Fleece How long Fleece long and smell

[Torch8]

Have been using fleece bedding from GP Market for about 2 years. Noticed its still wicking fine but its the urine smell is so bad even right after putting in cage after wash. How long does bedding last? Perhaps the U-haul materials are decaying? I have 2 guinea pigs in C&C Cage (2x4 grids) with TWO layers of absorbent lining fleece. The beddings are change every 5 days.

 

[bpatters]

It's much more likely related to how you wash the liners. They can stand hot water, strong detergent, and bleach. You can also pre-soak them occasionally in a strong vinegar solution.

 

[Torch8]

How long do you keep using your beddings couple of years?

 

[bpatters]

My last pig just died, and I'm giving away a liner made of fleece and mattress pad that I've used for nine years.

 

[Torch8]

My last pig just died, and I'm giving away a liner made of fleece and mattress pad that I've used for nine years.

Sorry to hear about your last pig, that was the answer I was seeking.

 

[spy9doc]

It's much more likely related to how you wash the liners. They can stand hot water, strong detergent, and bleach. You can also pre-soak them occasionally in a strong vinegar solution.

It is known that @bpatters and I disagree about using bleach too frequently. I have found that using bleach with each wash significantly increases the deterioration of the liners. I've found that it is better to use bleach about every 3rd or 4th wash and in the interim to use All Oxy Clean and/or borax in the wash. The bleach accelerated the deterioration of the uHaul pad as the middle layer and also has caused the fleece to become torn and tattered.

I wash the liners in All Free-and-Clear and with either the All Oxy Clean and/or borax.......hot water, heavy duty cycle. Then I run a short cycle that on my washer is labeled "rinse and spin" with a good dose of vinegar. Even my 8 yr. old liners come out smelling fresh and clean.

 

[bpatters]

Full disclosure here -- I've never used U-Haul liners, so really can't speak about what bleach will do to them. It doesn't seem to affect fleece or mattress pads at all.