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Post by darcysparkle on May 15, 2010 16:10:27 GMT
Hi, everyone!
I have seen many, many cages bedded with or containing fleece, and I was wondering:
How do you clean it?
Is it used for the main bedding of the cage, or just in a specific area for cuddling?
Is there any danger of snagging (toenails)?
Any other information on fleece or your opinions/experiences with it would be appreciated! Thanks!
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Post by Pigjes on May 15, 2010 16:56:12 GMT
Welcome!!  I have pure cotton towels underneath. I shake the fleece out outside (makes the flowers grow prettier), put it all in the washer, add some washing detergent, some Dettol to disinfect and put it on precycle and a hot wash after. Nothing hangs on my clothes if I wash them after that way. I use it as my only type of bedding. Never caught a toenail in it in the 6 years that I use it. |
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Post by 2skinnys on May 15, 2010 18:44:13 GMT
Welcome!! For my boy's cages I start with puppy pee pads, then put a layer of cotton towels down & finish off with 2 layers of fleece..I use a cat litter scoop to clean up the poos nightly & do a total cage clean once a week. I throw the fleece/towels in the wash with some detergant & vinegar. Works quite well!  |
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Post by darcysparkle on May 15, 2010 21:03:32 GMT
Ok, thank you! Where do you put your pigs to play whilst you clean the bedding?
Has anyone tried rubbermaid container "playpens" ? I've heard of that.
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Post by piggynumnums on May 16, 2010 1:35:12 GMT
I tried fleece and it was a bit of a fail.  My Neo never liked it; he preferred his hay. Though maybe now I have a girl in the box; she may be a little more appreciative of it. |
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Post by 2skinnys on May 16, 2010 1:53:49 GMT
Usually I just let the piggies run around the room whilst I clean the cages..I have an entire room devoted to all my little animals, with tile floor, it's animal-proofed & easy to clean up any messes (my guys pee & poop everywhere!!)
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Post by Pigjes on May 16, 2010 7:58:27 GMT
I used to put the pigs in a playpen. Now that the cage is made from two compartments (a hay section and a hidey section), I just put a divider in and clean each part separately. They know when to switch parts when I say "yep-yep-yep".
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Post by 3piggles on May 17, 2010 0:51:59 GMT
Hello and welcome. I've been using fleece for years, though I have mine over another kind of bedding. Fleece wicks the liquid down to something undernieth that absorbs it, like towels, weewee pads, or in my case, pellet horse bedding.
I have a piggy room, which I piggyproofed so they can't go anywhere where I can't get to them or clean up after them. Cage cleaning day means floor time in the room and a pile of dirty fleece to burrow in until the clean bedding is in and they can go back in the cage.
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Post by Jeannine on May 20, 2010 2:03:47 GMT
Yes - Fleece bedding for the entire cage...I'll post cage/bedding photos in my Reese & Gigi + Portabella thread. I like to change the bedding when the girls are outside to play...in their outside pen. But if its snowing or raining a box or bin will do! They are not in the bin very long, just enough for me to wipe down the coroplast and replace the two layers of towels & shamwow and fleece cover. I wash the dirty bedding in hot (sanitize) setting with a bit of detergent and white vinegar. Dry them in the dryer or hang on the line to dry in the sun. The girls chillin' in their containment unit, while I change the cage bedding.  |
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Post by pickles on May 20, 2010 18:40:34 GMT
I use fleece as main bedding and I do lay down newspaper under it. I change fleece and newspaper daily. I wash a load of blankets about every week or so. I use Tide and little bit of fabric softner. Heaven forbid if I forget the fabric softner---piggy will not lay on it!
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Post by Spaci Traci on May 20, 2010 19:30:55 GMT
I've been using fleece since I got Spike and I don't know what I'd do without it. Sure it is a pain to take it all home and wash it, (my baby doesn't get to stay at my house) but its SO much easier to clean up the poop with a shop vac than with any sort of loose bedding like with my hamster. Now that I think about it, I wonder if it would work with my hamster's cage, lol.
Anyway, I usually have a layer of puppy training pads, two or three towels (because its too long for just one) and one or two yards of fleece. He absolutely loves it, especially when its all clean and he can run around without having stinky poop sticking to him.
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Post by pigsbythesea324 on May 20, 2010 21:26:23 GMT
Jeannine I think your piggies look soooo cute.  Since my three live in pens in my shed (which has fitted carpet) I use newspaper a lot of it ,especially where they pee,then a couple of layers of towels and a fleece on top of that.Between changes I vac the poos up so they don't tread in it.I put loads of hay down for them to hide in and a box for them, as well as cardboard tunnels, paper bags, and a wooden stick tunnel which is shop bought which they love.When I change them I put them back in their hutches.They squeak like bad as they can't see each other and when I put them back in their pens they run round like mad things as they are pleased to see each other again.I shake the towels but have to brush the fleece with a stiff brush to get the hay and other mess off it before I put it in the washer on a hot wash then hung on the line to dry.This works very well for me and my boys.  |
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Post by Jeannine on May 21, 2010 17:01:47 GMT
Thanks! I think looking cute just comes naturally to Guinea Pigs.  A shedding blade is a very useful tool to remove hay, grass, stuck poops & fur from the fleece before it goes into the washer. |
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Post by pigsbythesea324 on May 21, 2010 17:55:03 GMT
Hi jeannine you are so right they are very cute, Do you know where I Could get one of these shedding blade ,is it a tool for guinea's .many thanks it would be worth its weight in gold if I could get one. |
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Post by guineamommy on May 21, 2010 19:58:16 GMT
I just recently changed over to fleece myself for my 2 guineas I use a layer of newspaper, a layer of puppy pee pads, a mattress protector and then the fleece on top. I cleaned it for the first time today and it was suprisingly very easy (much easier clean-up for me than hay). I have decided to clean up the poopies daily with a broom and dustpan and then throw the fleece/mattress protector (I sewed them together) in the wash on hot every few days. For cleanup time I put the piggies in a rubbermaid |
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Post by Jeannine on May 22, 2010 0:09:06 GMT
Sounds good guineamommy!
Its best to shake out the fleece before tossing it into the washer...just to make sure there is no hay or too much fur to clog up the washer.
Pigsbythesea324: The Shedding blade is the best tool ever! It is easily found in most pet stores, or super centers like wallmart and maybe target too. Look for it in the dog and cat grooming isle. It is used to brush short fur dogs and the smooth side works like a squeegie on a wet dog. It works great for cleaning fleece - I use it to clean the pigs fleece, fur off the cat beds & cozies, fleece & fur toys. My dog absolutely loves to be brushed with it!!!
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Post by misspiggy on May 23, 2010 16:17:01 GMT
I need to find myself a shedding blade!
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