Fleece Washing

[CarnivalPiggy]

Currently back to fleece. Haven't had the chance to wash them properly so they're in the machine now. Just curious if the whole wash-dry three or four times is needed? As in the drying process. In a bit of a rush so wondering if I could just put the machine on for however many times and then dry it.

 

[Sasco]

I used some without washing it at all as I didn't realise I needed to, and it still easily lasted half a week before it needed more than a spot clean. My newest ones I washed three times with a few hours dry inbetween.

 

[GPcrazy]

I've done it without drying in-between.
I've also read on here of someone who just left it in the machine with each new load of laundry (so no drying in-between) and they said it actually seemed to wick faster that way.
So no, I don't the think the drying in-between is necessary.

 

[piggieminder]

The idea of washing it 3 times is to get rid of the dressing in the fabric so that it wicks. The last lot of fleece I used for liners I washed once at 90 degrees, gave it a good pre sewing shrink and it wicked straight away.

 

[Veronica092]

The idea of washing it 3 times is to get rid of the dressing in the fabric so that it wicks. The last lot of fleece I used for liners I washed once at 90 degrees, gave it a good pre sewing shrink and it wicked straight away.

@Pggieminder is that 90 degrees fahrenheit? Did you wash and dry 3 times or just wash 3 times and then dry?

 

[piggieminder]

To get it to wick wash three times and dry each time I find is best, I test it after each drying by pouring a small cup of water on it sometimes it works after one or two washes. I guess it's fahrenheit, it's the 90 button on the machine, I did this because I was making fitted liners and I didn't want them to shrink to much after all the work of sewing etc.

 

[Veronica092]

To get it to wick wash three times and dry each time I find is best, I test it after each drying by pouring a small cup of water on it sometimes it works after one or two washes. I guess it's fahrenheit, it's the 90 button on the machine, I did this because I was making fitted liners and I didn't want them to shrink to much after all the work of sewing etc.

Thank you for the clarification! I had to mention that I'm from the Netherlands though as the temperatures are different overseas. I also want to make fitted liners but want to pre-wash the fabrics on their own before sewing. Question about drying, did you use a dryer or just let it air dry?

 

[piggieminder]

I air dry, I don't have a dryer, either on the line in dry weather or on a clothes airer in the greenhouse if wet. 90 is the hottest setting on my machine, I was a bit worried it would make the fleece bobbly or out of shape washing that hot but mine came out alright. Don't forget to preshirnk the lining as well (I did this once) or the cage liners will pull out of shape when washed! I use cotton covered quilted mattress covers for the lining I found it was cheaper than buying the wadding by the metre, I use 2 layers of that.

 

[Veronica092]

I air dry, I don't have a dryer, either on the line in dry weather or on a clothes airer in the greenhouse if wet. 90 is the hottest setting on my machine, I was a bit worried it would make the fleece bobbly or out of shape washing that hot but mine came out alright. Don't forget to preshirnk the lining as well (I did this once) or the cage liners will pull out of shape when washed! I use cotton covered quilted mattress covers for the lining I found it was cheaper than buying the wadding by the metre, I use 2 layers of that.

Good to know about the air drying. I will ask around about drying with a dryer. How do you pre-shrink the lining? I was wondering what to use for the lining as I was looking at the grey moving blankets, the wadding from ebay and other options. Mine cage is 2x5 but don't want to make a liner the same size but two smaller ones, easy to change. Do you recommend cutting the cotton covered quilted mattress covers?

 

[piggieminder]

I think tumble dryers shrink the fleece a lot more, depending on the quality of fleece.
I wash the liner on the hotest setting machine setting before I cut it. I've not had a problem with cutting the matress covers up. A few people on the forum use Zorb. I did try Zorb it's very expensive, I got it on ebay. I found I only needed to use one layer of Zorb as opposed to two of matress cover. I don't like buying on line so I am sticking to cutting up matress covers as I can buy them locally. I think really the type of lining and fleece you use is down to personal preference in the end, I've done lots of trial and error with small pee pads. I actually use vetbed for the main cage, covering this with fleece pads in the main toileting areas as I can easily whip them out and shake on the garden, I change them every other day and the vetbed every 4 days, in the summer if we get a run of good weather and the piggies can be outside for most of the day I get away with once a week vetbed changes.