Cleaning Washing fleece at a laundrymat. - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Scout.Layne** · #1 10-30-09, 03:45 pm

I was just wondering if there are any of you out there that wash your fleece at a laundrymat. When I move (fingers crossed for that happening soon), I most likely won't have a washer/dryer of my own. My landlord keeps telling me that I'm going to have to use aspen bedding for my future piggies. I'm really not for that. I figure that I'll have to wash my clothes evenutally so why not just do piggy laundry at the same time. Have any of you ran into problems washing your piggy laundry at a laundrymat? I plan on shaking my fleece out very well outside and then lint brushing it to get all of the hay and hair. Do you think anyone will have a problem with my doing my piggy laundry at the laundrymat?

**princesspoppy** · #2 10-30-09, 03:49 pm

Who's going to know if it's piggie fleece or your own fleece. Just stick it all in the washing machine . I wouldn't wash my clothes with piggie clothes. Use a seperate machine for your own clothes.

**Tessa Bea** · #3 10-30-09, 04:01 pm

I agree with Princess Poppy, I wash the pigs things in a separate load from my own things. So long as you have more than one set of bedding, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to switch it out and take the soiled set with you when you do your own laundry at a public facility. So long as you've shaken out the fleece well and aren't standing there yapping about how it's from your guinea pig's cage or something- I don't see why anyone would raise a complaint.

**Peggysu** · #4 10-30-09, 04:04 pm

The laundrymat is just fine. I wash piggie laundry at the laundrymat. Just wash it in it's own load. It'll still save you money over aspen. Although I just bought a washer and dryer today, so I won't have to go to the laundrymat anymore!!

**JD In Van** · #5 10-30-09, 04:04 pm

I have communal coin laundry in my apartment building and I don't have any problems with it. If I have to wash my clothes in the same machines others wash their baby soiled clothes in, they can wash their clothes in the same machines I wash my piggy clothes in.

**Scout.Layne** · #6 10-30-09, 06:44 pm

Thank you all so very much for backing me up. And congrats to Peggysu for getting a washer/dryer.

casey's mommy · #7 10-30-09, 07:15 pm

That was a great question!

**distancel** · #8 10-31-09, 12:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD In Van

I have communal coin laundry in my apartment building and I don't have any problems with it. If I have to wash my clothes in the same machines others wash their baby soiled clothes in, they can wash their clothes in the same machines I wash my piggy clothes in.

I'm in the same boat. If anything, it's just a little expensive but hopefully I will move in the next 6 months or so and have my own washer.

But I really can't see the harm in washing piggie bedding in a communal washing machine. To me, dirty clothes go in the wash and it cleans them. So...what's the difference? Wish it wasn't so expensive though, I went from doing 1 load a fortnight to like 4 loads a fortnight plus drying when I started using fleece.

**MissFormosa** · #9 10-31-09, 09:58 pm

I'm in the middle of Brooklyn, so you know we have no choice but to use a laundry mat! Ugh! I see you're in Jersey, so I know you understand!

So far, no one has said anything to us and we wash the pig things in a ton of vinegar, some borax and hot water in the huge washers.

Before putting it in the laundry to be washed, I sweep all the hay and poops off the fleece. The towels and pads from the absorbent layer - I don't do anything to prepare those, just toss them in.

I wouldn't wash the pig clothes with your own clothes - especially if you have boars. I can never completely get the boar stink out of the fleece. I think the hot water sets it in, even with using vinegar and borax. But I'd feel better knowing they were washed in hot water for some reason.

I'm sure the laundry mat has seen worse!

**Ruffles** · #10 11-01-09, 06:09 am

We're having a kitchen re-fit soon which means we wont be able to use our machines for possibly a couple of weeks, so this thread has been very helpful! Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissFormosa

I'm in the middle of Brooklyn, so you know we have no choice but to use a laundry mat!

Just curious; Why do you have to use a laundry mat if you live in Brooklyn? I'm from the UK so i wouldn't know!

**WildRye** · #11 11-01-09, 09:34 am

I also live in an apartment and have a communal laundry room (coin-operated) in the basement. I'm one of those people who likes to avoid conflict, so I wash my piggy stuff when no one's around, just in case someone takes offense to it (what people don't know won't hurt 'em -- in this case, anyway). I take care to shake my fleece out well, but also make sure to pick any stray pieces of hay that get left in the washer after I'm done. Washing and drying every week does get expensive, though, so I'd recommend getting a drying rack of some sort and allowing your fleece and underbedding to air dry.

**MissFormosa** · #12 11-01-09, 11:31 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruffles

Just curious; Why do you have to use a laundry mat if you live in Brooklyn? I'm from the UK so i wouldn't know!

Well...unless you live in a newer or large building. Most the buildings are old and I don't think the plumbing would be able to handle it. Our six family building was built in 1923 and could definitely not handle the amount of water it would take to bring the water for the washing machine up to our floor. And we don't have the right sort of electrical wiring for a dryer.

Some of the newer or larger buildings have washers and dryers in the basements.

Plus, the apartments are so small! Our bedroom has the pig cages and bed and that's about it. My son's bedroom is about 12 feet long by 7 feet (3.6 meters x 2.1 meters).

This is not our building, this is about 4 blocks from where I live, but ours is exactly like this one...

