Fleece Help?

[OzzyLama]

Well hello.
I am trying to figure out how fleece works as a bedding, well I have read what others have explained about it, well I tried it, but it is not working for me, it was just a huge mess, do you layer or something?
Well if someone could help me that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks MACHO MUCHO.
Jackie

[Jenni_Feathers]

How exactly did you use it? and was it wicking properly? what did you use as underbedding?

[TX_2_Pigs]

If you have read what others have said you would know that yes you layer it. I think that fact gets mentioned every time fleece gets mentioned.

You need:

1. Waterproof barrier - generally this is your coroplast or for those that can't find coroplast, linoleum, shower curtain, plastic drop cloth, plastic table cloth, plastic sheeting, tarps, trash bags. Anything that WILL NOT absorb.

2. Absorbent layer - This can be towels, mattress pads, puppy pads or anything that when it gets wet will eventually dry out. This does not include newspaper as it will get wet but then it never dries and ends up smelling horribly.

3. Your fleece - You only need one layer of this as the purpose of it is to wick (or pull the urine through the material) to the absorbent layer below. If you have more than one layer it makes it more difficult to get to the absorbent layer where it will eventually dry out and will tend to leave your fleece wet. You need to make sure y9ou have conditioned your fleece prior to use. In order to do this it must be washed multiple times. How many just depends. I felt I had to wash mine 7 times before I was satisfied others as little as 3. When you wash do not use any fabric softener. To control static you can use white vinegar in the softener dispenser or poured directly into the wash water. Do not use dryer sheets either as they serve the same purpose as the fabric softener. The whole reason you are washing is to remove the coating that is put on the fabric to make it water repellent and using fabric softeners or dyer sheets puts that coating back on.

Hot water or cold water is your preference as is whether you wash, dry and repeat or wash, wash, wash then dry.

Also the frequency and method of removing poops is up to you. Some people do it all day long, twice a day or just once a day. Some people use hand brooms, dustbuster type vacs, shop vacs or even a spoon or ladle.

Frequency of complete bedding changes is also up to you. Some people do it every 3-4 days, some every week and some can even go multiple weeks. I personally try to do it every weekend, but sometimes I just can't get to it and it has to wait until the next weekend.

[cs275]

Lots of good info. I appreciate that. So, thanks.

[OzzyLama]

Thank you so much.
I did not know that there needed to be towels under, I had used newspapers, as a tip from someone on cavycages, but it ended up to be a mess so I saved the idea for later, but thank you so much for your help!
-Jackie

[luvmyzoocrew]

I use the coroplast , newspaper, two layers of towels, a absorbent matress pad, then fleece. Wow that sounds like alot. The newspaper rarely ever gets wet, but has on occasion, and I have never had a problem with smell. As long as you wash the fleece an appropriate amount of times before hand, and dont use fabric softner then there should not be a problem. I change my fleece, well since I have made a bigger coroplast box for the kitchen, once a week and have even gone a little longer with no smell problem or no problem with it being horribly messy. I vaccum out the loose poop and hay every day.

I hope you can get the fleece to work for you because it really is a great idea, cost efficent, and the piggies love it.