Is it really worth getting turnout rugs cleaned and re-proofed?

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I always send away my rugs for cleaning but recently a couple of people have mentioned to me that they don't bother, its pointless. Does it really improve the waterproof qualities of rugs, or is it a waste of money?
 
i couldn't bear not to have them cleaned and reproofed. They start to leak after a few seasns anyway, but they STINK if you don't have them done. I think it's much nicer to have nice clean rugs to start again with in the winter
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For me yes! They are smelly/greasy and mildewey if not cleaned. All my rugs are sent to be cleaned/proofed and repaired where needed.
 
I selected other as all of mind get cleaned every year and it cost a bomb but like Jumpthemoon I just couldn't bear for it not to be done.

I like my boys to be all clean and fresh at the start of the winter at least! Different story come March!
 
I have always had mine done every year but i think it is actually making they less water proof. I know it is nice to turn them out in nice clean rugs but they only last a few days like that.
 
I've had most of mine done except the LW. I kept thinking I had loads of time to get the LW done...and now it's peeing it down and horse is back in it!

I am going to have to brave it and leave him out rugless for a few days to get it done before autumn properly sets in I think...
 
I picked other as i usually get mine done every other year. I had a friend who had a rug washing business and she reckoned that if they were done properly that they should last 2 years. Fingers crossed had no problems so far.
 
Mine get reproofed every other year on recommendation of the rug cleaner man, but washed every year as otherwise they get VILE... Plus the stink when I brought them out of storage would be disgusting.
 
I tend to have the rugs I use the most done once a year, I think it helps them last longer and it's so nice getting them back form the cleaners looking like new. The rugs that aren't used as often will be cleaned every other year.

I also send all the thick stable rugs to be cleaned as they get so smelly, the thinner ones are wash at home.
 
this is the first year that we are not getting them done, might get stinky mares stable rug done but Frank keeps his pretty clean.

We have always found that they don't stay waterproof after a season, having had to replace a rug half way through the year due to damage (and having a free voucher!) the difference in the waterproofness after 6 months was very noticeable and reproofing has never seemed to work. Also for the cheaper turnouts it wasn't much more to keep it for a couple of years then get a new one.

Frank was treated to a rhino this year and I am going to clean up the lining by hand (where he had cream on) and just brush the outside down.

I also find washing stable rugs makes the filling bunch up a bit.

All our rugs can stay in the barn though.
 
No, no, no , no, no!

Either buy a good quality rug that will stay water proof for years (one of my rambo's is 9 years old the other is 8 both are still 100% waterproof!) and don't waste money getting them reproofed OR buy cheap rugs and just replace them when they start to leak (after what a week or so in the Scottish rain?)

I don't understand buying cheap rugs and paying to reproof them...save up and buy a good one.

Also why buy a super expensive rug (eg Rambo, FAL) then reproof it when it doesn't leak?!

My Rambo Ulimate (which I remortgaged to buy!) stayed water proof even with a wacking big rip in it...which I will get patch...when the reproofing lady comes round
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I don't get my outdoor rugs done until they leak as a rule - I think the more they are washed and proofed the less they stay waterproof.

My horses are clipped so don't get greasy coats and they only wear them four days a week in winter so the insides stay fairly clean. They also don't tend to get the outsides that dirty - mine (thank god) are not hippo like.

If they start to leak, then I do send them for cleaning and reproofing but at the moment Stinky outgrows them before that happens.

I do get stable rugs cleaned each summer - though this year did not do Chancer's ones as they were clean (he is very clean int the stable) and had no staines etc and did not smell horrible. Farra - well she is a filthy mare and lies in her poo so all hers were done.
 
Other - get them cleaned every year (too big to go in washing machine
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), but have mainly Rambo/Rhino rugs, and they just seem to go on forever without reproofing!
 
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No, no, no , no, no!

Either buy a good quality rug that will stay water proof for years (one of my rambo's is 9 years old the other is 8 both are still 100% waterproof!) and don't waste money getting them reproofed OR buy cheap rugs and just replace them when they start to leak (after what a week or so in the Scottish rain?)

I don't understand buying cheap rugs and paying to reproof them...save up and buy a good one.

