Guinea Pig Bedding 101 - Fleece

Many guinea pig owners are turning to fleece bedding as an alternative to traditional bedding materials. Fleece has a number of advantages to consider - it has a soft texture, is inexpensive, safe, reusable, long lasting and eliminates the need to buy bedding materials on a regular basis.

How Does It Work

Fleece bedding does not actually absorb urine. Instead it works as a wicking agent when combined with under layers of bedding. Thus the actual moisture gets drawn underneath while the top layer of fleece stays dry. Most people have the best results when they use a top layer of fleece, then a towel, and a final layer of newspaper.

Getting Started

The average pet store is not going to sell fleece. A fabric store or a large store like Walmart with a crafts section is most likely going to have a wide assortment of fleeces in various colors and prints at good prices. Consider buying one fleece large enough for your cage and then one of the same size to use as a spare when washing.

The Secrets You Must Not Miss

Wash and dry your fleece bedding four times before trying to use it. Why? Polyester fleece naturally repels water which is why it is commonly used for outerwear jackets. When used as bedding you want the fleece to be absorbent and the best way to ensure this is to wash multiple times. Make sure when washing your fleece that you do not add fabric softener as this can repel water as well.

After you have washed your fleece multiple times you can now add it to your guinea pig cage. You will first want to lay down a base layer of bedding. Something like newspaper should work fine. On top of that add a towel. Finally, lay a maximum of two layers of fleece - anymore and the urine will not be able to reach the layers of underbedding.

Cleaning Fleece

First lightly vacuum the fleece to remove solid matter such as hair and hay. A lot of people find that taking the fleece outside and shaking off the remainder is necessary. Finally if there is still a lot of hairs stuck on the fabric use a dustbin brush to remove as much as you can. A lint roller will also work.

The most practical way to wash the fleece is to use the washer and dryer. Air drying outside can result in a fresher scent but using a drier is fine as well. Sometimes using a clothes drier at a higher temperature can result in some fabric shrinkage, so try to use a lower temperature if you can.