Is it still worth it in your opinion?

[T.HayLover]

Hi, I'm thinking of switching to fleece, but if I did, I would have to wash it by hand. My mom wouldn't allow me to put it in the washer (almost brand new) and I'm not devilish enough to do it behind her back. I've talked it over with her and I agree that I probably shouldn't wash it in the washer, but if I chose fleece, would it be worth it if I had to wash it by hand? Does anyone here do it this way? Any help would be appreciated! By the way, I only have one 7 year old guinea that doesn't pee too much, but would the fleece smell if I washed it once a week? Oh, and I'm planning to use towels underneath.

[asnnbrg]

I used cloth diapers for my kids (many of which were lined with either fleece or crushed panne), and I have to admit I am more grossed out by the idea of human waste in my washer than any residual piggy waste (loose poos are easily shaken out into my garden). That said, washing by hand shouldn't be too difficult. I've also had to wash cloth diapers by hand when our washer died once -- wasn't fun, but it had to be done!

[T.HayLover]

Yeah, I figured I could handle it if I only have to wash it once a week. My mom's worried about the fleece smelling like pee though if I left it for a week. I'm still on the fence, but it would be nice to save some money and see my piggy's reaction to fleece. Do you think once a week would be enough or would it smell if I left it that long?

[MrWhistles]

Is your mother worried about the guinea hair getting all over the clothes?

We wash the piggy fleece separate from our clothes. Our clothes don't get any piggy hair or smells.

Washing the fleece by hand shouldnt be too difficult, however, the towels may prove difficult. Towels get very heavy when wet.


My lone boar's fleece could go a week without washing and not be very stinky. I also vacuum up poos everyday. The girls seem to be holding out the 1st week.

[petgal49]

I think she is worried about clogging the washer.

[PrincessAngel]

Honesty how much it will smell depends on how large your cage is. When I was down to one pig in a 2x4 C&C I could go a week and a half before cleaning the cage and even then it didn't really smell. Washing fleece by hand is not too hard, bucket of hot water some soap and vinegar, the only hard part is ringing it out. Towels are probably a bit harder to wash as they are thicker. And if you have 2 changes of towels and fleece you can line dry the wet stuff and still have clean bedding in the cage . I love line dried pig laundry. I think stiff towels are easier to arrange in the cage than fluffy ones and it smells nice!

[T.HayLover]

Thanks! Yeah, we're more worried about the washer. My mom thinks it's nasty to put pee soaked linen in the washer and since it is pretty new, we don't want to clog it. I don't mind handwashing, I already handwash some clothes of my own anyway, I just want to know if it'll be too much for me. I would have to wash towels and fleece, I could probably do it though. I'm unemployed and have nothing better to do! He he. I have carefresh now but don't like the smell and price. I could probably soak the towels in a large laundry bowl that my mom has. Soaking in Dawn would help, right?

[PrincessAngel]

You can just soak in vinegar and a laundry detergent (just not Tide, or similar products), most people use free and clear detergent. Vinegar will help rid of the pee smell. Honestly if my brother is allowed to wash his nasty clothes and my nieces peed in and pooed on clothes in our washer, I am allowed to wash my guinea pigs linen in the washer!

[T.HayLover]

Thanks PrincessAngel, I think I may try it then. It may be a little hard, but like I said, I have nothing better to do! This really would save a lot of money and it would be so cozy for my GuinGuin. I'll have to find some nice fleece soon. How big should the fleece be? Sorry for all of the questions, just want to know so that I can get two fleeces ready.

[MrWhistles]

Why not Tide detergent? o.O

[T.HayLover]

Thanks, my mom has an old baby bathtub that I can soak the towels in. It really doesn't bother me to wash everything by hand. Believe me, if you knew my mom you probably would go nuts. She's a very nice woman, but is pretty strict on cleanliness. I understand why she's like that, she grew up pretty poor and her family was taught that being poor wasn't an excuse to be dirty. She takes some things too far, but hey, there's no fighting with her. Basically, what she says goes. Anyway, thanks PrincessAngel, I do have plenty of vinegar at least, so all I need is fleece.

[pinky]

I run an empty cycle with a cup of vinegar after doing my guinea pig laundry in my washer and I feel comfortable that's it's sanitary.

[asnnbrg]

If your mom is worried about germs or bacteria, a rinse with bleach (with no laundry in it) would take care of that quite easily.

[T.HayLover]

I think it would be fine, but my mom is a little too worried about it. She's like this with everything though. I know I won't be able to change her mind about it. Thanks for the help! I wish she were more flexible but she's not. It was hard enough convincing her that my guinea needed a bigger cage. She still thinks it takes up too much room, but I had to fight her on that. I don't mind handwashing, I'll just have to get used to it. Thanks for the advice everyone!

[MrWhistles]

I think it would be fine, but my mom is a little too worried about it. She's like this with everything though. I know I won't be able to change her mind about it. Thanks for the help! I wish she were more flexible but she's not. It was hard enough convincing her that my guinea needed a bigger cage. She still thinks it takes up too much room, but I had to fight her on that. I don't mind handwashing, I'll just have to get used to it. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Being a clean freak myself, I understand why she wants things done a certain way. But I'm the type of clean freak that tries it once and if it doesn't come out the way I like I'll either find a solution or I'll avoid it.

So, I'm very certain she understands how bleach works. Would she allow you to wash the bedding in the washer provided you do a rinse with the bleach when you're done with the washer?

If not then I suppose you could enjoy the hand washing. But I feel that after a while it will get old, annoying and you'll want to switch back to you previous bedding arrangement.

[T.HayLover]

I'll have to try to convince her then. I'm not sure if it'll work though. She is kind of wacky. I think washing it by hand is just as bad as what I'm currently doing anyway though. If you think about it, I'm currently using carefresh and I have to scoop it out a little at a time into a bag. Then, I have to clean the coroplast and make sure it's dry. It seems like a lot of work either way, right? The only difference is in price. Scooping out bedding doesn't seem to be too different from handwashing a couple towels and fleece. It'll be just as annoying as scooping out carefresh, I think. It's only once a week. It will just have to be part of a routine like everthing else. Thanks for trying to help, but my mom is giving me a look that says, "I know what you're thinking." She thinks the fleece is a good idea, but I'll have to handwash, I guess.

[MrWhistles]

Oh well.
It doesn't ever hurt to try *wink*

[Marcipan]

Hi there!
I've washed my piggy's fleece by hand before during summer months - my dad's very similar in cleanliness as your mom.
I sweep them first to get rid of poo and hay. Then I hang them on the line and hose them down until the water runs clear.
Soak them in vinegar water with a bit of detergent for a bit, then I pull it up bit by bit to hand wash. Then hose it down again
...and when I get the chance, I just pop them into the washer since its less work . Then couple cycles with vinegar and detergent.

It is a lot of work to hand wash but happy piggies in return - definitely worth it!
Good luck