Question about towel under fleece...

[paul91]

When I get a new piggy, I really want to use fleece as bedding. But I was wondering, since your using towels underneath to obsorb urine, do you just wash and re-use the towels? Aren't they putrid after obsorbing urine? How does that aspect of using fleece work, exactly?
Thanks~

[Haley0489]

I just wash the towels with the fleece every week.

Fleece wicks away moisture. That means if there's a puddle of pee on the fleece, it's going to suck it down to the towels so that the fleece itself stays nice and dry.

I don't find fleece to be any more or less putrid than using Carefresh. If you clean it regularly, it won't smell. You may have to work out your "cleaning schedule" before you find what works for you. Some people here clean their cage daily, or every few days, while others are able to go an entire week. The more pigs, the more waste, the more smell, the more you'll need to clean.

I have three boars and I typically do a full cage cleaning once or twice a week. I sweep poos off the fleece daily, at least once, sometimes two or three times. I find fleece to be a faster clean up than shoveling out shavings/Carefresh type beddings. It's easier on my pocket book because I get to reuse my bedding and I prefer the look of fleece over traditional beddings.

Many here say fleece is a "high maintenance bedding", but for me it's much easier on my schedule. When I need to clean the cage I just fold up the fleece and towels and take them out for a good shake. Then I toss them in the wash with some Tide and white vinegar. While it washes I put down new fleece and add the piggies. It takes much less time doing this, than when I used Carefresh.

[paul91]

Thats great! But aren't the towels wet w/ urine? I understand that the fleece stays dry, but since the towels are obsorbing the urine...aren't the towels wet w/ urine when you take it out of the cage for cleaing? Do the towels actually stay dry in the cage?
Thanks

[Haley0489]

The towels are damp in areas where they get peed on a lot.

My piggies are semi-potty trained, but there are patches of rust colored pee on the towels when I take them out. Sometimes the less peed on areas will dry by cleaning day, but the regularly used spots will stay wet.