How To Wash Guinea Pig Bedding

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Guinea pigs are sensitive and demanding pets. You cannot put their hygiene out of the equation. You should wash the piggy's bedding regularly to keep them healthy.

It is not difficult to wash their bedding, but you must keep a few things in mind before washing their bedding.

Read on for tips and advice on washing guinea pig bedding.

The Best Way to Wash Your Guinea Pig's Bedding

Some steps must be performed before and after washing their bedding. The process is undoubtedly straightforward but let's review each step briefly.

Daily Cage Cleaning

No matter what, cage cleaning must be done every day. To do so, follow these steps:

• You should pick up anything large enough for your bare eyes to see.
• The little pieces of food and their traces should be vacuumed up. Plastic scoops and dustpans with brooms can also be used.
• Ensure that the cage is free of visible trash.

The bedding should be cleaned on a regular schedule. Unfortunately, you cannot control the odor in your cavies' cage by cleaning it occasionally.

Pre-Wash the Bedding

A recommended approach, which most people do not know, is to pre-wash the Guinea Pig bedding before using them. During the pre-washing process, Guinea's bedding will lose chemicals and colors that could affect your cavy.

Pre-washing is not required, but it's a good practice to keep the chemicals away from your piggy.

Put The Bedding in Washing Machine

• Take out the bedding from a cage and put it in the washing machine.
• Use your regular laundry detergent.
• While washing, you can add items of similar color and texture if you have another laundry.
• It is recommended to machine wash your bedding every week.
• Add about a half cup of vinegar (white) to the washing machine. It kills bacteria and reduces odors.
• Clean the bedding in warm water on a high heat setting.
• Avoid adding fabric softeners.

Using fabric softeners and dryer sheets on guinea pig clothing is not recommended. It is possible for guinea pigs to be sensitive to strong smells and to have poor reactions to them.

Dry The Bedding

After you are done washing, you can dry the same. Don't use dry sheets. They affect the wicking property of fleece, and many contain fragrances that can harm sensitive noses. Remember, your piggies have no option but to avoid scented items.

How To Eliminate Odors from The Pig Bedding?

Sprinkle a little baking soda along the bottom of the cage before adding fresh bedding to control bedding odor. Many people keep baking soda in their refrigerators because it absorbs unpleasant smells.

Borax is also used as a great alternative for bleaching. You can add the same to your wash cycle. Borax can surely help in removing tough orders and stains.

You can also add stripping powder. This should be done to an extended pre-soak, which helps to remove stubborn detergent residues, grimes, and odors.

Litter box training can help keep your cage clean for a longer period. Locate the area where your guinea pig prefers to go to the bathroom. The cage corners or maybe their kitchen area is where you will likely find this. Make sure this area is littered, lined with pee pads, and rewarded for cavies going to the bathroom in the right place.

The cavies may need some freshening up if the cage still smells after a thorough cleaning. It is not often necessary to bathe short-haired piggies. However, long-haired animals can accumulate urine and debris in their fur. Therefore, they may need to be washed as and when necessary.

How Often Should I Clean My Pig Bedding?

Every day, the bedding gets dirty. Urine is absorbed, food remnants are stuck, and natural bodily odors are absorbed.

Bedding should be cleaned daily, eating leftovers should be removed, and droppings should be thrown away. Replace all bedding every week.

After cleaning the cage, disinfect it with warm water and a disinfectant. You should fully rinse and dry the old bedding before replacing it with new bedding. Your guinea pigs' habitat & accessories should be cleaned completely once.

How To Dry Guinea Pig's Bedding After Washing?

If you have a dryer, you can dry the bedding at low or medium heat. Air drying the bedding will take less time than hanging it. It's not recommended to delay returning the bedding for too long.

You should put it through the dryer to eliminate all the piggy hair. It would have lots of furs if you just put it on the line. So, better dry them properly and remove all the mess from inside.

What Should We Avoid While Washing Guinea Pig's Bedding?

• Dryer sheets and fabric softeners should not be used. Strong smells can cause cavies to react poorly and can be irritating.
• Care for the bedding as it should not damage or shrink.
• You may end up with a bloated mass of fleece if you overload your machine.

Other Methods to Clean the Bedding?

Other ways to clean the Guinea Pig bedding include:

Softeners

Softeners often reduce a fabric's ability to absorb water. Using vinegar or bleach during the wash can help remove fabric softener residue if you accidentally use it. If your washer allows it, use the double-rinse cycle. You should wash your fleece multiple times to remove residue and restore its wicking properties.

Disinfectants

Adding a quarter cup of white vinegar to the wash is recommended to kill germs and bacteria. You can use bleach on the fleece (which will help speed up the wicking process); it won't damage it. Fleece is completely colorfast.

Detergent

It is crucial to keep the pores of the bedding as clean as possible. A good detergent should contain no additives, coatings, or fillers.