Fleece help

Status
Not open for further replies.
Guineapigs4life

Guineapigs4life

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
Messages
194
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
UK
My guinea pigs bedding is half fleece, half bedding. I was thinking of switching to all fleece. I have heard of uhaul pads as an absorbent layer to put under the fleece, but I think that they are only sold in the USA. I did some more researching and found these:[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/5-x-Furniture-Removal-Blanket/dp/B0058HSDI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344782047&sr=8-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/5-x-Furniture-Removal-Blanket/dp/B0058HSDI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344782047&sr=8-1[/ame]

Would these work as an absorbent layer? If not I think I will stick to towels as the under layer. If these removal blankets are ok to use, how would I go about washing them?:)
 
There is also a 120cm x 60cm matress protector for £1.99.

argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3767577/Trail/searchtext%3EMATRESS+PROTECTOR.htm
 
Cavy_Lady said:
There is also a 120cm x 60cm matress protector for £1.99.

argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3767577/Trail/searchtext%3EMATRESS+PROTECTOR.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks, mine are in a shed allowed to freely roam. The shed is 6ft by 4ft, or 47" by 72" so how many mattress toppers do you think I would need? Thanks for your help!
 
Ive got 4 cages - 2 of them (my bonded boys and mt two single boys) use cotton mattress toppers underneath the fleece (like the one shown above from argos) - while my bigger cages with my group of 6 i use washable bed pads underneath their fleece:

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Washable-Absorbent-Bed-Pad-90cms/dp/B000MES1W8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344784820&sr=8-3"]bed pads[/ame]
 
Sodapops said:
Ive got 4 cages - 2 of them (my bonded boys and mt two single boys) use cotton mattress toppers underneath the fleece (like the one shown above from argos) - while my bigger cages with my group of 6 i use washable bed pads underneath their fleece:

bed pads
Click to expand...

Well with the size of the shed, and the 6 piggies I am not sure which option would be the better one to for. As I would need quite a few to fill the shed, and a few more so I can change the bedding and put the other stuff in the wash.
 
Guineapigs4life said:
Thanks, mine are in a shed allowed to freely roam. The shed is 6ft by 4ft, or 47" by 72" so how many mattress toppers do you think I would need? Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

My cage is 6ft3 by 2ft7. I use a king size topper with the exess folded under.
For your size you would only need 2 king size toppers. 1 being used and 1 in the wash.

X
 
Guineapigs4life said:
Thanks, mine are in a shed allowed to freely roam. The shed is 6ft by 4ft, or 47" by 72" so how many mattress toppers do you think I would need? Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

My cage is 6ft3 by 3ft7. I use a king size topper with the exess folded under.
For your size you would only need 2 king size toppers. 1 being used and 1 in the wash. You would have about 30cm to fold under or cut off.

X
 
There are a couple of members who have free roaming shed piggies and as i recall most of them use a lino/vinyl flooring/floor tiles as a base and then use either megazorb/shavings topped with hay - this allows them to just sweep up the contents of the shed and replace it.

With fleece and bed pads/cotton toppers you will need a fair amount so initial outlay will be quite pricey - however once you have it, costs should be minimal.

To give you an idea - bed pads i require two bed pads to cover a cage that measures 154 x 75cm - so four beds in total for a wash and wear.

Mattress toppers i got two pads out of a king sized sheet - however my 140 double storey cages are corner ones so are an awkward shape.

To cover an area of 6ft x 4ft i would have thought you would need at least 2-3 double sized mattress toppers (4-6 in total) - washable bed pads - depending on their size (i know you can buy double ones) i would have thought at least 4-6 for each change.

I buy my fleece from this ebay seller:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Fabric-/28162/i.html?item=261057093658&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_ssn=jumping*jack*7&_dmpt=UK_Crafts_Fabric&Material=Fleece&rt=nc
 
A kingsize topper is 6ft3 by 4ft11. I only use 1 layer of this and change weekly.

Sodapops. Those fleeces are lovely, I might have to sneak a couple into my house. ha
 
Last edited:
Cavy_Lady said:
My cage is 6ft3 by 3ft7. I use a king size topper with the exess folded under.
For your size you would only need 2 king size toppers. 1 being used and 1 in the wash. You would have about 30cm to fold under or cut off.

