Fleece Maintenance Ideas

[maeve100]

Eureka! I have figured out a way to make my fleece much more managable!

To help with daily poopy clean-up I use the Shark 15.6V Cordless Hand Vac but unfortunatly it sucks the fleece too and everything goes everywhere! So here is my solution:


1) Kept charged and clean (and using the little vac attachment shown in the picture) this is my little wonder! First, pick up any big items like hay using latex gloves and then run this little puppy!

2) Next I created a PVC Pipe Frame. Just get the thinnest pipe & joints & make a rectangle out of it that fits to the inside measurments of your cage. I didn't use anything to seal it because they stat together pretty well on their own. Make sure to compensate for the extra length the joints give (about 1 inch on each side.) This cost me under $5 to make.

3) For your sheet of fleece make sure that it overlaps the sides of your frame. Stich metal snaps or sew on velcro so that the fleece wraps over the frame and under. On the underside attach the snaps. That way no snaps or pipe is exposed to your pigs. For my 2x4 I put three on the long sides and two on the short sides. Make sure it holds your fleece taunt.

4) Set your frame in your cage with your towels tucked under. Now when your vaccum cleans up the fleece it will stay right in place!

Hope this helps :-)

Liz

[pink_cottonball]

I see, well I don't have the cash to buy one of those super duper things right now but I'm working on iut. Thanks. Ohh, I just reread it and now it makes much more sense... just my mind playing tricks on me.. Thanks agian!

[kittnkarr]

That sounds like a great idea.

I actually put on my holiday wish list a dustbuster so that I can sweep my gps little presents much more easily.

I have tried a small broom and dust pan but that wasn't working so great. Since I store my vaccum next to the cage it's not that big of a pain to plug it in and start cleaning.

[Percy's Mom]

I have a 1 gallon shop vac, but I think I have to buy a new hose for it. Looks like there is a big blockage of some sort in it that I can't get out.

That frame sounds awesome maeve100. Could you possibly take a picture of it? I'm getting the basic idea, but I'm still a little fuzzy on it.

[Ly&Pigs]

The only thing that concerns me is the frame taking away cage space and running/exploring space.

[maeve100]

When I do laundry tomorrow I will take a pix. :-) Just imagine a rectangle that sits along the inside edge of the coroplast. The fleece wraps over that, and the towels sit below the frame. No space is taken away from the cage, albiet my piggers are curious as to what makes the edge a different textture then the towel area :-).

[maeve100]

Please excuse the mess, I really need to clean house :-D.

Ok, here is the PVC frame:


Here is the frame covered with the fleece (using metal snaps to hold in place):

[maeve100]

Here is a shot of the snaps (I drew white circles around them):



Here is the fleece frame in the cage:


Clearer now? :-)

Liz

[Percy's Mom]

Much much clearer! Thanks so much for the pictures. I'm assuming it is a bit loose in the middle, so you don't end up with a piggy trampoline.

[maeve100]

Yes, it is pretty loose :-). It streches out pretty easily. But remember to make it pretty taunt when you sew on the snaps, otherwise it will still suck up with the vaccum :-).

Also, it might be a good idea to wash the fleece first - that way if there is any shrinkage it happens before you fit it :-).

[skirbo]

Originally Posted by Percy's Mom

Much much clearer! Thanks so much for the pictures. I'm assuming it is a bit loose in the middle, so you don't end up with a piggy trampoline.

You have no idea what a funny picture that is in my head-cavys bouncing up and down in slow motion to trippy seventies music. rofl... ah, I have an odd sense of humor.

Sarah

[aqh88]

Also, it might be a good idea to wash the fleece first - that way if there is any shrinkage it happens before you fit it

Fleece doesn't shrink when washed. In fact it seems to stretch out some and get bigger.

[Kriket]

Hey maeve100! My fleece is the same as yours only pink! Thats a GREAT idea... I might utilise it for my cage... but only after the expansion.

[nonamian_girl]

where did you get fleece that big. Mine doesn't seem to quite cover my 2x 4 cage, but maybe cuz i cut it up a bit.

[maeve100]

Originally Posted by Kriket

Hey maeve100! My fleece is the same as yours only pink! Thats a GREAT idea... I might utilise it for my cage... but only after the expansion.

Hehe, I saw the pink in the store today and thought about buying it ;-). I am glad my idea is making piggie care easier! :-)

[maeve100]

Originally Posted by nonamian_girl

where did you get fleece that big. Mine doesn't seem to quite cover my 2x 4 cage, but maybe cuz i cut it up a bit.

Mine is just a yard sheet. Mine has also streched a bit after being in the dryer for a while. Maybe run yours through the wash a few times . Sorry I can't be of more help :-(.

[Hansel]

Maeve, I just went to Lowes today and bought some PVC and connectors. They were nice enough to cut the pipe for me to fit my cage. If anyone is looking into doing it, its VERY inexpensive. I got my supplies for less than $3.00. I will post again once I get it into the cage!

[nonamian_girl]

I think this set up is brilliant and I am definitely going to look into it. I see what you mean about the fleece coming up after doing a couple spot cleans, and I just used a dustpan, not even a vaccuum

[Hansel]

Well everything is in place and I LOVE IT!!! This idea is fantastc. Anyone that has fleece I would reccomend this to. Smart thinking Maeve :-)

[maeve100]

Originally Posted by Hansel

Well everything is in place and I LOVE IT!!! This idea is fantastc. Anyone that has fleece I would reccomend this to. Smart thinking Maeve :-)

I am so glad you found this helpful!! The litter was just to expensive, then the fleece was getting to be a bother - now its easy as pie for me :-).

I even went to the store today and got some new fleece to fit to my frame :-) I learned of something called "snap tape" which is basically just snaps that are on a line of fabric. That way you can stich them to the fleece using a sewing machine, much faster!