Hand-washing fleece?

Question
Could you tell me all about hand-washing fleece?  My parents don't want it to be washed in the washer, but I really want to make my pigs happier and get rid of the cost of bedding.  I am a student.  I own two guinea pigs in a 5x3 C&C cage.  I haven't found anything on the internet on the topic yet, so now I am asking you and yahoo questions.  Please tell me how to wash fleece!  If you don't know what fleece (bedding kind) is, please don't go out of your way to find out.  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Susie,

I've never used fleece as a bedding - but I know that it is supposed to be done in the washing machine. You'd need to shake the droppings and hay etc into the rubbish bin, and then wash the fleece in the machine. It'd just have urine on it, so it could go in with other things. I'm not sure hand-washing would be very practical.

I line my piggies' cage with newspaper, and then cover it with a thick layer of dust-extracted wood shavings. You can reduce costs by buying the shavings in bulk from an equine shop (horses need them too!) and you can get hay by the bale there too.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I'm envious of your c&c cage - I'm struggling to find suppliers of correz and grids, as my boys are almost fully grown now and need some more space!

Best wishes,
Jenny.