Also why buy a super expensive rug (eg Rambo, FAL) then reproof it when it doesn't leak?!

My Rambo Ulimate (which I remortgaged to buy!) stayed water proof even with a wacking big rip in it...which I will get patch...when the reproofing lady comes round
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PS, how do you go about cleaning your rambos or do you not bother? just wondering as a recent purchaser of my first posh rug!
 
I only buy Horsewear Rambo's/Rhinos (bar one PE rug, mistake not to be made again).

I never get them re-proofed - absolute waste of money given that these rugs do not leak!

I use my Rambo's as multi purpose field and stable rugs so they get a lot of wear, the MW/HW ones will go off to be cleaned at least once a year. I don't tend to bother with the LW ones, just run a hose and scrubbing brush over.
 
Rambos only need reprooofing after a lot of washes.

I don't see why anyone would not get reproofed - hikers and whatnot get their clothes and tents reproofed! My mum is a long distance walker, and always makes sure to reproof her coat, by sticking it in the washing machine with a good reproofer.
 
I hose down the ouside rugs to get the worst of the mud off them and thats about it. Unless they go in for repairs, they don't get cleaned or reproofed.

I tend to buy rambos/rhinos and have NEVER had a problem with them leaking ever! I may get stable rugs washed, but thats because he always lies down in his poo
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He doesn't tend to do that outside
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PS, how do you go about cleaning your rambos or do you not bother? just wondering as a recent purchaser of my first posh rug!

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I won't lie my mare wears a fleece under rug most of the winter which does get washed (as it fits in the washing machine) and keeps the inside of the rug like new.

BUT I didn't used to use under rugs and I never had a problem with my FALs or Rambo's smelling orgetting mildew. The little man and big man wore theirs 24/7 (unless being worked clearly) from October to April year in year out...I did air them in the summer sun, hung them up inside out and gave them a little brush down with a body brush. With the big mans rug I sometimes had to dandy brush part of the outside as he loved to use his poo as bedding
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I have just picked mine up from being cleaned, they look lovely (a lot different from the state I sent them off in!)

At least I will have one 'clean & repaired' day at the beginning of the winter before they come back in trashed!
 
I've never bothered having any turnouts reproofed (a mixture of brands from Premier Equine through to Masta and Amigo) but they all get professionally washed once a year - if only because they come back vacuum packed into labelled plastic sacks that are loads easier to store over the summer.
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Plus they get so stiff, smelly and mildewey if you leave them over the summer. Some have been washed four or five times now and still don't leak.

I wash the less bulky stable rugs in my own washing machine at home.
 
I have never bothered sending mine off to be cleaned, or even fixed. If its broken I fix it myself, and I will usually spend a day during the summer cleaning all my rugs. The pony rugs and any stable rugs/fleeces etc all go in the washing machine, and the bigger t/o rugs I get the hose out on, and hoover the hairs off the inside. I have never needed to reproof a rug, and some are about 15 year old horsewear wugs.

I cant be bothered to spend money paying someone to clean a rug that will get covered in mud/sh*t on its first use again. I have heard though that t/o's often come back less waterproof than before.
 
I never send them away I have yet to come accross these kind of services in France..

I just run a big bath full (outside!) of water and put soap and soda crystals in and leave it over night, It looks brand new in the morning and it smells really nice! all that's left is to heave it out and hang it on a fence to dry, I have not yet reproofed any so I don't know if that is really worth doing, my rugs are still watertight and clean ready for the winter.
 
I've never sent them away - it's one of those luxuries I can't afford. But I do wash them as best I can myself and reproof them myself if necessary.
 
Have never washed any of my turnouts, I don't see the point as they would be caked in mud at the first wear. None of them have leaked. My lightweight needs re-proofing but that was just a cheapy one but my Rambo/Shires etc are still fine after years.
 
I do have any really grimmy rugs washed (and also reproofed) at the end of the season if needed.

I use a fab local guy and I don't know anyone who has used him whose rug has leaked after he reproofed it.

The better quality rugs such as Fal and Rambo seem to stay cleaner for longer though.
 
I find after washing a really mucky TO they become much more flexible and soft also. Just got my winter TOs back from washing and they are lovely, like cuddling into a duvet rather than hard and stiff.
 
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