DIY rug washing update

Firehorse

Firehorse

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i posted a while back about people who wash their own rugs. and i also noticed someone else posted recently too. well, i went and bought the nikwax rug wash and the re-proofer and got busy today. luckily, its only a lightweight turnout, 5 ft 6. we're not allowed to use the hose on our yard in winter, as the yard is mainly grass, so had no way to get the worst off before bringing it home. so into the bath it went!!! i scrubbed and showered and scrubbed and showered and scrubbed and showered!!! then used the rug wash. scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed till my arms ached.

then when it came to rinsing, i showered and squeezed and showered and squeezed and it just continued to pour out liquid manure. after a good hour of this performance and once the worst was off, i gave in and shoved it in my machine. i think the rug had never been washed before, it came with my pony and looked ok, but there must've been so much dirt inside the fibres!!!

anyway, its currently in the machine with the re-proofing liquid. i didnt really want to use my machine, but after all that effort i had no energy left to finish it by hand! i slightly underestimated the amount of work involved. but hey ho, at least mr. pony will hve a good as new rug that no longer leaks. and i bet he wont appreciate all the hard work i put in either. but also thinking about the money i saved, i can buy a bottle of wine to reward myself
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i do all of taz's rugs in mums washing machine well the rugs that will fit so up to his medium weights and then reproof them by hand as she'd eat me if i put that through as well
 
Sounds too much like hard work, though good you had a go. Bet its not worked out much cheaper than having it done elsewhere. Your arms will be aching like mad tomorrow.
 

I take my really dirty ones.. to the Jetwash. Put them over the bonnet of my car and give them a good blasting.. Hahahah works brilliantly.
Costs about £2. Never had any problems. Then they go to the rug-wash lady every now and then to re-proof.
 
well the cost of the 2 products was similar to hving the rug done professionally, but the rug wash will do 6 rugs and the re-proofer will do two, so yes, it is cheaper. it also saved me a 40 minute drive to get the rug to my nearest rug washer. so i spose, all in all, a bit of hard work was worth it in the end.
 
I tried doing one of mine at home once...oh my goodness did I underestimate it. Like you I scrubbed for about an hour in the bath (then scrubbed the bath for about an hour to remove the mess I'd made!) before giving it up and putting it in my washing machine, then having to clean that out as well.

I did get a reasonable end result, and next winter went to put it back on my horse, only to find she'd outgrown it!
 
It isn't just the cost it is the inconvenience of being without a rug for weeks if you use a professional.

In Scotland our saddler refused to do basic repairs unless rugs were washed (health and safety) here in France my saddler does not insist I wash them first and usually does repairs while i am in the supermarket - what a star he is.
 
Now what I really want to know is how on earth do you get the sopping wet rug from bathroom to kitchen - assuming that's where washing machine is?? In fact how do you get sopping wet rug anywhere from the bath without soaking everything on your way ??
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NikkiF - a large bucket, then some old towels on the floor infront of the machine, which you can then chuck in when u put the machine on a cycle to clean it out after doing the rug. mine's all done now and it looks fabio! a couple of repairs to do when its dry and bingo! jst need some warmer weather now so he can show it off to his field mates!
 
A tip for next time you want it cleaned, find your local launderette, try a few until you find one with a large washer at the back (they usually use it for football kits etc) Then bung it in without detergent on a cold or slightly warm wash. Hey presto - sparkly clean rug, no weatherproofing lost at all because no detergent used.

You'd be surprised how easily warm water will extract dirt from a rug and the simple mashing around in a washing machine lifts all the dirt.

Many launderettes say no they won't wash horse rugs but they can't complain if you don't tell them what you are washing and to be honest a football kit in mid winter is just as disgustingly muddy and smelly..............

I do all mine every spring and have never had to re-proof one yet, the massive machines can easily fit several rugs in at the same time depending on size.
 
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