Fleece: tips for staying sane

[Sef]

Today is "shake out the fleece" day. I dread it every week. It's 80 degrees outside right now and windy, so I know I'm going to be hot and stinky, and have hair full of hay and poops when I get done.

What are some tips and tricks that you guys have used when it comes to storing dirty fleece and towels, shaking out fleece, laundering it, storing it, and generally keeping your sanity on piggie laundry day? (I have only 4 cages, so I really shouldn't complain).

[gpl]

you have a clothesline and it is windy..........come on now sef put two and two together. works great for me.

[Paula]

I brush the fleece off as much as possible before I shake it. It's gross no matter what, but if there's less hay and poop to end up on me, the better.

[Sef]

"come on now sef put two and two together..."

I actually tried it today! My clothespin bag flew all the way across the darn yard, and the towels (I only managed to get two up on the line before I gave up) kept falling off.

It's realllly windy today. I actually got a poop stuck down in my bra.

[Paula]

I actually got a poop stuck down in my bra.

The solution to that is simple ... Don't wear one.

[Sef]

Trust me. Nobody wants to see these puppies flappin' in the breeze.

[Paula]

If they're looking they deserve what they get!

[Sef]

Ha. I should be so lucky that someone is looking.

[Paula]

That's generally how I feel. Everytime I worry about something like that, I think, if someone's looking, God bless 'em. ;D

[Sef]

Do you guys typically launder your dirty fleece right after you change it, or do you keep it somewhere until laundry day?

I have those ultra-huge storage bags (essentially enormous Ziploc bags) that I toss mine in. My problem, is that I don't really have a good place to store the dirties unless I lug it down to the basement -- and then have to lug it back up when it's time to shake everything out...and then BACK downstairs to wash.

(Have I mentioned I pretty much hate everything about fleece, except the cost savings and the way the cages look for the first 45 seconds after they've been changed? :

[Paula]

I store all my laundry outside on the deck till I'm ready to wash it. I do 2-3 loads a day.

Do you vacuum your fleece every day or every other day?

[sabrina]

I store my dirty pig laundry in a big trash can, designated for their laundry, until I'm ready to wash. I usually wash their stuff twice a week. I needed something big that I could move around, since our machine is upstairs and the pigs live downstairs.

[Sef]

I sweep it every other day. I should do it every day, but...I don't.

OH! You know what? I actually have an extra garbage can (one of the big plastic jobbers with a lid) out on the deck that I could use! I had been using it for hay, but now I buy smaller quantities and store it indoors.

Do you bring the can inside to dump the dirty fleece into it, or do you use a laundry basket or something else?

[**happy dance at the thought of having one less fleece hassle**]

[sabrina]

Here's my routine:
Starting with an empty can

Clean cages, roll up fleece and such, put them in the can.
Take the can outside to shake everything out and put it back in the can.
Bring the can inside and either take it upstairs or wait and make Mike do it.

So far, it's the best thing I've found for keeping the mess out of the house. Before, I was spilling poo's and hay everywhere! My can has wheels on it, that makes it easier to move around too.

[Sef]

Jenn -- do you have any problems with hair on the fleece? I'm always so worried that I'm going to break the washer with too much hair all over the fleece. Brushing it off outside is what takes me the longest.