Fleece Fleece Questions - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**jordan** · #1 07-24-09, 10:47 am

So, I am very excited.. I went and bought some fleece last night for my guinea pigs.

I also bought some towels so that I can have one layer of newspapers, one layer of towels, and two layers of fleece.

I just had a couple questions though. Can you watch the fleece too much initially? I have washed it once and plan on washing 3 more times because we just changed their cage out with regular bedding. Also, how do you guys keep the corners down against the coroplast? I know that my guinea pigs will burrow underneath it if they have the chance.

Thanks in advance.

**fieryone** · #2 07-24-09, 11:02 am

Only use one layer of fleece and two layers of towels. You shouldn't need newspaper with two towel layers. Newspaper isn't very absorbant anyway. With two layers of fleece it won't wick through properly.

You can't wash it too much I don't think. You'll want to wash the fleece 2-3 times and without any kind of fabric softener or dryer sheet as that will put a coating on the fleece.

I keep the fleece down with clips. I cut slits in the lower sides of the coroplast, one per every other grid, and clip the fleece from the outside since I have burrowers. Some people use bricks in the corners and others clip the fleece to the sides of the coro.

**Ilovemypiggies1** · #3 07-24-09, 11:04 am

Two layers of fleece will no work out. For the urine to wick properly there need to be one layer of towels with at least 1 absorbent layer underneath. Two layers of fleece will just make it smell more.

You cannot wash the fleece too much. I suggest washing, drying, washing ,drying etc. rather than washing, washing, drying, drying because from others i have heard the first method works better. Before i used my fleece i washed and dried it 3 times without any fabric softeners. I like to put a cup of vinegar in the washer because it helps with the odor and some fragrance free detergent.

My girls do not burrow underneath it but if yours do you can consider getting a rock or brick and put them in the corners so they cannot get under the fleece. Make sure they cannot move the rock though.

**jordan** · #4 07-24-09, 11:27 am

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll just keep the extra fleece as a second set for when we have to clean their cages out. I have fleece on the top level of our C & C cage and our boys spend so much time up there so I know they will love this change.

So, I think I will just need one more layers of towels and I'll be set. We bought a bunch of clips already so we'll have to see how the guinea pigs handle it.

**Ilovemypiggies1** · #5 07-24-09, 11:33 am

One more layer of towels with work out great!

Your piggies will love it!

**jordan** · #6 07-24-09, 11:36 am

Yeah it just makes a lot more sense than bedding. It's so hard to spot clean their cage because of it. I'd rather be able to sweep off the poop and then wash them. And I think they will like it a lot more too. I just need to make some little boxes for hay because they love to spread it all over their cage.

**Ilovemypiggies1** · #7 07-24-09, 11:43 am

Yes, it's easier and more clean than bedding. My pigs love it a lot more because it is soft, when i first got the pigs i was using Carefresh, then i decided it was too expensive so i switched to Aspen and now I'm using fleece. I started using fleece when i built my 2 piggies a 2x6 C&C cage. I have a "hay rack" (it's a bird feeder from Walmart but it's made out of small grids and works great) and i have a litter box there with some Aspen bedding so most of their poop goes in there which is great. (most of the yucky and wet poos) Before i had the litter box, the poos were getting smudged all over the fleece and it was a smelly and disgusting mess. I heard kleenex boxes also work great for hay.

I haven't tried it yet but I'm sure they'll love it.

**jordan** · #8 07-24-09, 11:44 am

Good idea about the litter box.. I might do that and just use the cheaper bedding. I have been using carefresh so far, but it's $25 a bag and we go through that VERY fast.

**Luvs_Piggies** · #9 07-24-09, 11:50 am

So I am also a new fleece user and I am loving it. However we are having one problem. They are peeing in one spot (near where they eat) and it is VERY damp! There are not puddles but the fleece is very damp and it worries me that they have to stand their and eat. We have towels underneath and they don't seem to be absorbing as much as I thought they would be. Can anyone tell me why or suggest something else? Oh and I did follow all of the washing suggestions.

**fieryone** · #10 07-24-09, 11:54 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordan

Good idea about the litter box.. I might do that and just use the cheaper bedding. I have been using carefresh so far, but it's $25 a bag and we go through that VERY fast.

I use a litter box and a hay rack as well. http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/14838/cat/500/ppuser/10496 For me I have found that Yesterday's News with a layer of Carefresh over it lasts the longest. I order them online and find that even with shipping, I save about $15 over buying it from a local store. Either way it's MUCH cheaper than using it for an entire cage. I love the fleece and can't imagine using anything else.

**jordan** · #11 07-27-09, 10:26 am

Finally finished putting the fleece on yesterday and my piggies absolutely love it. They popcorned and played for quite a while and then they all took a nap together. The only downside is that they are very messy with their hay and spread it everywhere, but I think I will come up with a solution for that soon. They are also using litter boxes we made for them more than I thought they would.

**guinea12** · #12 07-29-09, 07:59 am

i made a second level for my kitchen and hay room. that way the hay doesn't get all over the fleece, and with the food and hay up there, it clears up space downstairs for running and playing...

**jordan** · #13 07-29-09, 11:19 am

Yes, that's exactly what we decided to do. We used zip ties to hook their hay trays to the cage and we moved their pellets and veggies up to the top as well. It's a lot less messy and easier to feed them. The girls are also starting to use the litter box so that is exciting as well. I wish I would've discovered this sooner.

**fieryone** · #14 07-29-09, 11:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luvs_Piggies

So I am also a new fleece user and I am loving it. However we are having one problem. They are peeing in one spot (near where they eat) and it is VERY damp! There are not puddles but the fleece is very damp and it worries me that they have to stand their and eat. We have towels underneath and they don't seem to be absorbing as much as I thought they would be. Can anyone tell me why or suggest something else? Oh and I did follow all of the washing suggestions.

How many towel layers are you using?

**jordan** · #15 07-29-09, 11:30 am

I think you quoted someone from a different thread.

I have two layers of towels though and it seems to be working great. The smell is so much better.

**fieryone** · #16 07-29-09, 11:42 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordan

I think you quoted someone from a different thread.

I have two layers of towels though and it seems to be working great. The smell is so much better.

No, Luvs_Piggies posted in this thread and is having trouble with a damp spot so I was asking her how many layers she was using to see if she is using enough.

**jordan** · #17 07-29-09, 12:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fieryone

No, Luvs_Piggies posted in this thread and is having trouble with a damp spot so I was asking her how many layers she was using to see if she is using enough.

Ohh I see that now. Sorry.

**3piggymomma** · #18 07-29-09, 01:00 pm

I just switched to fleece last night and so far they have not tried to burrow under it. If they do, I will have to tack it down somehow. I use one layer of fleece (doubled up in some areas because the size is not exact) and a layer of waterproof pads (like puppy training pads) underneath, and still keep newspaper in the kitchen area. So far they seem to love it! I have 3 different fleeces so I can switch them out after cage cleaning