Washing guinea pig fleece

[CherryMaple]

My guinea pigs are on thin, short pile Ikea fleeces. However, washing them has become more and more difficult and they don’t come completely clean in the washing machine any more.

The fleeces have tons of hairs stuck to them. We have tried everything before putting them in the wash - beating the fleeces in the garden, hoovering them - and nothing gets the hair off. Some comes off during washing, because it’s stuck all round the machine, but basically the fleeces still come out covered in hair.

I’ve had the fleeces less than a year, and use a few on rotation. I have found recently that some of the marks - from their favourite toileting areas - aren’t coming out either. The fleeces are still dirty.

What can I do to get them clean? Currently washing at 40 degrees with Ariel bio liquid.

We gave up on fleeces for this reason - moved to mattress toppers ( we had some spare) which didn't hold hay in same way. And now have moved to sawdust/ wood shavings which are easiest to clean - bin the lot - and cleanest. They smell less in between cleans too.

I’m here for this! No answers though. With the fleece do you put it over newspaper or something? I’ve been trying to work out how it doesn’t end up swimming, our pigs wee a lot

At the moment they have newspaper and hay, but I would like them to have something a bit warmer and dryer underfoot, especially with winter coming (outdoor pigs).

What sort of mattress topper do you use?

My only suggestion is if the fleece has been washed surely the hair doesn’t matter too much, nor the stains? Or is it that ut still smells?

I had the same problem. They got covered with hair and short bits of hay which it was impossible to get out and I was worried it would damage the machine to be full of hairs. We gave up using them. Maybe they're only suitable if your guinea pigs are non shedding, or litter trained.

@Coldhandscoldheart

The fleece goes over adult incontinence pads either disposable or washable. Mine are washable and they come up fine.

In terms of my problems with the fleeces, it’s not just stains - the toileting areas actually don’t come up clean unfortunately. Very interesting to see that people are switching back to sawdust. Such a shame, because otherwise the fleece system seems great - so easy to clean them out. But I just don’t want to be chucking away fleeces and buying new all the time...

I forgot you could get washable inco pads! I’ve been steering away from them as trying not to add to landfill/plastics.
Perhaps that’s where I’m going wrong. I’d been heading back towards paper pellets somehow sandwiched in a layer of newspaper. Or with fleec on top. Or something, I don’t know.

We shake them in the garden and then bung them all in a duvet cover before they go in the machine. You can get horse blanket bags for the machine too but an old duvet seems to work. I wash mine a bit hotter- 60, and they've shrunk a bit but nothing major. Then I try and get them on the line when it's windy to get more hair off!
@Coldhandscoldheart I put towels under the fleece. We poo pick daily and they don't need a full clean out any more than weekly really.

@Bebeschitt really not more than weekly? I’m changing the newspaper & all hay out of the main compartment every day, or other day at most because the wee is all thru to the hutch base.
I have some old towels and a couple of old fleeces, so I might experiment later. It doesn’t seem very snuggly though. Maybe a nest of hay inside the box.
Sorry @CherryMaple I’ve rather hijacked your thread!

They have hay boxes and hides too with fleece beds. They are indoor pigs though if that makes a difference.
We use a plastic step with fleece over the top as a hide then fill with beds. They love it! I'm sharing my office with them now I'm WFH so I get to watch them all day. Obviously while working very hard. Of course.

We brush all our fleeces with one of these brushes which helps to remove hair and hair

Lakeland Rubber Buddy Handheld Cleaning Brush - for Indoor or Outdoor Use https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FGOW6EI/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcVAY63BE1SC4Z3PMBFNJG

And then use these wash bags to wash the fleeces at 60C and to stop the washing machine getting hay or hair stuck in the drain

www.viovet.co.uk/Moorland-Rider-Petwear-Wash-Bag/c67095/

I would recommend a horse hair blanket bag from ebay to keep their hair out of the washing machine - there will still be some hair on the fleeces but it should drop off when the fleece dries. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353539437511?hash=item525097b3c7:g:51EAAOSwY4lgvecw

I use microfibre bath mats, quick drying when they wee on it. I wash them in pet bags in the washing machine. Change them approx every 3 days with spot cleaning in between

Has anybody tried this? Is it safe do you think?
"Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver Sachets 3pk | for Washing Machines - B&M" www.bmstores.co.uk/products/vamoosh-pet-hair-dissolver-sachets-3pk-351348

I have given up with fleece for this reason as well.

