Fleece HELP my fleece is making me crazy... - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**kendallblue** · #1 11-05-09, 06:08 pm

Okay,

I own three pigs and have had pigs my whole life. I don't consider myself a newbie by any means, but I have been wanting to switch to fleece for some time. I did all my research and got all the right materials. On the first attempt, the fleece refused to wick. Liquid just sat on top, for hours... I had washed it 3 times with vinegar, and then dried it with no softener. When it was a flop, I read into it again. Figured the problem was that I hadn't dried it after each wash. So here I am following my 4th wash with vinegar, dry with no softener, and when tested, that frickin drop of water just sits there. NO WICKING. I double checked it all. It's anti-pill fleece, 100% polyester, it's all within the guidelines...and still not working. PLEASE someone help me figure out what's wrong. I cannot afford to keep buying bedding, it's breaking me. HELP

**YayPiggies** · #2 11-05-09, 06:12 pm

Try flipping it over to see if the other side works.

**Peggysu** · #3 11-05-09, 06:52 pm

I have noticed that my fleece begins working best once it's been used by the piggies a few times.

**Duffinvt** · #4 11-05-09, 06:55 pm

It does work best if you wash, dry, wash, dry and wash, dry again. Don't give up, it should work ok after another wash and dry.

**distancel** · #5 11-05-09, 06:56 pm

Fleece can be frustrating! I had a piece working perfectly but then after another wash it stopped working. I didn't use softener, just vinegar and laundry powder. very odd stuff it can be. Wish the fleece thing would catch on, then maybe they could sell it 'wick ready' haha. I would pay extra honestly because I have spent a lot more than I care to think about washing and drying fleece over and over and over just to have it not work again. When it works though it is awesome.

**Tessa Bea** · #6 11-05-09, 06:59 pm

I've been lucky so far, my fleece has always worked after the first wash/dry. Then again, all of my fleece is from second hand shops, so it's probably gone through this process numerous times before I pick it up.

**blackarrow** · #7 11-05-09, 08:52 pm

What do you have underneath it? If it's not absorbent enough it won't pull liquid down through the fleece.

**wheekers01** · #8 11-05-09, 09:00 pm

I agree with blackarrow about that. If you have too many layers of fleece underneath then it might not work. Same if you don't have anything absorbent underneath. My mom washed my fleece and I think she just washed, washed, washed, then dried and it works amazing! Hmmm...fleece can be a little shall we say frustrating??

**fridzalone** · #9 11-07-09, 11:08 pm

I don't know about you guys, but in my place I only need to wash the fleece once and it wick perfectly. I don't know how it happen...

**Tessa Bea** · #10 11-07-09, 11:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridzalone

I don't know about you guys, but in my place I only need to wash the fleece once and it wick perfectly. I don't know how it happen...

I am the same way, but I buy used fleece so that most likely has something to do with it. Do you buy your fleece new? Or do you buy old fleece?

**fridzalone** · #11 11-08-09, 12:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tessa Bea

I am the same way, but I buy used fleece so that most likely has something to do with it. Do you buy your fleece new? Or do you buy old fleece?

It's still new, but I bought it in the weekend market (the market only available on Sunday morning and sells lots of things with cheaper price). I think maybe the seller wash it several times before to keep her stuffs clean.

**Tessa Bea** · #12 11-08-09, 10:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridzalone

It's still new, but I bought it in the weekend market (the market only available on Sunday morning and sells lots of things with cheaper price). I think maybe the seller wash it several times before to keep her stuffs clean.

That makes sense.

Calvin & Hobes · #13 11-14-09, 06:12 am

Kendal, did you ever get your fleece to work? I've been using fleece from the cheap throws you find in most any store for around $5.00 and it's worked like a champ but I went to a fabric sale last weekend and bought two large pieces of thicker fleece to make bedspreads from and I can't get the doggone stuff to wick.

I've washed and dried it four times now with detergent, no fabric softener, and white vinegar. Tried hot water on the last two washes. Water still pills up and just sits on top of the fabric.

Hubby suggested that I just give up and use the fabric for something else but I refuse to wear bright yellow or polka dots but this stuff would make a decent rain coat!