Fleece: Don't Want to Steal Someones Thread - Sooo

[tabikat55]

I work at Walmart so I am able to get fabrics at a discount. They currently have large super thick bath towels on sale for $5. They are 30 x 54 inches - perfect size for the girls home.

I also bought a waterproof mattress pad, which looks more like a plain vinyl table cloth without print. I did look at the mattress pads (the kind that wrap around the bed). But I thought the problem with those are that they are fiber filled and I don't see how these would absorb any moisture. Maybe someone could clarify this or has had expierence with the stuff.

I also bought a couple of yards of fleece. They had 2 different thickness' and I got a yard of each. Both are 100% Polyester.

I made an error in washing everything because I washed 3x's and dried 1x. I checked out the absorbtion of the fleece, towels and mattress pad. The only thing that soaked up moisture was the towels.

Hopefully someone has had experience with Walmart fleece and Joannes fleece to let me know if I'd just be better off buying from Joannes or to wash them the correctly and they will begin to wick.

Another question is (and try to picture this): Currently the kitchen is the longest length of the cage (4 grids). Each side has a dish of food, water bottle and the hay rack is in the middle. Now this would be for the purpose of a more absorbant pad.

I thought I'd make their play/sleep area roughly 4 x 1.5 grids and the "formal" kitchen 4 x .5 grids. OR should I just make the entire area 4 x 2 grid sleep/play and just put a mini pad under each food dish, water bottle and hay rack?

[akstrohm]

The water proof mattress pad won't work. The point of an underlayer is that it has to be absorbent. The towels should work just fine. Some non-water proof mattress pads work and some don't.

Try washing and drying your fleece three times (wash, dry, wash, dry, wash, dry) with no fabric softener or dryer sheets. You can add vinegar and regular detergent. After that it should wick through. Walmart fleece should be fine.

The main part of your cage should be at least 2 grids wide so the pigs have room to run. How many pigs do you have?

[Rnd210]

[quote=tabikat55;459490]

I made an error in washing everything because I washed 3x's and dried 1x. I checked out the absorbtion of the fleece, towels and mattress pad. The only thing that soaked up moisture was the towels.


You need to wash, dry, wash, dry, wash, dry, and then it should wick not absorb.

Fleece is not ment as an absorbant material that is what the towel and mattress pad is for. The Cotton Rich mattress pads are very absorbant.

With what you are using the only thing that would be wet or soaking up the moisture/wetness would be the towels.

[Heady]

Originally Posted by akstrohm

The water proof mattress pad won't work. The point of an underlayer is that it has to be absorbent. The towels should work just fine. Some non-water proof mattress pads work and some don't.

This is good to know, as I was wondering about that myself. Not for the cage, but for the things I will be making for the cage. I wanted to make a removable mattress for the hidies and thought the waterproof pad might work as a base to the mattress.

I agree about the towels. I think they work quite well!

I'm currently using Walmart fleece, although I didn't get it from the fabric dept., I just bought a couple throws to hold me over until I get my stuff from Joanns. I think they work very well.

[rahunter]

I found some good thick towels on clearance at Walmart for $3.00 each. They were a funky green, which is probably why the were on clearance. they only had 3 so I got all of them!

[Duffinvt]

Originally Posted by Heady

This is good to know, as I was wondering about that myself. Not for the cage, but for the things I will be making for the cage. I wanted to make a removable mattress for the hidies and thought the waterproof pad might work as a base to the mattress.

I agree about the towels. I think they work quite well!

I'm currently using Walmart fleece, although I didn't get it from the fabric dept., I just bought a couple throws to hold me over until I get my stuff from Joanns. I think they work very well.

I buy the cheapest throws and they work very well for me. None of the issues I see elsewhere regarding not absorbing ! Now the patterns are quite bizarre .. NASCAR, Christmas decorations and wild elephants LOL, but hey, whatever works, right?