Fleece bedding / cleaning

[Sunnycatherine]

Hi, I've just started using fleece for my piggies with a bath towl underneath. It's kinder for them but what I'm struggling with is how much they smell. I am having to wash it every day which isn't too environmentally friendly. Any advise on this or anything else I could use. Thanks.

 

[Roxy_Piggy_Mom]

Is it a layer of plain fleece and then a towel or a fleece liner with an absorbent middle?
If it's plain fleece I highly recommend you get something like washable incontinence bedding or dog mats for underneath rather than a towel. They're made to absorb loads of liquid and cover up smells. I found towels will absorb to a certain point but they just stay moist and gross. Or you can Try washing everything with a good dose of distilled vinegar every now and again as well, as I find this really helps with the smells. I personally use zorb-filled fleece liners as I find they last way longer between washes and keep my piggies (and the bottom of the cage) nice and dry

 

[Roxy_Piggy_Mom]

Oh and just to add, sometimes the smell is just from them 'marking' the newly washed fleece that doesn't smell like them anymore. I find this smell goes away after about 24h. I use cagefresh granules underneath everything on the very bottom of my cage and I do find they help with absorbing the smells. A little goes a long way as well.

 

[Elthysia]

It’s the towels - id strongly advice you to ditch the towels and instead use incontinence mats (like the washable ones sold for children/elderly people’s beds). Then the later of fleece on top. They will last for years.

Wash with some vinegar on 60c - don’t use fabric softener etc as it makes the smell worse. I also add a dash of hibiscrub in mine but not too much as it foams like mad.

How often depends on cage size/number of pigs ratio - I clean mine every 5 days as a week is stretching it.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I've just started using fleece for my piggies with a bath towl underneath. It's kinder for them but what I'm struggling with is how much they smell. I am having to wash it every day which isn't too environmentally friendly. Any advise on this or anything else I could use. Thanks.

The smell comes from the urine and not the fleece. this is why many members use washable incontinence chair or bed mats or puppy lads under the regular toiletting corners as they bind the smell better and you get away with a twice weekly cage clean.

here is our comprehensive fleece bedding guide: A Detailed Guide For Fleece Bedding

 

[Sunnycatherine]

It’s the towels - id strongly advice you to ditch the towels and instead use incontinence mats (like the washable ones sold for children/elderly people’s beds). Then the later of fleece on top. They will last for years.

Wash with some vinegar on 60c - don’t use fabric softener etc as it makes the smell worse. I also add a dash of hibiscrub in mine but not too much as it foams like mad.

How often depends on cage size/number of pigs ratio - I clean mine every 5 days as a week is stretching it.

Thank you. I will look into these washable incontinence pads. I want to be as environmentally friendly as possible so like the idea they can be washed. Thanks

 

[Elthysia]

Thank you. I will look into these washable incontinence pads. I want to be as environmentally friendly as possible so like the idea they can be washed. Thanks

I’m still using the same ones I’ve bought in 2012, so yeah, pretty good going! I can’t find ones of the same quality now, so newer ones may be a little less long lasting but still a good number of years I’d say.

 

[Marmazelle]

I found that using a hay tray/kitchen area helped keep odours down when I switched to fleece - the piggies do most of their business in the tray which taken less than 5 mins to clean, keeping the rest of the fleece fresh for longer

 

[PigglePuggle]

We love our Vetfleece brand Inconti-Pet washable absorbent puppy mats (available from Amazon) under the fleece in the busiest cage areas, they absorb huge amounts of pee and wash at 60 degrees so well, we've been rotating the same 6 Inconti-Pet mats twice a week for over a year and they are still great!

 

[Sunnycatherine]

Thank you everyone. I've ordered some pads so I can ditch the towels. Fingers crossed they help with the smell.