I made this photo really big, so maybe you can see what I'm talking about. This is a roll of foam, and you might think, big deal? It is a product that was sold in the camping department at Academy for putting under your sleeping bag, around 2009. Back then I bought some and cut it to fit in the bottom of Dolly's playpen. There were several reasons, the main one being that the playpen has a removeable "floor" like you have probably seen on all the new playpens, made of stiff boards covered with a layer of foam and a wipe clean fabric, to serve as the bottom of the playpen. It has to have boards to be strong enough for a toddler to stand on, but it is heavy because of the boards. Since I have to put sheets on the bottom every night, it was a real hassle. So I wanted some kind of foam mattress to lay on top of the "floor" that I could easily lift and put sheets on, and when I found this green foam it was perfect.
Recently I went out to see if I could buy a new piece and they don't seem to make it anymore. All the foam mats are really squishy, like yoga mats or something. The green one I have is very plastic-y and wipes clean and does not absorb anything, kind of like for example, a styrofoam cup. It is not styrofoam, but the surface is smooth and nonabsorbent like that. Camping mats now are closer to foam rubber and would absorb urine, so they would never do for an incontinent dog. With the green one, I can rinse it in the bathtub or hose it off or spray it with a bottle of Clorox water and wipe clean and it's done! Anyway, I've been looking for a while at Academy and Wal-Mart and online on eBay and anywhere I could think of and could not find it again.
Then this week I found this dusty, scruffy roll of green foam tied up with a blue nylon rope for $1.99 at Goodwill. Woohoo!!!
I took it up to the register and told the cashier, "You probably think, who would want this ugly old foam, but would you believe I've been looking everywhere for exactly this and I'm thrilled!" She was happy, too.
And to top it off, when I untied the rope and unrolled it, there were 2 full sized pieces, so now I have one left over. If I can remember, I think it cost about $12.84 or something like that back in 2009, but I could not find it for any price this year when I looked.
Why is it perfect? 1) lightweight, no effort when I change the linens 2) nonporous and nonabsorbent for an incontinent dog 3) gives extra cushion under her when she bounces up and down in her bed on her bottom at mealtime, or when she curls up in her blankets to sleep
4) happens to be the right width for a playpen, you just need to cut to length 5) the light, solid color makes it easier to see if it is clean, compared to the multi-colored patterned fabric of the playpen floor.
Happy Day!!!
- click to enlarge
EDIT TO ADD: In 2021 I found this same kind of pad for sale as the Coleman Rest Easy Camp Pad for about $10.