X
Click to expand...

Ok thanks, I just need to get some fleece now!
 
Sodapops said:
There are a couple of members who have free roaming shed piggies and as i recall most of them use a lino/vinyl flooring/floor tiles as a base and then use either megazorb/shavings topped with hay - this allows them to just sweep up the contents of the shed and replace it.

With fleece and bed pads/cotton toppers you will need a fair amount so initial outlay will be quite pricey - however once you have it, costs should be minimal.

To give you an idea - bed pads i require two bed pads to cover a cage that measures 154 x 75cm - so four beds in total for a wash and wear.

Mattress toppers i got two pads out of a king sized sheet - however my 140 double storey cages are corner ones so are an awkward shape.

To cover an area of 6ft x 4ft i would have thought you would need at least 2-3 double sized mattress toppers (4-6 in total) - washable bed pads - depending on their size (i know you can buy double ones) i would have thought at least 4-6 for each change.

I buy my fleece from this ebay seller:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Fabric-/28162/i.html?item=261057093658&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_ssn=jumping*jack*7&_dmpt=UK_Crafts_Fabric&Material=Fleece&rt=nc
Click to expand...

That does seem expensive, but I dislike using shavings and find that using megazorb to fill a shed would be way more expensive. So fleece was my next option.
 
Cavy_Lady said:
A kingsize topper is 6ft3 by 4ft11. I only use 1 layer of this and change weekly.

Sodapops. Those fleeces are lovely, I might have to sneak a couple into my house. ha
Click to expand...

Thanks for the sizing - my maths is absolutely useless lol mallethead

You know you have too many guinea pig items when you have to resort to 'sneaking them in'! ;)
 
Guineapigs4life said:
That does seem expensive, but I dislike using shavings and find that using megazorb to fill a shed would be way more expensive. So fleece was my next option.
Click to expand...

Ive been using fleece for 18months+ and i personally wouldnt use anything else. I do use shavings in their litter trays underneath their hay racks so i haven't fully gotten rid of this additional cost. I have also tried magazorb in their litter trays and loved it - however for the amount i use even in the litter trays it was quite pricey.
 
[QUOTE=Sodapops;1342103]l
You know you have too many guinea pig items when you have to resort to 'sneaking them in'! ;)[/QUOTE]
Your right. I really want some camo fleece for the boys. My OH wont moan about this though as he thinks they need some "manly" stuff. They have loads of flowery and pink things.
 
Sodapops said:
There are a couple of members who have free roaming shed piggies and as i recall most of them use a lino/vinyl flooring/floor tiles as a base and then use either megazorb/shavings topped with hay - this allows them to just sweep up the contents of the shed and replace it.

With fleece and bed pads/cotton toppers you will need a fair amount so initial outlay will be quite pricey - however once you have it, costs should be minimal.

To give you an idea - bed pads i require two bed pads to cover a cage that measures 154 x 75cm - so four beds in total for a wash and wear.

Mattress toppers i got two pads out of a king sized sheet - however my 140 double storey cages are corner ones so are an awkward shape.

To cover an area of 6ft x 4ft i would have thought you would need at least 2-3 double sized mattress toppers (4-6 in total) - washable bed pads - depending on their size (i know you can buy double ones) i would have thought at least 4-6 for each change.

I buy my fleece from this ebay seller:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Fabric-/28162/i.html?item=261057093658&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_ssn=jumping*jack*7&_dmpt=UK_Crafts_Fabric&Material=Fleece&rt=nc
Click to expand...

I love the fleece! But i just worked out with the shed being 47" by 72" i would need two fleeces, and then two more when the other fleece goes in the wash. Making it quite pricey,so I will keep a look out for cheaper fleece for now.
 
Guineapigs4life said:
I love the fleece! But i just worked out with the shed being 47" by 72" i would need two fleeces, and then two more when the other fleece goes in the wash. Making it quite pricey,so I will keep a look out for cheaper fleece for now.
Click to expand...

