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Ecover washing up liquid - cystitis?

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pelicano

pelicano

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Here's a strange one... My girls have very sensitive bladders, due to a long running UTI. Anyway, I've noticed an improvement lately, in that they don't squeak when they pee.

I have been baffled as to why, but it suddenly dawned on me last night that the only change I've made is that I've stopped washing anything in their cage with Ecover washing up liquid. Previously I'd washed everything with that, rinsed it well, then used F10 disinfectant. I now only use the F10, and a bit of vinegar for any urine stains.

I'm really starting to think there is something in washing up liquid that is bad for their bladders. :{ I feel terrible for using it for so long, but I thought it was really mild.
 
I'm also now thinking about whether I can wash the tea towels in something different other than regular washing powder. Am wondering whether something like a dissolved Virkon tablet can go in the washing machine. :{
 
An interesting thought. Please keep us updated!
 
OK, I'm really rambling now (!), but I've decided I'm going to start washing the tea towels in soapnut, which I already use for some of my washing. They aren't grubby, and I wash them at 95 degrees anyway, so I'm sure that will clean them adequately. At least then there shouldn't be any residues going on their bowls etc as I dry them.
 
For my washing I sometimes use ecoballs - have you tried those?

They are quite good actually and don't leave any smell at all not urine or perfume smell.

Used soapnuts before - quite like them.
 
Not piggy related but i have used Ecover as washing up liquid, within a day it had caused my hands to have painful splits all over them,. Was so bad everytime i moved or bent my hands the splits would open and bleed Was very very painful. Fairy washing up liquid does this to me as well!
 
I've never heard of Soapnut detergent. Is it available in a powder/tablets etc?

Pelicano - What do you wash your piggies bowls etc with? Also, the F10 disinfectant, is that it's name as it is? Again, something else I've never heard of.

This is interesting reading. :)
 
pelicano said:
I'm also now thinking about whether I can wash the tea towels in something different other than regular washing powder. Am wondering whether something like a dissolved Virkon tablet can go in the washing machine. :{
Click to expand...

Not sure about the tablets but we use the powdered Virkon in the washer for any vet bed and/or towels
 
I have just started using Ecover washing powder for guineas stuff except Dolly's bedding where I am using eco balls. Will post any thing I find out about them. Dolly has sore skin since coming here - probably fungal but I don't want to take any chances with the washing powder making it worse hence the eco balls.

Soapnuts are a natural nut kind of thing that you put in a littl ebag and in the machine. Not good on stains but okay for cleaning.
 
I really need to keep up to date better on here. I came to update this thread, and hadn't realised there were other posts on it. Sorry about that. :red

I just wanted to update to say that I am continuing to find that washing up liquid of any type (so not just Ecover) causes problems with cystitis. Cassie's bladder became bad recently, then I suddenly realised I was washing up the little plastic caps I make up her probiotic in with washing up liquid (just regular Fairy), even though they were rinsed well.

Having washing up liquid-free piggies isn't as easy as it sounds, as it means they have to have their own separate collander for washing veggies, which isn't washed up in washing up liquid, and anything used for preparing medicines etc, too. eg. I have a separate mug and spoon that I'm using to prepare Critical Care in, and not washing it with washing up liquid.

So far I don't think that dishwasher tablet or washing powder residues cause a problem, just washing up liquid, but obviously it's better to be safe than sorry, so I've continued with the soapnut for washing up the cloths and towels.
 
Monkeynutz said:
Pelicano - What do you wash your piggies bowls etc with? Also, the F10 disinfectant, is that it's name as it is? Again, something else I've never heard of.

This is interesting reading. :)
Click to expand...

This is what I use to wash everything - bowls, bottles, cage, cup and spoon for Critical Care, collander for veggies etc etc! You buy the concentrated liquid and make up a spray with water.
http://www.f10biocare.co.uk/
 
What do you use to wash the fleece in?

I too was thinking that me washing my pigs fleece and inco pads in washing powder maybe the cause for Gizmo's UTI? As if i remember it only started when i started to put alot of washing powder in when i washed their fleeces, as i was worried they wouldnt wash well enough. There maybe left over washing powder on their fleeces and this maybe cause him some irritation?
 
Sounds worth thinking about/exploring with the washing powder. When I used fleece I always gave everything an extra rinse, and I do that with the towels and cloths too.

I don't actually use fleece anymore, and have gone back to regular litter (Megazorb and Finacard). It's hard to believe that residues of washing up liquid can affect them so badly, when I would have always said it was thoroughly rinsed. Makes you wonder what it does to us humans too!
 
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