waterproof tableclothes instead of lino?

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I mean those thick, plastic tableclothes people with kids get to protect their tables.

I wondered if they might be suitable to use on the floor of my hutches instead of lino? Thought it might give me a greater range of funky designs.

I don't have these at home, and really don't know how practical they are as an option. What does everybody think?
 
I use pvc material (the stuff for tablecloths) for floortime to protect the carpet. It was only £2.99 a metre (140cm wide) so cheap enough to experiement with. It's a little slippery for the pigs to run on but they potter about happily enough. However, the little darlings have decided that it's chewable at the edges. rolleyes It is easy to wipe clean and sweep off though.
 
where do you get the pvc material from flips? i want to start using this for floor time because its soo annoying having newspaper all over the floor
 
Do you mean as a top layer? if so I wouldn't recommend it.
I tried it for the floor of my pig's indoor run thinking it would be cleaner... but because it's plastic whenever they pooped it got smeared everywhere, and the wee puddled so they slipped in it, and soaked into the cardboard tubes and boxes that I put in for them to play in. ended up having to hose it down to get it clean :)>>> and my poor pigs were filthy.
 
I use lino on my outdoor guinea pig hutch - it's fitted so it goes up the walls aswell. On top of this I put a few sheets of newspaper still folded then a layer of sawdust mixed with guinea pig litter - works a treat! when I clean them out i pick up the paper chuck it then use a dustpan and brush to sweep it out then a guinea pig cage disinfectant spray.

I use the vinyl stuff for floor time but put an old towel down cos they skid about otherwise and wee and poo goes everywhere eww!

My dad owns a carpet shop tho so for me I could easily get a piece of vinyl the size I needed and it was free....you could ask if your local carpet shop has off cut's? mine was left over from them doing out some offices
 
I bought the table stuff from a local sewing shop....2.25 per Mtr
 
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Should have said that I put a fleece down on top of the pvc and they do all their poops/ wees on that. I also sometimes put a newspaper down with a pile of hay on top (on top of the pvc, then roll it up and throw out). For me the pvc is mainly to protect the landlords carpet.

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I got the pvc from Dunelm Mill. They have quite a few different fabrics.
http://www.dunelm-mill.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product1_11100_-1_53998_10551

I was looking at it this afternoon and don't think I would use it for a hutch because the back is not waterproof. Lino is probably a better idea. :)
 
Like Lulu says you couldn't use it unless you had bedding on top, so the funky colours wouldn't really show... But some people over here use it (to line their bookshelf cages), it's not as sturdy as lino, but is really cheap so not hard to replace once a year or so.

I love your floortime area, Flips!
 
A friend of mine used lino in her outdoor hutches and was very impressed:)

However when she destroyed the hutch to replace it with a larger one she was horrified to find that under the lino the wood was black and mouldy. Apparently she made some enquiries to guinea savy people who said that even it the lino goes up the walls and no moisture can get underneath the lino sweats and the damp cant dry out hence the mould builds up underneath. Needless to say she's never used it since.

Not saying it's wrong and I know that many people do use it but just something to watch for....................

Teresa xx
 
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