Fleece Fleece/Uhaul Pads Setup Questions!

[simplyypiggies]

Hello everyone!
I am adopting a pair of guinea pigs very soon and I am planning on lining my cage like this, the bottom layer is coroplast, ontop of that 2 layers of uhaul pads, towels ontop of that and the fleece at the very top. I plan on spot cleaning every morning but I am wondering around how long do you think or have you experienced your setup lasting you before you had to change everything and wash everything?
Also do you think this is a good setup? If not let me know what works best for you and what you would advise me on using! I would like my setup to at least last me a week before having to switch it out for new bedding.

I am also wondering what do you use to wash your guinea pigs fleeces? What would you recommend?

Thank you for all your help ahead of time!

 

[jaymem04]

I use fleece flippers, which are expensive, but I think they're worth it. They essentially have two setups of two layers of uhaul and one layer of fleece with coroplast in the middle. I think you'll want to (if you have a sewing machine) sew the fleece and uhaul together to make one thick pad that has fleece on top and uhaul on bottom. I've found that fleece on top that's not attached to anything is super hard to spot clean. You probably don't need the towels. Two layers of uhaul is quite absorbent. If you don't sew, I would encourage you to check out fleece flippers or piggy bedspreads. Fleece is great. My pigs love it. I've found it useful to have some strategically placed potty pads (just extra small fleece and uhaul setups) and litter boxes (with paper bedding) that I can change every couple of days. With those, my fleece lasts a week before I have to flip it (so you could wait that long before washing). I wash mine in a pillowcase, but it tends to come out of the pillowcases in the wash. Not a big problem, but if anyone has any tips for you on washing, I might try that as well. I'm kind of new to fleece as well.

 

[80s_piggies]

I am hoping to get some u-haul pads soon, I hear they work great. Right now I use towels and fleece. I personally do a full out change twice a week. Once I have some potty pads made I bet I could go longer. The fleece stays dry and I've never had an issue with smell.

 

[joys_cavies]

I use two layers of U-haul and a layer of fleece! Work great!

 

[simplyypiggies]

Thank you everyone! I think I will just use the uhaul pad and the fleece and maybe place a towel or hand towel (i've heard some people use this?) on "high traffic" areas!

 

[skittles3024]

Late response but I used tide original detergent. No softner. That may help with comfort bc it will be the same smell

 

[yubie]

I sew my fleece line and they have either a layer of U-haul or towel between them. I do place towel underneath to make it more comfee under their feet, but is not actually needed as I also use pee pad, water drip-pads in their cage as well. I have a small cage which temporarily house a blind gp that I use fleece over wood pellets. Again that fleece also have something sewn in between it. I generally do not have to totally change my cage for ten days. However, I do it weekly and I sweep daily as well as change out the pee pad as needed. So far, there is no smell. I am a happy camper despite being allergic to their urine.

 

[ciaraelise]

how many layers of Uhaul are you guys using in your cages???

I made the switch last week after hauling two loads of soiled towels down two flights of stairs to my basement laundry room. at the moment I have two blankets in my 3x5 cage. in most of the cage i have two layers but in some I folding it over to fit so it has 4 layers.

I noticed my cage was wet and smelly in two days. I laundered my cage again (i'm hoping it was my fleece not wicking for whatever reason) and tried it again. It was cage night last night and it didn't seem to hold up like the towels did.

do I need more layers? another blanket? I'm so disappointed I thought for sure this would reduce my laundry. Bleck

am I making a rookie mistake here?? haha

 

[pinky]

I have a fleece pad for half the cage and bedding in the other half. The fleece pad has fleece on two sides and one layer of uhaul pad in the middle. It's never wet under the fleece pad. They tend to pee more on the bedding side; probably because their hay and food dishes are on that side.