About using fleece blankets

[picasso_17]

Right now I'm trying to talk my mom into letting me have a guinea pig and I was telling her that it would be easier and cheaper to use a fleece bedding instead of the aspen bedding. I also told her that i could vacuum it every day and throw it in the wash. She's concerned about the urine stinking and never drying in the blanket. I think she's also concerned about germs.

HELP!

 

[TipiDancer]

Tell her that fleece is a matereal that whiffs away the smell of urine and feces. And The uring will go right through the fleece, and soak in the towels and newspaper. This is why nobody reccommends normal blankets.

 

[jump it]

I also have the same problem with my mom. Same reasons and that she isn't sure about the whole 'washing' thing. I would put towels & newspaper under there. And I just thought of something! Does anyone here have a DustBuster? It's kinda like a portable vacume thing. Wouldn't that work great for sucking up poopers?

 

[TipiDancer]

Many people use hand vac's for this. I use a hand vac, and it works great, because you can shake the poops out avter you vacuum.

 

[jump it]

Yeah a DustBuster is pretty much the same thing as a hand vacume. thanks!

 

[jdomans]

Also add either Pine-Sol (cheaper) or Lysol to the detergent. That takes out the funk smell and sanitizes.

 

[esmerando]

how much is fleece? I'm deciding what to use for my future guinea pig.. because I'm still saving enough for her needs..

 

[evilnumberlady]

I think most people have found it between 5-6 dollars a yard, though I got mine on clearance at $4. You should be able to find it at local fabric and hobby shops. (Walmart has it too, but I refuse to shop there)

 

[esmerando]

okay.. thanks!

 

[TipiDancer]

how much is fleece? I'm deciding what to use for my future guinea pig.. because I'm still saving enough for her needs..

Phone places like Walmart or Wallys World and ask them how much they sell fleece for the yard. My local dollar store sells fleece for $2.50 a yard.

 

[esmerando]

$2.50... that's about 125 Philippine pesos.... half of my week's savings... okay! thank you so much!!!

 

[evilnumberlady]

$2.50... that's about 125 Philippine pesos.... half of my week's savings... okay! thank you so much!!!

I don't know if this is true where you live or not, but I've found that the American dollar is worth a lot more in some countries than it is in America. I live in Michigan, USA and I buy fleece for $4 a yard, but you might be able to find it cheaper. Seems like a lot of other people have, even here.

In addition, supply and/or demand could be different where you are. I'd look into the price yourself at a local fabric shop or ask someone where you live how much it costs.

 

[esmerando]

okay! thanks for the advice!

 

[Dr Doughnut]

I found at walmart $1.50 for a yard of purple fleece!

 

[C&K]

Another good idea is to keep an eye out for second hand fleece blankets. After a good wash, the pigs don't care that they once belonged to someone else!

I add a little bit of bleach to the wash. It has not faded my blankets, but you need to be careful, not all blankets are colour fast.

As for vacuuming, you don't want to use your moms vacuum. Many vacuums have been distroyed by this practice. In ancient times, bricks where made out of mud, straw and poop. Guinea pigs usually have two of the three in their cage, poop and hay (similar to straw). When this gets into the vacuum, it is not uncommon for it to pack itself into the hose and gears, breaking the vacuum. I did it to mine! Getting a dustbuster, shaking the bankets off outside, or getting a secondary vacuum is a better idea. I am sure mom will be less then pleased if you break her vacuum!

 

[morganlh85]

WHat you have to do is use polyester fleece on top and 100% cotton towels underneath. It doesn't smell for quite a few days really. In fact the shavings smell much worse in my opinion.

You can find fleece very cheap at Joanns, Michael's, Walmart, etc. if you look in the remnants bin, which are scraps, leftovers, and returns from the big rolls of fabric. Also you can find old towels for cheap at the thrift store, just make sure to wash them first!

Also, you can use a small ShopVac for poos as well -- they are designed to handle wet and dry things and large objects so they won't be harmed at all by guinea poos. You can get a small one for about $30-40 at Walmart or Home Depot.

PPS I hope you are considering adopting your piggie from a rescue or shelter rather than buying new!!!

 

[Percy's Mom]

morgan, for about 10 minutes after you post you should have an edit button showing. Click this and you can add things to or edit your posts. I merged the 3 posts that you added in about a 2 minute time period.

 

[esmerando]

I can't find any fleece in our nearby fabric stores. Is there any alternative cloth or fabric to replace fleece?

 

[GadgetGirl]

Another good idea is to keep an eye out for second hand fleece blankets. After a good wash, the pigs don't care that they once belonged to someone else!

How can you tell that your fleece is the right type of fleece. I just realized that I have some beautiful fleece that I could use and I don't know if it's the right type. Can you please help me?

GadgetGirl the piggie lover

 

[GadgetGirl]

If I wash my fleece once in hot water, will that be enough to make sure it's useable the first time or do I need to wash it more than once to get any chemicals out?

It's brand new, I've had it for awhile, never been used and after reading all the posts about fleece, I can see that it will save me some money.

GadgetGirl the piggie lover