How can I wash vetbed so it does not go clumpy?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Do you comb it after you've washed it? When I used vetbed I used to use one of my old hairbrushes (a flat, firm paddle brush) to give it a really good comb through in all directions and it worked a treat!
 
missy said:
Do you comb it after you've washed it? When I used vetbed I used to use one of my old hairbrushes (a flat, firm paddle brush) to give it a really good comb through in all directions and it worked a treat!
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. I haven't actually washed it yet. I have seen lots of pictures of vetbed on the forum and much of it looks 'clumpy'. I thought I would post and ask before I trashed it by washing it the wrong way as it cost so much.
 
I usually wash it on a 30 minute cycle with non bio powder. I then dry it on the line or radiator, sometimes finish it off in the dryer.
It will allways come out clumpy so I used to brush it with the dogs brush but it was hard work and started ripping the metal bristals out. I then tried a brush like the one you see in the foto, it is so easy to use and the fine bristles don't rip out.

grooming-brush.jpg
 
Hm... I never thought about it, just accepted that it would clump up. The piggies don't seem to mind...

I think my mum may have one of those brushes at home that she never used for the dog. I might give it a try! (not that I need more time consuming things to do, but hey :)))
 
Dindypig said:
I usually wash it on a 30 minute cycle with non bio powder. I then dry it on the line or radiator, sometimes finish it off in the dryer.
It will allways come out clumpy so I used to brush it with the dogs brush but it was hard work and started ripping the metal bristals out. I then tried a brush like the one you see in the foto, it is so easy to use and the fine bristles don't rip out.

grooming-brush.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Your vetbed looks lovely and soft, not at all clumpy. I will find a brush like that. Does it pull out the vetbed fibres so that it thins out over time or is it OK?
 
The vetbed I bought came with instructions which advised combing/brushing it, so that's how I knew to do it. It specifically said to do it straight after washing i.e. before drying.

I've noticed that there seems to be lots of different versions of vetbed products around and people tend to use the catch-all general name of "vetbed" when referring to them....however it seems like they can vary a lot in terms of quality and appearance etc. The stuff I had was the official "Vetbed" manufactured by a company called Petlife and although it was quite soft, it never looked as fluffy as Dindypig's, even when brand new!

I think how your vetbed looks will definitely depend on specifically which product it is, as well as how you look after it and wash it etc.
 
I prefer to brush it so that there is less likelyhood of food and poos etc getting trapped in it.
Both brushes that I have used have caught fibres, but not so much as to thin it out any time soon. I'm confident it will last a long time yet.The recomendation to brush it out when wet would probabley make it easyer to do and cut down on the fibre loss. I will give it a try. (thanks Missy)
Overall I still find 'vetbed' easyer, cleaner and more manageable than wood shavings. I have two types of 'vetbed', one with a rubber underneath for grip and the other is plain. I find that the plain one allows the wee to go thru easier.
 
Thanks for all of the advice. I washed one of the pieces and it went clumpy so I started brushing it but stopped after I had a small cushion full of fibres that came out on my brush. :{ Maybe I am doing something wrong?

I must say that it dried very quickly compared to the rest of the wash. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top