Opinion pls: Second hand t/o rugs - buy washed or not washed?

Spyda

Spyda

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My basic question is, are you put off by unwashed second hand turnout rugs???

My 6 year old mare was PTS last week leaving me with an enormous pile of rugs to dispose of. The ones that are brand new or like new I have listed on eBay but I'm still left with another pile of used turnouts.

I normally used a Snuggy Hood Silky Petticoat liner so they're not too greasy, but inevitably she'd rolled on the outside and also gotten some mud splatters on the inner lining.

I've got about 10 here so quite a pile and as they're a large size they don't really squeeze into my washing machine too well. :(

So... I am left wondering what you'd do in my position?

Options are:
1. Leave as they are;
2. Take to laundrette and wash but don't reproof (fairly expensive, about £8 per rug);
3. Have professionally washed and reproofed (very expensive, about £12-15 per rug (most have neck covers).

Part of me thinks a waterproof turnout rug is better left unwashed but these are decent rugs and I don't want to end up getting peanuts on eBay because they look a little grubby.
 
I bought some decent 2nd hand rugs a while back, I factored into the amount I was willing to pay the cost of washing and had any that were not packed in professional cleaning bags washed or washed and reproofed. Personally I would not use a 2nd hand rug unless I knew it had been washed, in saying that however I know a lot of people who will! So I think it depends on how much you are expecting to get for them as well. if they are decent quality rugs in good condition then it's probably worth getting them washed, otherwise I wouldn't bother.
 
Im actually put off by professionally washed turnout rugs as they never seem to come back that water proof. I'd rather buy a dirty rug in good condition than one which may leak. You could always hang them over somthing and just hand wash the mud off with a hose; this is what we do over summer.
 
Give them a good tidy up with jet wash and dandy brush - Most people will professionally clean them again anyway to get rid of invisable nasties like lice and ringworm that could easily hitch a lift on second hand rugs.
 
Brush over the rugs and get them on eBay. If they are in good condition other than being dirty it wouldn't put me off :)
 
You could do what I do and hot soapy scrub them power hose them. They come up a treat. Do it asap while there are still decent drying days left and get them hung over your fence.
 
To be honest I tend to buy unwashed as they have a lower starting price and then i factor in a washa nd reproof with my bid. The amount it will cost you to wash and reproof professionally to what you will get back second hand means you might not even make a profit!

Good pics and a good full description and you should be good to list them all. Goo dluck and sorry to hear about the horse.
 
I would wipe of the worst of the mud and sell them as they are with a note to say you nearly always used an under rug, people dont really want to spend good money on secondhand rugs in general and more often than not I bet these arent cleaned when they get to their new home!

The facebook group Rugs, Rugs, Rugs is a good one for selling good quality rugs as long as you are prepared for the silly offers (all silly offer comments have a kiss on the end just so you can easily spot them x)
 
I prefer to buy clean washed items, not just rugs as I don't know wether the horse that previously wore it had any infections or skin problems. It is just my personal preference as I don't want my horse to catch anything.

As others have said you could hang them on the gate and give them a spray with the hose and scrub with a dandy brush to get the worst of the mud off
 
I've been selling some of my old pony's rugs and had three of the T/O washed and reproofed professionally. The fourth T/O was only a L/W so my mum reproofed it in the washing machine.

Looking back, kind of wish I hadn't bothered, P&P is so bloody expensive (I had been hoping most people would collect as I wouldn't personally bother buying a rug from a private seller if it needed posting). If you pay for wash and reproof yourself then the minimum price you'd probably accept would be higher. I had one rug I was asking £25 for, I paid £15 to have it washed and reproofed (shouldn't have bothered) and P&P was £15. Someone offered me £20 if I "paid the rest". Erm, no! I'm giving it to a charity instead. I'd rather lose £15 to a charity than subsidise some cheeky so-and-so buying my rug.
 
I recently sold a rug on ebay that I had had washed professionally (a stable rug). It cost me £10 to get it washed and p&p came to £10, so I started the bid at £10 plus the £10 p&p.

Well guess how much it went for? £11!

So by the time I paid ebay fees and paypal fees, it just wasn't worth it.

In future I will just sell the rugs as they are and make sure I describe them as such.
 
Okay, thanks for the replies. I guess unwashed wins the debate. And I'm pretty glad. Didn't fancy washing this lot! I'll just take lots of photos. At least their water proofing wont be compromised. Right, I'll get photographing and listing for tomorrow! Thanks all. :)
 
I've sold a fair few rugs and there are a couple of ways to make it more appealling

The first is to include the cost of P&P

the second is to sell rug 'bundles' I've just sold a load in threes and fours in different sizes so a 4'0 bundle, a 4'3 bundle etc - most couriers will allow up to a certain weight in one consignment. For example I have just sent a box of four rugs weighing around 10kg for £7, I could have sent up to 20kg

Buyers are happy as they get a pretty good deal and a few nice new rugs

If you want to sell individually you can always say you can send X kg for the same postage which may make them go and look at what else you have for sale
 
i always buy second hand rugs and will buy them washed or unwashed. TBH i prefer unwashed as then i can go get them washed and reproofed myself and im sure that they are clean and done properly....bought one once that said it had been washed and reproofed and it leaked, poor boy was soaking wet and freezing :(
 
I'd rather unwashed as long as not manky - I don't think they're the same after reproofing. Especially as you've used an under rug I would advertise that!!! You can always power wash to get the worst of the mud off, otherwise don't worry. Horsy people will slightly expect a decent quality secondhand rug to have been rolled in a couple of times!!
 
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