How often do you wash your rugs ?

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niagaraduval

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I take mine to be washed once a year normally, got caught out this year. I got them washed and packed away only to have to take them back out as weather got cold again. Must admit they are minging when I take them in.

Can't wait to be taking them in this week end for the final wash and hopefully to be packed away until next winter, not looking forward to paying though ! 8 euros per rug for a wash, have 6 rugs to do!

How often do you wash yours ? Do wait until they are really dirty to get them washed ? I suppose the reason for washing mine once a year is that I only have one of each for both horses..
 
niagaraduval said:
I take mine to be washed once a year normally, got caught out this year. I got them washed and packed away only to have to take them back out as weather got cold again. Must admit they are minging when I take them in.

Can't wait to be taking them in this week end for the final wash and hopefully to be packed away until next winter, not looking forward to paying though ! 8 euros per rug for a wash, have 6 rugs to do!

How often do you wash yours ? Do wait until they are really dirty to get them washed ? I suppose the reason for washing mine once a year is that I only have one of each for both horses..
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Stable rugs get washed when I think they need it/are dirty. Turnouts get washed/reproofed/repaired at the end of the appropriate season.

P
 
My turnouts get washed/repaired/reproofed (if needed) at the end of winter and when it's warm enough for them not to need them - usually about May/June. Stable rugs go at the same time. Cooler/fleece type stable rugs I can wash myself. I NEVER have my LW turnouts washed - they never seem to come back waterproof so I let the wear till they're trashed, then I buy new.
 
Generally at the end of winter as I don't have a spare and yes they are rather mingy and I drive with the windows open.

Feel for you having to pay so much I pay NZ$20 per rug and that includes a reproofing.

Repairs extra - I use a hot glue gun for the minor repairs, cut a square of fabric from an old rug, ease it inside and behind the tear and then glue it in place, then seal the edges with more glue. Works really well.

Bigger rips get repaired by the same company who wash the rugs.
 
T/Os I try not to, they just get a good airing and stiff brushing inside and out then a quick spray with the hosepipe to lay any dust; don't see the point of washing any proofing out with shampoo of any kind. I'm still using Rambo, Rhino and WB rugs that are nearly 20 years old that haven't needed reproofing yet.
 
Never wash outdoor rugs as they lose the waterproofness and mine last years. It's cheaper to buy a new rug then keep getting them washed anyway! Got some minging fleeces that need doing though.
 
I dread to think of the bills for some people at the cleaners! I think rug washing is a bit of a racket unless you have really nice rugs. I wash them once a year approx but when I say wash I mean scrub inside with warm water and a bit of sensitive washing powder, then attack with hosepipe or even pressure washer. I do this at my parents house on a hot day as I don't even have a garden myself :-) then hang to dry. Might get some paint on reproofer as well.
 
We bought a separate machine just for the horses so we tend to do rugs as and when they need done.

Cotton sheets get done once a week (have about 12 on rotation between the three horses), stable rugs are done when they're so disgusting I don't want to touch them and outdoors are done when you can't tell what colour they are underneath the mud. :o
 
Outdoor rugs I try to wash as little as possible as they then have to be reproofed. Unless you have really grubby horses try airing them periodically and brushing the insides.
Stable rugs I try to wash at least once a season, more if they get very dirty - my horses are pretty clean though and we do groom them daily and keep them on deep bedding. The rugs are hung up to air whilst the horses are out during the day - this helps keeping them clean-ish.
Fleeces and coolers are washed a lot - just sling 'em in the washing machine when hubby's not looking;)
 
I do my rugs as and when I want, I have my own rug wash business fortunately! Do all my turnouts at the end of the season and believe me it is hard work at times, certainly not a shove it in a machine and thats it....! As for lightweights, wash and re-proof them all the time and must have been luckier than some, mine have never leaked. I have the Amigo 600d ones and the red one I have must be around 5-6 yrs old and is still like new.
 
I have rugs cleaned, repaired and reproofed at the end of each season. Just paid £60 for 3 to be washed, repaired and reproofed which I thought was ok. When my lad passed away last year I donated his Fal Pro rugs to Bransby and the were in great nick for 15 odd year old.
 
