Can you wash own turnout rugs?

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MagicMelon

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I've got so many grubby turnout rugs lying about, it would cost a fortune to have them profesionally cleaned (and the nearest lady to me has now stopped doing it). So I was wondering if anyone washes their own? Was thinking about power washing them and scrubbing them by hand with some sort of shampoo / rug wash stuff? But I'd have to reproof them after?
 
I always wash my own (although I do have access to a large washer and dryer at work which helps). I reproof them every 3 or so washes, and they're all fine and still waterproof.
 
I've used the Nikwax rug reproofer in the past. You just need to run an empty rinse cycle after you've washed the rug(s) before adding the reproofer, as you need to get rid of any traces of laundry detergent.
 
Our local launderette has a big animal washing machine worth checking if you have one nearby as your own machine might not cope, depends on rug size I guess
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I wash my own sometimes using nikwax rug wash ( you can get in five litres from eBay ) but I have a large top loading washer I wash them then do an extra rinse to wash in the the nikwax reproofer , before their first use I give a quick spray along the back with fabsil .
You can wash them in a big skip as well first brush off as much mud as you can then you need to soak a fair whole then lay out and scrub and back into the skip with clean water and whatever you are using for wash then rinse and reproof .
If you use a separate skip for the reproofing it can use it for several and it works out cheaper .
 
We wash ours in our concrete mixer, it is a little labour intensive but a concrete mixer costs about £150 and you can also use it for mixing concrete. If you wash 10 rugs, it will have paid for itself. They come up good as new and much better than power- washing. A good tip is to tie all the straps together to stop them wrapping round the paddles.
 
I don't put heavyweight rugs or really filthy muddy rugs in my home washing machine, but certainly fly rugs, coolers, lightweight rugs, rain sheets etc, although I might run the hoover over them first and yes, fasten all straps and surcingles. Modern rugs also don't need re-proofing every time they are washed so don't worry too much.
 
I bought a bag which I can put light rugs,fly rugs and fleeces into the machine its fab, I clogged up our old machine with horse hair on more than one occasion much to the dispare of my OH! I thought I better buy a rug washing bag for the new machine :)
I have used a reproofer out of a can which works wonders for reproofing the turnouts.
I wash the heavier rugs by hand, either in the bath or outside, I never pay for someone to do it, its too expensive.
 
Im in the 'if it fits in the washing machine, it goes in the washing machine' club!

i usually do a quick rinse first to clear the detergent then wash my horsey/ferret/dog stuff
If its waterproof i will use nikwax cleaner and reproofer, but i only have two rainsheet turnouts and they get done twice a year each so it doesnt cost me a bomb, the rest of my rugs are stable/fly/underugs/fleeces etc xD.
 
Yes! I've got PE rugs that are the lightweight outer and interchangeable liners. I wash in my home machine in non bio liquid then reproof while damp with Fabsil. Does a better job than the last rug wash I used!
 
Thanks everyone, I've got a big Belfast sink outside in one of our sheds so looks like it'll have rugs soaking in it for some time (and I'll use a bin with the reproofers you guys have suggested to dip in)! I do put cooler rugs etc. in my washing machine but daren't put a turnout in it in case I broke it, I need my washing machine too much!! Thanks :)
 
I wash my own and reproof after three or four washes. My machine is old so small so I can only do the smallr sied rugs, ohwewise have used a local horse rug washing service or our local launderette.
 
I wash my own, I bought a large capacity machine especially for horsey stuff. Don't use normal washing liquid or powder as the detergent can wash out the proofing, instead use a rug wash or waterproof clothing wash which maintains the proofing. Then every third wash or so after washing with rug wash, wash agian with reproofer. I used to use NikWax but now use this as it's more economical and seems just as good:

http://rugcare-store.store.buegle.com/index.php/6/
 
I would just use a jet wash and a bucket of warm water with some laundry powder in. Then use tent reproofer spray on it afterwards. Simples.

We are lucky enough to have an industrial washing machine and tumble dryer at the yard - I can't imagine life without it now!
 
I do most of mine in my washing machine. Nikwax rugwash and reproofer are what I use. The heavyweight combos are too big for the washer so they get done in a water trough with the same stuff annually and then about every 3 years I get them done at the local cleaners.
 
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