by 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.
FAQs
Can You Reuse the Guinea Pig Bedding?
Guinea pig’s beddings are reusable and washable, making them an environmentally-friendly choice. Their material is multilayered. It is typically a fleece top covered with absorbent material on the bottom.
What Is the Best Laundry Detergent for Guinea Pigs Bedding?
All Free & Clear detergent is perfectly safe to use. As long as your detergent is unscented and does not contain dyes or fabric softeners, you can use it.
Since cavies have very sensitive skin and tend to break out quite easily if we don’t use natural or organic soaps and detergents, it is recommended to use natural and organic soaps and detergents.
Can I Use Dish Soap to Wash My Cavy’s Bedding?
Experts recommend not using dish soap to wash your guinea pig bedding, even though some say it is safe. There are ingredients in even the mildest dish soaps that may be too harsh for your guinea pig’s skin.
Is It Ok to Wash the Bedding in Washing Machine?
Yes, you can clean the Guinea pig bedding in a washing machine weekly on high heat settings. The bedding needs to be cleaned regularly, but it’s not difficult. Keep the bedding clean by removing dirt and debris daily to avoid regular machine wash.
Key Takeaways
Regular Bedding Maintenance
Regular cleaning of guinea pig bedding is crucial for the health and hygiene of your pet. It’s advisable to engage in daily cage cleaning to remove visible trash and leftovers, ensuring a clean environment for your guinea pig.
Pre-Washing New Bedding
Pre-washing new bedding before use can help in getting rid of any chemicals and colors that could be harmful to your guinea pig. Although not mandatory, pre-washing is a good practice to ensure the safety and comfort of your pet.
Machine Washing Instructions
Bedding should be machine washed weekly with regular laundry detergent in warm water on a high heat setting. It’s beneficial to add a half cup of white vinegar to eliminate bacteria and reduce odors. Avoid using fabric softeners or dryer sheets as they can be irritating to your guinea pig due to strong smells.
Drying the Bedding
Post washing, bedding can be dried in a dryer at low or medium heat or air dried. It’s essential to remove all pet hair from the bedding during the drying process to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.
Odor Elimination
Baking soda, Borax, or stripping powder can be used to control and eliminate odors from guinea pig bedding. These substances can be added to the wash cycle or used during an extended pre-soak to ensure a fresh and clean bedding.
Daily Cleaning and Weekly Replacement
Daily removal of eating leftovers and droppings, along with a complete replacement of bedding every week, is recommended to maintain a clean habitat for your guinea pig.
Avoiding Certain Products
Avoid using dryer sheets, fabric softeners, or any strong-smelling detergents as these can be irritating to your guinea pig. It’s advisable to use unscented, dye-free laundry detergents or natural and organic soaps for washing the bedding.
Reusable Bedding
Guinea pig bedding is reusable and washable, making it an environmentally-friendly choice. Ensure to clean and dry the old bedding thoroughly before replacing it with new bedding.
Conclusion:
Regarding pets, maintaining high levels of hygiene is often underestimated. It is important to clean the guinea pig’s cage and bedding regularly as the dirty environment can lead to severe health issues.
Cavies generally get sick easily; they get dirty easily and require lots of dedication and time plus attention. We hope the steps we have mentioned have helped you cut down your cleaning time, and now you can have ample time to spend with your little cavy!