Fleece Maintenance

Status
Not open for further replies.
Cavy Crazy

Cavy Crazy

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
224
Reaction score
103
Points
330
Location
Ireland
Hi,my parents have agreed to let me keep my two guinea pigs in my bedroom they are going to be housed in a 2 x 5 c&c cage.I can't fit a 2 x 6 on the 6ft long table I'm using(has to be on the table). I am unsure which I'm going to use fleece or bedding. My concern with fleece is that it's an expensive start and that it has to be washed weekly.I can go to primark on Sunday to get some to try it out. If I bought 4 or 5 fleece liners,could I put 3/4 in one load every 4-5 weeks? What is better a fleece liner or fleece with something absorbent under? Thanks for any replies.
 
Hello.

Fleece is a very popular bedding here on the forum and across the GP community. Fleece needs to be washed without any softner at all times to make sure it wicks away wet. It is best doubled with something like a towel underneath it to keep it drier, you would be looking at changing it everyday or two as it does get wet and smelly.
Would recommend getting a 'horse wash bag' to wash it in this will stop hay and hair from clogging up your parents washing machine.

We have a bedding overview here: Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview
 
  • Like
Reactions: Moo
I was planning to put it in an old pillow case would this work? My main concern was the electricity cost.My parents don't want me to wash it every week. I was hoping to get 4 or 5 liners and putting them all in the wash every 4 weeks or so.
 
Cavy Crazy said:
I was planning to put it in an old pillow case would this work? My main concern was the electricity cost.My parents don't want me to wash it every week. I was hoping to get 4 or 5 liners and putting them all in the wash every 4 weeks or so.
Click to expand...

Possibly, you wouldn't want it to fall out. The snag of leaving smelly fleeces for 4 weeks before washing is they would absolutely stink.... believe me :))
 
  • Like
Reactions: Moo
I was going to change the fleece weekly and just put it in a box for the washing machine it would be replaced weekly. Does fleece smell after a week for two guinea pigs in a 5 x 2 cage? I will spotclean daily.
 
I have 2 pairs of piggies in 2 separate 5 x 2 c and c on fleece. I spot clean daily and change pee pads daily. Even doing that The fleece needs changing every 4 days at most as otherwise it stinks! I wash mine in an old duvet cover on a hot (60 degree) wash with non bio powder and white vinegar instead of fabric softener. I don't think you could or should leave it a week as bacteria coukd breed in it and you would find it very smelly.
I love my fleece but it does need a lot of changing and washing.
 
Ok thank you for all of the replies,I will change fleece twice weekly if I go for it. If I can find it cheap in primark I'll get a lot of it. Where do you get your fleece? What price is it where you get it?
 
Asda do big ones for £5 each. I have three and i have to say they are amazingly soft and they aren't quite polar type fleece so wait for this... The hay doesn't stick too much at all!! 120x 150 cm is measurement. Poundland ones are smaller and I dont know about anyone else but I haven't seen them in stock for a while! I change and wash my pigs fleece (shed is 4x5ft) twice a week. Good luck with new piggies!
 
I got some pet fleece from "Dealz" I'm in Ireland it was cheap but very small and thin.
 
Ireland has to have an asda!? Also asda sell cheap towels for an extra layer under the fleece.
 
Some fabric stores also do off cuts/roll ends for reduced prices.
 
Thank you for all of the replies. I will have to check asda. I already have them,at the minute they have a 6 x 8 shed to themselves but I want them to come indoors in to my room.
 
I have fleece with towels but you will need to wash both your fleece and absorbant layer twice a week so you won't be able to do 1 big load every 4 weeks as it would be too much with all the towels and fleece
 
Does the fleece need a triple wash? I don't want to sound lazy,but my parents really don't want me doing a triple wash as often as every week so if I can keep washing machine use to a minimum I will. Any suggestions? What about hand washing?
 
Never heard of triple washing. Mine go in on the quick 15 min setting with my washing machine. Not sure if thats the best way but it seems okay to me. I have hand washed before but oh my it's a job!
 
I'm going to get some fleece in penny's on Saturday it's €5 for a fleece throw in there. I'm just going to try fleece I'm using bedding at the minute.If I don't like it I will change back to bedding.
 
xxaimeexx said:
. Poundland ones are smaller and I dont know about anyone else but I haven't seen them in stock for a while!
Click to expand...

it's been years since we had fleece. Miss Moo our special needs piggy had to be on fleece. It washed well... The fleece not Miss Moo :))
 
Going to show my ignorance here now, what's a pee pad and can you give me some info on what's best to use. Considering switching from usual shavings to fleece with an absorbent layer sewn in between an inner and outer fleece, but not heard of a pee pad before?

Thanks
 
Yes, as @Wendle said above they are puppy pads for under the fleece
 
Nick G said:
Going to show my ignorance here now, what's a pee pad and can you give me some info on what's best to use. Considering switching from usual shavings to fleece with an absorbent layer sewn in between an inner and outer fleece, but not heard of a pee pad before?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Apologies for not being clear. I use puppy pads under the fleece. I change the puppy pads when I change the fleece liners (every 3- 4'days). But in the areas where most wee occurs (under their beds/houses) I use smaller fleece pads /squares I've made from 2 layers of fleece sewn together. I call those pee pads and I change those every day.
 
From what I know, a pee pad is usually either puppy pads that dogs are usually trained to go to the toilet on, or a layer of fleece (maybe a towel?) that has some sort of absorbent layer (like fleece liners usually do). I use puppy pads a lot. :)

Edit; sorry, for some reason the other replies didn't show until I posted :mal:
 
B&M bargains, Primark, The range, Asda, all do reasonably priced fleeces, we went in the range today and plain fleece was little under £3, and patterned was just over £3.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top