is that the towels take at least a day to dry inside, much better drying them outdoors if possible. The fleece is virtually dry as soon as you take it out the washing machine, but still needs to be dried inside or out. I never dry the fleece using tumble dry, it's usually dried enough after the full wash.

I haven't had a problem with hay sticking to the fleece in my c&c cage, because I made a separate kitchen area for them to get mucky! But I understand that it's harder to control hay on the fleece in a hutch. You may want to choose vetbed over fleece if you don't get on with fleece, but vetbed is at least 2/3 a day for spot clean..
 
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