I did used to get them done yearly but with more than one horse its an expense I can do without tbh!
I now send them away when they are ripped, leaking or if they haven't been done in years!
Indoor rugs I do myself when my O/H is safely out of earshot of clanging rug buckles as its like a red flag at a bull! ;)
 
Izzwizz said:
I do my rugs as and when I want, I have my own rug wash business fortunately! Do all my turnouts at the end of the season and believe me it is hard work at times, certainly not a shove it in a machine and thats it....! As for lightweights, wash and re-proof them all the time and must have been luckier than some, mine have never leaked. I have the Amigo 600d ones and the red one I have must be around 5-6 yrs old and is still like new.
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You may be able to answer my question! Im on the lookout for a new washing machine and am going to buy one that I can fit a stable rug (standard neck medium) in and wash effectively. Currently have a 5.5kg drum and they come out with washing powder/dirt smeared over as there is not enough room. How big a drum should I be looking at?
Thanks... sorry op!
 
poiuytrewq said:
You may be able to answer my question! Im on the lookout for a new washing machine and am going to buy one that I can fit a stable rug (standard neck medium) in and wash effectively. Currently have a 5.5kg drum and they come out with washing powder/dirt smeared over as there is not enough room. How big a drum should I be looking at?
Thanks... sorry op!
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My 2 machines are industrial types, Ipso brand. They wash up to and including 10kg I think without checking. Put it this way I can fit in 7ft stable rugs with ease and pretty much the same size for turnouts though I dont do many that size.! I use liquid equine rug wash products so dont have the powder smeared on problem you describe.
 
My turnouts get draped over the fence so I can jetwash them inside and out. I re-proofed Alfie's heavies last year and patched them myself. Everything else I chuck in the washing machine as and when needed. Stable rugs when they're pooey (probs twice a yr) and fly rugs fortnightly.
 
I wash my rugs in the normal machine machine at the end of the winter on 30c with no soap and detergent, this keeps the worst smell at bay, it does not affect the waterproofing.
Only time I pay to have them washed is when I need a repair I can not do myself.Most of mine are Horseware of all types and none leak and the oldest is about 10 year old.
 
My turnouts get draped over the fence so I can jetwash them inside and out. I re-proofed Alfie's heavies last year and patched them myself. Everything else I chuck in the washing machine as and when needed. Stable rugs when they're pooey (probs twice a yr) and fly rugs fortnightly.
 
Mine will be being washed tomorrow as moving house at the weekend and leaving the washing machine. So anything smelly horsey and hairy will be going in !!!! I know it's naughty but you know you would. X
 
I wash my big lads fleeces and fly rugs whenever they need it (probably more often than I dare mention!) same with the little lads. The big rugs I take in for cleaning once a season but I do keep them tidy through the season with a quick hose down etc. fortunately the big lad is very clean in his stable and doesn't roll when outso it helps immensely!

I do all minor repairs myself.

My horseware bag gets used most weeks ;)
 
I wash my stable rugs every 2/3 weeks, I don,t have anything over 200 grms in weight and use more than 1 rug if it gets very cold. Thay all fit in my LG 7 kg washing machine and if I do them early in the morning they are dry by evening. I power wash out door rugs at least once a year I don't like smelly rugs. I always have a bottle of stuf that you spray tents with and if one starts to leak I just give it a spray.
 
I wash all my own (and for friends) because I cannot abide dirty rugs. I have an 11 kg cspacity lg (I have 3 kids!) and haven't met a rug it won't wash yet.
 
I wash stable rugs & fleeces when they are grufty, turnouts I tend not to wash as they never seem to come back as waterproof as they were :( I don't buy ridiculously expensive rugs (prob £50 max) & just see washing as a waste as they are filthy again after an hour of being on anyway! I just give them a brush off at the beginning of the summer xx
 
This is really my first year of using outdoor rugs; managed with just one LW, but it wil be getting sent away to be cleaned. My washer could cope with it, unfortunately my pipes can't, so I can only was coolers and fleeces at home - which happens about once a month.
 
poiuytrewq said:
You may be able to answer my question! Im on the lookout for a new washing machine and am going to buy one that I can fit a stable rug (standard neck medium) in and wash effectively. Currently have a 5.5kg drum and they come out with washing powder/dirt smeared over as there is not enough room. How big a drum should I be looking at?
Thanks... sorry op!
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Capacity sizes go up to 12 kg, but that's more than most households would need, even a 10kg drum would hold a large load.
My OH has a 5.5 kg and after years of having 7-8 kg machines, I noticed a big difference. Can't put a duvet in the small one and it only manages a lightweight stable rug or fleece. Also need to use the extra rinse programme with it.

I take my rugs in to be cleaned regularly, especially the stable rugs. Wouldn't put a rug smelling of urine on a horse, though fortunately, they have deep beds which keep the rugs generally ok.
Fleeces get done after a few uses in my machine, otherwise the outdoors get washed, repaired and reproofed professionally 6 monthly and hosed/brushed off in between as necessary.

Some of my rugs are up to 10 years old and still like new. Washing hasn't ruined them or made them leak although, not all rug cleaning services are equal. Finding a good cleaner makes a difference.

Just paid £100 two weeks ago for 6 winter rugs to be done and have 5 more in at the moment. Then they can be packed away for autumn.
 
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