Cleaning their enclosures

[HareIvoryWhiskers]

So this is going to sound like a weird request. How can I clean my rabbits enclosures without using a broom and vacuum? I tried using a broom and dustpan but it didn’t work out too well. My dad said that the hay will clutter in the vacuum no matter what I say. And he refuses to try a new vacuum and he throws away the fleece blankets. We don’t have many fleece blankets left to give them and getting more is expensive. Not to mention we can’t find the blankets that we like to use right now. Anyone have any tips?

[Wick & Fable]

Can you take the fleece blankets outside and wave them around for a bit to get the clumps off?

Alternatively, you could find an easier, less hay-sticking flooring/fabric for areas with more hay traffic.

… I just pick up hay every day because I’m a crazy rabbit lady.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[HareIvoryWhiskers]

I asked him but he still threw it away. D:> He told me “no matter what you do the hay will stick and ruin our washer.”

[jerseygirl]

Is it just hay/fur/poop on the blankets or are they peeing on them? Just curious as to why your Dad is throwing them away. He doesn’t want all that to go in the wash? (I can understand that and use an old washing machine for my pet towels and blankets)

I’ve come to like fleece blankets that have a more “velvet” like look to them. They are still thin like regular fleece but they hay and fur don’t get trapped in the fibre. You can run your hand over it and the fur gathers together in a lump.

[HareIvoryWhiskers]

Yes. It’s just hay/fur/and poop (that gets stuck to their feet). He keeps changing his explanation but he mostly says that the hay will hurt the washer.

[LBJ10]

I have a “rabbit vacuum” and a “regular vacuum”. Yes, hay can clog up the vacuum. Hence why it’s not a bad idea to keep them separate. A cheap shopvac works great.

[prince dorian the bun]

I have a small hand vacuum for the buns stuff, and I generally use a broom on their enclosure. I also vacuum up hay with my regular vacuum, my long hair is going to cause way more damage than so odd pieces of hay that are easy to remove. For blankets and rugs I shake them out really well, spot vacuum anything left and throw them in the wash. I do clean out my washing machine from time to time and really it’s not a huge issue. Maybe if you are tossing stuff in with handful of hay still atrached it would be problem. If something is especially gross I may presoak in a bucket and then throw it in the wash.

[DanaNM]

Try a rubber broom! They have hand held ones that work great for removing hay and fur from blankets (they blankets need to be under some tension though). I also agree that shaking them outside will remove most almost all of the hay.

I agree that throwing out the blankets is odd and wasteful… if he insists on throwing things out maybe you should swap to a disposable cage liner, such as news paper, cardboard, and/or puppy pads?

Shop-vacs work great for hay as well.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[BZOO]

I have many critters, this stuff doesn’t damage the washer.

Shake them out, pop in washer with a bit of Lysol laundry sanitizer, all good.  If there are any pieces of hay left, it easily vacuums out.

[SJ]

I got this lint remover from amazon for very cheap! It gets out a lot of fur and hay!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0818VG78C?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[HareIvoryWhiskers]

I asked my dad once again if I could shake the blankets out. He said “They’re too smelly to do that.” But I put nose to the blankets and they smell only of hay? Now my step mom is like “we can’t wash them anyway because we can’t afford the nonscented stuff.” —_— Thank you all for your help regardless.

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