Do you have a B&M's nearby? They have 6ft3 by 4ft11 spotty fleeces in there for £3.99. Poundstretchers could also be a good place to look too.
 
Just stick towels underneath, 100% cotton towels are the most absorbant. You'll need a spare set so when you wash their dirty towels and fleece you'd need a clean set to put down straight away. :)
 
Guineapigs4life said:
I love the fleece! But i just worked out with the shed being 47" by 72" i would need two fleeces, and then two more when the other fleece goes in the wash. Making it quite pricey,so I will keep a look out for cheaper fleece for now.
Click to expand...

The fleeces come on 5 meter and 10 meter rolls - you would only need 1 lot and you should have plenty left over. It was by far the cheapest fleece ive come across on ebay. The dimensions for the fleece rolls on ebay are 150cm x 1000cm this is around 5ft x 32ft (my maths isn't brilliant)

I used the spotty fleeces from poundstretcher (i think i got a 2 pack for around £4.99 - they were slightly too short to fit a 140cm cage so i had to mix and match), also my group of 6 are quite messy so within 24hrs the fleece was filthy - white is probably not the best colour to use with guinea pigs :... Hnece why I'm now using a patterned fleece.

I also have to fully clean my pigs out every 4th day - they couldn't go much longer than this to be honest - ive only got 2 out of my 10 pigs that are litter trained - would help if all 10 were lol
 
Sodapops said:
The fleeces come on 5 meter and 10 meter rolls - you would only need 1 lot and you should have plenty left over. It was by far the cheapest fleece ive come across on ebay. The dimensions for the fleece rolls on ebay are 150cm x 1000cm this is around 5ft x 32ft (my maths isn't brilliant)

I used the spotty fleeces from poundstretcher (i think i got a 2 pack for around £4.99 - they were slightly too short to fit a 140cm cage so i had to mix and match), also my group of 6 are quite messy so within 24hrs the fleece was filthy - white is probably not the best colour to use with guinea pigs :... Hnece why I'm now using a patterned fleece.

I also have to fully clean my pigs out every 4th day - they couldn't go much longer than this to be honest - ive only got 2 out of my 10 pigs that are litter trained - would help if all 10 were lol
Click to expand...

Oh ok, I might have read it wrong or something. So is 60" just the width. I think I will get this fleece, as I like a lot of the patterns to.
 
Cavy_Lady said:
Do you have a B&M's nearby? They have 6ft3 by 4ft11 spotty fleeces in there for £3.99. Poundstretchers could also be a good place to look too.
Click to expand...

I will have a look at there website now, thank you for your help.
 
Last edited:
This is a VERY useful thread for me as, I too, am thinking of using fleece in my new shed. The 4 of them will be free ranging in a 6x3 shed, with a ramp up to their hutch. Those of you that use fleece in a large space: how often do you have to wash the fleece and liner (like the idea of the matress toppers as they'd dry quicker than towels)? I am thinking that I'd spot clean every day, change and wash the fleece twice a week and wash the matress toppers/towels once a week - does that sound about right? Also, can you just cut fleeces and matress protectors to size without them fraying when you wash them?
 
primrose said:
This is a VERY useful thread for me as, I too, am thinking of using fleece in my new shed. The 4 of them will be free ranging in a 6x3 shed, with a ramp up to their hutch. Those of you that use fleece in a large space: how often do you have to wash the fleece and liner (like the idea of the matress toppers as they'd dry quicker than towels)? I am thinking that I'd spot clean every day, change and wash the fleece twice a week and wash the matress toppers/towels once a week - does that sound about right? Also, can you just cut fleeces and matress protectors to size without them fraying when you wash them?
Click to expand...

I have yet to use my fleece and mattress toppers for the whole shed, so hopefully someone else can answer that for both of us. I believe you only have to wash the fleece and mattress toppers every 5-7 days. My shed is part fleece, part bedding, but will soon all be fleece. I find that spot cleaning 1-2 times a day, keeps the fleece clean and I have 6 guinea pigs.
 
Oh, great - that sounds very manageable. Do you find that fleece, with cosies, keeps them nice and warm in the winter? I've got a couple of heat pads and I'm planning to get each of them a cosy - is this enough through the winter months?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top