Carefresh alternative

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Jojo14

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello :) New Guinea Pig owner to two baby boy piggies (alvin&chip)
I have been using carefresh for their cage but does anyone have any recommendations as to anything a bit cheaper?
Thanks in advance :)
 
Welcome. I also used Carefresh for some time for my Finn and Lara. They live in separate cages.

I changed to fleece bedding not too long ago with puppy pee pads in their hay pan and I love it. They only pee and poo in their hay pan where puppy pee pad is laid at the bottom of the hay pan, so I just throw that out, and there is very minimum of pee or poop on the fleece lining. Cleaning is a breeze, I throw away puppy pee pad in the hay pan along with soiled hay and everything is easy and perfect. I clean hay pan almost everyday.

I would highly recommend it.
 
Jojo14 said:
Hello :) New Guinea Pig owner to two baby boy piggies (alvin&chip)
I have been using carefresh for their cage but does anyone have any recommendations as to anything a bit cheaper?
Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

Hi! Please have a look at our bedding overview. A lot of our members have shifted to fleece in the living areas, but there are also loose bedding alternatives to carefresh.
Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview

This guide is part of our new owners guide collection, which addresses all the areas that new owners have the most questions and concerns about. You should hopfully find it both helpful and interesting. You can access our extensive guide collection on a wide range of topics via the shortcut on the top bar.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Seven7 said:
Welcome. I also used Carefresh for some time for my Finn and Lara. They live in separate cages.

I changed to fleece bedding not too long ago with puppy pee pads in their hay pan and I love it. They only pee and poo in their hay pan where puppy pee pad is laid at the bottom of the hay pan, so I just throw that out, and there is very minimum of pee or poop on the fleece lining. Cleaning is a breeze, I throw away puppy pee pad in the hay pan along with soiled hay and everything is easy and perfect. I clean hay pan almost everyday.

I would highly recommend it.
Click to expand...

Thank you:) do you have proper fleece liners made or just shop bought ones?
I have a hay pan with puppy pads under too but there seems to be a lot around their living bit too 🙈 maybe once they’ve grown a bit they’ll start going in one place!
I’ve put a puppy pad under their little hide out too x
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! Please have a look at our bedding overview. A lot of our members have shifted to fleece in the living areas, but there are also loose bedding alternatives to carefresh.
Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview

This guide is part of our new owners guide collection, which addresses all the areas that new owners have the most questions and concerns about. You should hopfully find it both helpful and interesting. You can access our extensive guide collection on a wide range of topics via the shortcut on the top bar.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
Click to expand...
Ah great thank you I’ll have a look after work :) xx
 
Jojo14 said:
Thank you:) do you have proper fleece liners made or just shop bought ones?
I have a hay pan with puppy pads under too but there seems to be a lot around their living bit too 🙈 maybe once they’ve grown a bit they’ll start going in one place!
I’ve put a puppy pad under their little hide out too x
Click to expand...
My Finn and Lara each have 3 fleece liners for their cages, and several fleece pee-pads each and they were all made to fit their cage size. As soon as I got them their hay pans, their fleece liners and fleece pee-pads had less pee. Cleaning became much easier as I clean out their hay pan each day by throwing away the soiled puppy pee-pad and soiled hay.

I change their fleece pee-pads very 3 days, and fleece liners every week. I wash their cages with soap and water, then clean with vinegar. I wash all their fleece items with soap and water then soak them in vinegar water as well.

I am more proactive in cleaning to minimize germs and sickness from dirty environment for my piggies.
 
I buy 5 liter vinegar from Costco, so I loaded some photos of vinegar bottles I use to keep their cages and liners clean.
I also put a photo of their fleece liners and beds currently being soaked in vinegar water since yesterday.

5 liter vinegar bottles from the last trip to Costco.
IMG_4230.webp

Finn and Lara's fleece items currently being soaked in vinegar since yesterday.
IMG_4232.webp
 
Seven7 said:
I buy 5 liter vinegar from Costco, so I loaded some photos of vinegar bottles I use to keep their cages and liners clean.
I also put a photo of their fleece liners and beds currently being soaked in vinegar water since yesterday.

5 liter vinegar bottles from the last trip to Costco.
View attachment 96766

Finn and Lara's fleece items currently being soaked in vinegar since yesterday.
View attachment 96770
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Thank you that’s super helpful! Do you wash them in the washing machine too?

Think I’ll order some to try on payday 😀 I’ve gone through 2 packs of carefresh in less than a week whoops xx
 
Jojo14 said:
Thank you that’s super helpful! Do you wash them in the washing machine too?

Think I’ll order some to try on payday 😀 I’ve gone through 2 packs of carefresh in less than a week whoops xx
Click to expand...
I don't use washing machine to wash fleece beddings and fleece pee pads. I hand wash them all with detergent then, let them soak in vinegar water. As soon as they started going pee and poo in their hay bin, fleece beddings ended up with less pee and poo on them. So, hand washing to me was better.

I do throw away some soiled hay along with puppy pee pad underneath it, and I don't mind it because it is very convenient as far as cleaning. It is far better to throw away some hay then deal with dirty fleece beddings.
 
Mine are outside piggies with lots of fleecy hideys to keep them warm. I wash these in a horse bag to stop the washing machine getting clogged up with the little bits of hay that it is just impossible to shake off or pick off by hand. I use non bio detergent and no fabric softener as this prevents wicking (letting the wee soak through).
 
Seven7 said:
I don't use washing machine to wash fleece beddings and fleece pee pads. I hand wash them all with detergent then, let them soak in vinegar water. As soon as they started going pee and poo in their hay bin, fleece beddings ended up with less pee and poo on them. So, hand washing to me was better.

I do throw away some soiled hay along with puppy pee pad underneath it, and I don't mind it because it is very convenient as far as cleaning. It is far better to throw away some hay then deal with dirty fleece beddings.
Click to expand...
I was worried about using the washing machine too! That gives me hope 😂 thanks again xx think I may try Fitch first xx
 
Betsy said:
Mine are outside piggies with lots of fleecy hideys to keep them warm. I wash these in a horse bag to stop the washing machine getting clogged up with the little bits of hay that it is just impossible to shake off or pick off by hand. I use non bio detergent and no fabric softener as this prevents wicking (letting the wee soak through).
Click to expand...

Ah thank you I’ll have a look for a horse bag. Do you use fleece for a base too? Xx
 
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