Seagrass Mattes: Cleaning the darn things

[RabbitPam]

Hi, everyone,

As you may know, I built Sammykins a habitat out of xpen and floor tiles. She avoided the tiles, though now she is getting used to them and better at stepping on them. So I covered parts of the floor with seagrass mattes and other parts with low pile throw bathroom rugs. The idea being it would be easier for me to vacuum by stepping inside (it is) the pen and swapping out any soiled rugs or mattes.

Yesterday I did a big house cleaning. This morning: pile of poos in her cuddle cup. Big pee stains on one seagrass matte. Fresh, clean litter pan almost unused.

Me thinks she doth protest. A lot. Put the poos into the litter pan. That’s another post, but I made a special trip to get her the Aspen pellets with aspen shavings on top, (absorb better and longer) and now I think she likes the shavings alone better. Maybe.

I swapped out the seagrass matte and ran it under hot water, then soaked it in the tub with vinegar and baking soda. Rinsed and hung in the tub to dry. Whew! Like a old picnic basket left out in the rain!

How do YOU wash a seagrass matte?

I may be throwing it out and buying a new one otherwise.

She also is nibbling on the bath rugs (she LOVES bunching them up) and some white pee stains are showing up on the matte and in the cuddle cup. Not sure it’s related. I understand milky pee is normal, but want to confirm.

Thanks, All. Sorry so long!

[Sarita]

I found this on seagrass rugs and it does not recommend cleaning them with water – they are suspetible to midew and mold:

http://www.coastal-style.com/seagrassweave.html

Maybe get a firm steelwool brush or something to brush the poo off. 

[RabbitPam]

Sarita you’re brilliant (and fast! LOL)

Thank you so much for that link!!!! They listed stain specific recommendations. Here’s what they wrote:
       1.  Mix one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with one cup of lukewarm water. Spray solution on spot then blot.
       2. Mix one Tablespoon clear household ammonia with 1/2 cup water. Spray solution on spot then blot.
       3. Mix 1/4 cup white vinegar with 1/4 cup water. Spray solution on spot then blot.
       4. Mix one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with one cup of lukewarm water. Spray solution on spot then blot.
       5. Spray water on spot then blot.

I would do #3.
Which I will try right after I throw away the ones I have already soaked and buy new ones – never to be soaked again.

Ironically, I got an email this morning from BusyBunny announcing a sale on seagrass mattes.

I wonder if Sammy smelled mold on the one I substituted it with and that put her off? I had washed it weeks ago and stored it away. Ack ack ack.
 

[Lintini]

AWww man, I wash mine using vinegar and water too. Sigh. I burnt it up in the 105 degree sun though on Tuesday. I dunno if mold would grow in that!

[RabbitPam]

Retaining mold might explain my sneezing fits when I sit next to my stored bunny supplies, where the older one was, since I am allergic.

[Author]

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