? about fleece and maybe not wicking

[trying to learn]

I am confused. I washed my fleece and dried it 4 times. Then I tested it by dropping a few dops of water on it. Well the water just stayed on top. It is really thick fleece, so I figured maybe it was to thick. I had a fleee blanket that is thin and has already been washed a couple of times so I put that in there. Does anyone have any suggstions about this? I thought the point in fleece was so that the pee would go though it. Do I have this right?

[banjosnotbombs]

You might be using the wrong kind of fleece.
This should help you out ->http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...s-debates.html

[naturegal592]

You might need to let the water sit for a couple of minutes before it wicks through. It will get better with time.

[wiggley_narco]

Fleece takes several minutes to wick the moisture.

[trying to learn]

I checked out that link you left, but it did not help me. I think if I could see the fleece they were talking about I would be able to get a better idea. I do wonder if it is the winterized kind but I have no idea. I used a blanket someone had made for me, so I do not know for sure. The other fleece that I have in there now is thin like I said and not quite as thick as those blankets you can buy. When you say let the water sit a couple of minutes. Do you mean in the washer or the pee will take a few mintues to go through?

[Ly&Pigs]

It takes 5-10 minutes for moisture (pee) to wick through the fleece to whatever is absorbant underneath. What do you have under the fleece?

[Feylin]

Fabric softener will prevent wicking- don't use any form of it. It coats the fibers somehow...can't remember how it does that now.

I've found that the less "extras" my detergent has, the better. So, no perfumes, no dyes, no color safe bleach, extra strength, ect.

For some reason, powdered detergent works better for me! Arm and Hammer brand has baking soda mixed in which really helps clean.

I put some white vinegar in the wash to neutralize the odor of the pee (I wash fleece and towels the same way) and then I wash the whole thing again with ONLY water and detergent to remove anything that's left. It helps get rid of the vinegar smell.

[smcswain]

Funny you should post this, I was getting on here to see if anyone had posted something like this. I just switched to fleece today and was very disappointed when I saw the first spot of urine and it was not soaking through. I left the room and came back about 5 min later and it had gone through. I am hoping that over time it will get better. I had also wash and dried 4 times.

My piggies have just been laying around like we have never seen before. They look so comfortable. They didn't popcorn around like usual, but I am sure it is do to the change. I am not going to give up yet!

[fourboys4now]

The more you wash your fleece over time, the better it works. My boys never popcorned until they tried out the fleece for the first time.

[trying to learn]

This is very helpful. I guess Ihtought it was suppose to be an automatic thing. The thin is working good for now. I think I will put the thicker in once I build the c&c cage(I wish it was now but I am waiting for some money) My husband wasnice enough to buy me the guinea pigs but does not want to do much else. I have a table cloth under hte fleece and under the fleece I haev a towel. Is this good or should I switch the order? I was thinking that maybe the table cloth was not doing as much ggod right under the fleece, not really sure. Thanks for the help and I would be glad to hear anything else you all have to offer. I forgot to say they seem really relaxed now just laying around it is so cute!

[Toadies]

If your tablecloth is of the water resistant or waterproof type, it needs to go on the bottom. The object of the towels is to soak up the pee that wicks through the fleece. The cubes are relatively inexpensive and there are alternatives to coroplast that might help make getting your cage together easier. Check out the photo galleries, they're loaded with ideas.