Bay Ridge Brooklyn Apartment

**Binzer** · #13 11-01-09, 02:47 pm

Since everyone is discussing the public washing machine... Does anyone see an extreme amount of wear and tear due to the fleece? I have a brand new (and for me it was wayy pricey) front loader washing machine. I am concerned about wear and tear (of course I have kids so I am hoping its going to be about the same since kids are tough on appliances) should I continue to use the laundromat or will I be okay if I use the buildup remover and vinegar periodically? Also I saw that someone referred to borax... is there a benefit to this? I use the dye/scent free stuff because I worry about their sensitive skin is that why you use the borax? I would prefer to use it do you use it with or instead of the soap? I use it to clean a lot of other stuff but for some reason laundry never crossed my mind.

**Peggysu** · #14 11-01-09, 02:59 pm

The only wear and tear on a washing machine is just the additional loads. I mean the fleece and towels aren't like soiled or anything. People wash cloth diapers in the washing machine all the time.

**MissFormosa** · #15 11-01-09, 03:17 pm

We use borax just as an attempt to get the boar stink out. We have 5 pigs in various stages of puberty, so there is a lot of boar stinking going on. My mom always said borax had a deodorizing agent to it.

**Fudgenrolo** · #16 11-01-09, 04:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binzer

Since everyone is discussing the public washing machine... Does anyone see an extreme amount of wear and tear due to the fleece? I have a brand new (and for me it was wayy pricey) front loader washing machine. I am concerned about wear and tear (of course I have kids so I am hoping its going to be about the same since kids are tough on appliances) should I continue to use the laundromat or will I be okay if I use the buildup remover and vinegar periodically? Also I saw that someone referred to borax... is there a benefit to this? I use the dye/scent free stuff because I worry about their sensitive skin is that why you use the borax? I would prefer to use it do you use it with or instead of the soap? I use it to clean a lot of other stuff but for some reason laundry never crossed my mind.

You can always wash your piggy things inside a duvet cover / pillowcase if you're worried about your washing machine.

I actually use a Specially Made Pet Hair Filter Bag for my fleece / towels although I put the machine washable incontinence pads in the washing machine just as they are. I'm from the UK so I don't know if you can get these in the US but I'm sure there'll be something.

I found mine by searching for horse 'numnah' washing bags. Otherwise there is the duvet cover / pillowcase option!

Oh and I found that interesting about the apartments not having facilities for private washing machines! You learn something new every day! Though that apartment pictured looked scarily like one I used to live in when I was on my own - there were only two apartments though - mine at the top and one underneath mine.

casey's mommy · #17 11-02-09, 01:53 pm

I have a question. If you are using a front loading machine and want to use the vinegar would you put that in the bleach , the soap or the fabic softener compartment? I was just wondering. Thanks

**Fudgenrolo** · #18 11-02-09, 01:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by casey's mommy

I have a question. If you are using a front loading machine and want to use the vinegar would you put that in the bleach , the soap or the fabic softener compartment? I was just wondering. Thanks

I put it in the fabric softener section.

**Hawise** · #19 11-02-09, 02:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fudgenrolo

You can always wash your piggy things inside a duvet cover / pillowcase if you're worried about your washing machine.

I actually use a Specially Made Pet Hair Filter Bag for my fleece / towels although I put the machine washable incontinence pads in the washing machine just as they are. I'm from the UK so I don't know if you can get these in the US but I'm sure there'll be something.

I found mine by searching for horse 'numnah' washing bags. Otherwise there is the duvet cover / pillowcase option!

Oh and I found that interesting about the apartments not having facilities for private washing machines! You learn something new every day! Though that apartment pictured looked scarily like one I used to live in when I was on my own - there were only two apartments though - mine at the top and one underneath mine.

This is exactly what I do

. I don't really care if I wash the piggies' stuff in my washing machine but I have a long haired GP and I noticed that a lot of the hair won't come off and then will get stuck inside the rubber thingy at the front of the washing machine. I was afraid that it could clog the washing machine, so I put everything in an old single duvet cover.

**Ruffles** · #20 11-03-09, 01:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissFormosa

Well...unless you live in a newer or large building. Most the buildings are old and I don't think the plumbing would be able to handle it. Our six family building was built in 1923 and could definitely not handle the amount of water it would take to bring the water for the washing machine up to our floor. And we don't have the right sort of electrical wiring for a dryer.

Some of the newer or larger buildings have washers and dryers in the basements.

Plus, the apartments are so small! Our bedroom has the pig cages and bed and that's about it. My son's bedroom is about 12 feet long by 7 feet (3.6 meters x 2.1 meters).

This is not our building, this is about 4 blocks from where I live, but ours is exactly like this one...

Bay Ridge Brooklyn Apartment

Oh I see! That's a shame it's so difficult to have things like that installed, but it's nice that Brooklyn's still opting to keep older buildings around!

"Thank you, princesspoppy, for this useful post," say these 2 members:
gooberific (11-01-09), xoLauraox09 (11-01-09)

"Thank you, JD In Van, for this useful post," say these 4 members:
barbanderson (10-30-09), blackarrow (10-30-09), gooberific (11-01-09), Peggysu (10-30-09)

"Thank you, Scout.Layne, for this useful post," says:
Peggysu (11-01-09)

"Thank you, Fudgenrolo, for this useful post," says:
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