Fleece liners - zorb and shrinkage

[Trillis]

I made some fleece liners about a month ago. They are a layer of zorb (original) sandwiched between 2 layers of fleece. I washed the fleece several times before making the liners, to make sure it wicked ok, and had pre-shrunk. I had read that I should not pre wash the zorb as it might fall apart, but that it wasn't necessary anyway as it was designed to be washed/dried hot, and didn't shrink.

Well guess what? The zorb has shrunk. The fleece hasn't. This means that the whole liner has shrunk and there is now more fleece than zorb, so the fleece no longer lies flat because there is too much of it compared to the zorb. The liners are still useable (thank goodness!) but I have 2 or 3 more to make (each one covers 1/3 of the hutch so I need at least 6).

Given that I now have a lot of pre-shrunk fleece, plus the remaining zorb which has yet to shrink, can anyone suggest how I might sew these together in a way that won't go the samy way as the rest? I can only think of 2 options

1. pre wash the zorb, on its own, which the manufacturer says not to do as it might fall apart
2. sew the zorb into another fabric, wash it a few times, then unpick it from the other fabric and remake the liners with the fleece I already have.

Does anyone have any other ideas? Also, for future reference, would it have been a better idea not to have pre shrunk the fleece and just make them bigger instead, so I could then wash the completed liners a few times to shrink/wick before I started using them?

Thank you for any suggestions

 

[Swissgreys]

I had the exact same problem with my first Zorb liner too!

So next time I washed the Zorb inside a duvet cover on a hot but delicate cycle, before making any other liners with it.
This worked great - the Zorb shrank but didin't fall apart so no more lumpy liners.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

I bought some cage liners from one of the small companies used a lot by forum members, and they seemed to have the same problem - they now only just reach the edge of the cage, and the fleece has ridges in it. I thought maybe I had done something wrong, but there must be some quality issue with the Zorb if it isn't meant to shrink but does- I also only wash mine at 40degrees usually. Did either of you complainto the Zorb manufacturers, @Trillis @Swissgreys ?

 

[Trillis]

Thanks for that suggestion Swissgreys. Will try it tomorrow.

I haven't complained yet, no. Not sure if I will. Will have to look into that.

 

[artcasper]

Aww that's a shame... I have no experience of using Zorb but my homemade fleece liners have shrunk but this is after nearly 4 yrs of use.. have you thought of using incontinence bed mats as liners? They work very well.