I put a layer of newspaper down and then the cheapest puppy pads I can find layered over the top. It’s not the most eco friendly option as the whole lot gets binned every time but I just can’t stand the faff with the fleece and they smell much better with the pads.

You need this :
millbryhill.co.uk/products/bedwell-equinola-horse-bedding
It is absorbant, non dusty, smells nice (great for indoor pigs) and it's environmentally friendly as it is a by product of the rape seed oil industry. One bale lasts aaages as it is densely packed.

Our fleeces get washed in pet bags to stop the hair ruining the washing machine. I use soda crystals, and then a mix of white vinegar & dettol laundry cleaner instead of a fabric softener. I very rarely have any residual staining.

A good shake before they go in and then another once they are dry gets any loose hair off, and if there’s a lot still left on the fleece I use a stiff brush to get the worst off (need to be in the garden).

I use fleece liners Guinea Pig And Small Animals Fleece Liner For C&C Cage. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077R1NXWF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_5FG25J0D9ZF54EMFG0H3?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 and a horse hair bag for them in the wash.
No issues with fur remaining. Though I do occasionally put them in the tumble dryer once they’re clean.
The liners are absorbant and I find I need to clean them out 2 ce a week.

@CleopatrasBeautifulNose that looks great, thanks for sharing but do they eat it?! If they do, is it healthy for them as it is infused with lavender? Do you put it everywhere with newspaper underneath? Just wondering as i am looking for possible alternatives to puppy pads and fleece. Thanks.

MrsGatsby99
My pigs don't eat it but I confess it was a gamble when I first tried it (though I kept an eye so could have removed). An experimental brief nibble maybe but that's not going to hurt.
The straw itself is woody in texture (but comfy) like grass straw (which my pigs don't eat) so not like hay (which my pigs do eat).
The straw is not a hollow tube like grass straw so not a vector for awful parasites like mites which grass straw is (would never use that again for that reason).
I also confess that I googled if the tea tree oil being on it was safe (didn't consult a vet) and the result I got was that eaten was not safe but the scent was OK. So, maybe I was irresponsible and you'd want to look into that yourself but I've gone ahead and mine have been fine.
I put paper under mine just out of habit as much as anything but it doesn't always need changing when I sweep out.
I'd say its worth a try as it's so nice to use

I'm not the only one who uses it, see this thread...
www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/bedding-for-guinea-pigs-overview.114219/page-5

Washed in a horse bag to keep the hair/hair from damaging the machine.
Wash on a 40+ wash.
I used to hang them out whatever the weather to mainly get the hair etc off. As it’s fleece it dries quick.
I also used to double layer fleece pads (like a sandwich with fleece either side and a old towel sewn inside) in high pee areas that were changed more often.
They also had a hay bed which caught at least half of the pee/poop
I never had a problem with stained bedding, used the same 2 “sets” for 4 years.
I did a full clean once a week and then half way thru I’d change the high pee areas.

@CleopatrasBeautifulNose thank you, will give it a try and keep a close eye on them.

We use bath mats over newspaper.
They have a litter tray with newspaper and hay that gets changed every day so the mats only need washing once a week (in a laundry bag) with some poo sweeping most days.
They are indoors and the hay makes enough mess without adding sawdust into the mix so I’m happy with our system!

I recommend washing your fleece on a max temp of 30 C as fleece has the tendency to shrink in higher temperatures. Washing with plain white vinegar is also a great fabric softener and helps with odours too. I found this Kavee fleece liner guide helpful when I was looking into alternatives to wood shavings. Hope that helps! :)

Can you not go over them with a lint roller before you wash them? No idea if this would help though!

I also use a horse blanket wash bag but we do change out every day even though they're good quality fleeces designed for cages. I'm interested to know what a microfibre bath mat would be like though? I might give that a try.