Aaaaargh! Mildewed stinking rugs!

[Mrs. Jingle]

I have just discovered some of my donkey lightweight rugs and the big man's light turnout were obviously not dry enough when I put them away in a big plastic container a few months back. They stink to high heaven, look totally gross and to add to the misery we no longer have a rug wash facility within 100 kms of us.

Luckily all the heavyweight winter ones are stored elsewhere and they are fine. I have ordered some rug wash and can do the little donkey ones myself in the machine when nobody else in the house is looking Any idea for the big one - no way will that go in my max 10kg washing machine. I can't personally do the outside in a huge tub grape treading routine this time and not entirely sure I could persuade one of the menfolk to do that for me lol!

 

[Kaylum]

Jet wash and a brush or hose pipe and a brush not much else you can do.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Yes Mr. Jingle has offered to try that tomorrow for me but I wonder will that get rid of the disgusting smell? We have a forecast for torrential rain - I did wonder if we had some rug wash liquid here perhaps use that in the morning and the jet wash and then leave it over the fence for the torrential rain to do a final rinse

 

[TPO]

Maybe power wash and sponge inside with a milton solution?

 

[Equi]

I hose them and use a car wash brush and fairy liquid, then air dry. It takes a few days though. Not sure what it does to the water proofing lol

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Yes Milton! Good old Milton never thought of that - that will surely get rid of the mildew I would have thought .

 

[TPO]

Milton cleans and cures everything ?

 

[Shilasdair]

Where are you that a rug wash is 100km away? And what do other local folk do with stinky rugs?

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Southern Ireland Shilasdair in a rather remote and rural area. Our local one about 45km away has closed this year mainly due to Covid I think - another one we have also used about 80 km away is also closed apparently but no idea if it is pandemic related.

Haven't a clue what anyone else is doing as I don't actually have any horsey friends in my immediate area - they are all quite far away too and nearer civilization so probably have ones nearer to them I would think - unless of course they have all closed too - always a possibility this year I guess.

 

[Shilasdair]

The only things I can think of are to chuck it in the bath, and tread it like grapes. Or in a tub outside - or a wheelbarrow as some are waterproof - you can mash it with something like a poo scoop. Or maybe power wash it.

Or just bury it and buy a new one!

 

[Lurfy]

I had a canvas rug that got wet and left and the stink was vile. I washed it and hung on the line for several days. After about 4 days the stink started fading. The sun and wind eventually fixed the smell and the rug is back to normal again. I thought I would have to toss it. Good luck with yours, the smell is a horror show isn't it?

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Or just bury it and buy a new one!

Now that does sound like a sensible suggestion - I shall have to make a 'show' of trying to do something about it, Mr J just cannot understand why I need this particular rug so much when there are a dozen more or so lurking around clean and dry.

 

[Tihamandturkey]

Southern Ireland Shilasdair in a rather remote and rural area. Our local one about 45km away has closed this year mainly due to Covid I think - another one we have also used about 80 km away is also closed apparently but no idea if it is pandemic related.

Haven't a clue what anyone else is doing as I don't actually have any horsey friends in my immediate area - they are all quite far away too and nearer civilization so probably have ones nearer to them I would think - unless of course they have all closed too - always a possibility this year I guess.

Hi Mrs J I'm in Clare - our local rug wash which is quite a few km away too is really far behind atm.

I managed to wash mine in the summer with hosepipe & broom thankfully.

I think the Milton idea is a great one.

Hope you get sorted ?

 

[maddielove]

I had to deal with a similar situation this week, decent rugs away being professionally cleaned and an amber weather warning forecast for today. The only spare rugs I have, have been sitting in a bin liner at the edge of the barn getting soaked since springtime, one covered in white mould. Cue pressure washer which cleaned the worst mould/mud off, hung out for a couple of days to lose the smell and a heavy dousing of Fabsil reporoofer the rugs have gotten a second wind and seem to have held up to today's torrential rain.

 

[GreyMane]

Don't know if it would work on rugs but OH's terribly stinky old waterproof coat got washed with Halo Sports Wash liquid from the supermarket. Supposed to work on bacteria and fungi, and smells minty.

 

[Micky]

Would this method work on an old Barbour coat as well..that’s stinking of mildew/mould?! ?? (no actual mould just reeks!).....

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

MrsJingle...have any of the rugs got squishy gel pockets on the lower seam edges.....???

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

haha! I read your other post - no I don't think so but I haven't exactly studied them they are so awful. I will check tomorrow and let you know

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Have you a laundrette that allows football kit washing locally? There’s one near me that looks the other way if you sneak in muddy kits.

I discovered that my rug bag isn’t waterproof today and the window has an inch gap, most rugs luckily were in plastic bags but one wasn’t. I need to bring it home and air it.

 

[doodle]

Perfect excuse for a new rug I think.