[Gpdd] CARE - floortime

[ROYCE LARSON]

     I am a cleaning nut as my husband and kids will gladly testify. I'm one of those crazy people that vacuum every day, whether it needs it or not! My books are all lined up in a row by size so they look nice. My cupboards would pass the white glove test. It just makes me feel good to know that everything is neat, tidy and clean. I wanted to say that right up front so anyone reading this can take that into account!
     I have never found any particular odor associated with Bud and I keep him and his environment as neat as I can. He must be one of those wonderful male guinea pigs that don't have much of an odor. I've mentioned in the past that for his floor time I put down an inexpensive tarp that I bought at Menard's with an old queen-size flat sheet on top. Bud uses his litter boxes almost 100% but once in a great while he'll urinate on the sheet. When I put away his play area I'll just wash the sheet and wipe off that section of the tarp if it needs it. 
     I read about some who let their piggies run on the carpet and give any spot a quick carpet shampoo job or steam clean it. If this works, GREAT, but I would be concerned about one thing. When you shampoo a carpet you are shampooing the upper part, the fiber part that we see. We can't clean the backing or the pad underneath and, over time, even if they don't smell, couldn't they have a tendency to rot? 
     For me this tarp-sheet method works great and I have C&C grids strung together with cable ties so the playpen accordions neatly and easily for set-up or take-down. What actually takes me the longest about playtime is setting out all the toys, tunnels, houses, etc. for Bud to play in. When I know my husband isn't going to be in the house much in the evening, I just leave it all set up for the next day.

     I really enjoy hearing how everyone does floor time. It always gives me good ideas.

Carla and Busy Bud