Reproofing rugs

[alsxx]

I'm selling a rug at the moment on ebay, and have had a few people ask if its been re-proofed (as I've washed it which is stated in item description).

Now, I've always washed my own rugs, or the big ones HAVE had done professionally, and have never bothered with re-proofing, and have never had any trouble with rugs leaking.

So what exactly is the point in reproofing, is it just extra cost offered by rug washing services? Do people find that rugs DO leak after they have been washed, and I've just been really lucky?

Curious...

 

[RSL]

I think its something to do with the detergent you use in the washing machine.

I've had turnout rugs leak because I didn't know they had to reproofed after, you can buy the stuff you wash-in the machine with the rug but I like the spray on stuff.

At first I was like nah their not leaking but it wasn't until I went down late one night, it was raining hard that I found my poor boy soaked, so now I reproof all my rugs, I am also one for asking ebay sellers too.

 

[Izzwizz]

Rugs dont usually leak after a first time wash - provided you have washed using the correct products e.g. Nikwax. After a first time wash I would always re-proof as just like our coats, they do lose a bit of the "nature" from the fabric and horses being horses do roll and weaken the waterproof layer. The amount of weathering a rug gets also affects how long it will stay waterproof for. Re-proofing is a simple process where the solution is rinsed in and washed through the rugs for 15mins in my machines. My own rugs have never leaked after washing and I dont receive any complaints - only 2 in the last 5yrs and they were quite old rugs. (touches wood quickly) I have my own rugwashing business so have washed quite a number of rugs. Have to say also that the quality of rugs does affect how long they last and how they withstand the process. I have taken advice from Nikwax themselves so believe they know what they are talking about. Very good products from them, they are all I use.

Hope this helps.

 

[alsxx]

Thats really interesting, thanks.

But I can honestly say I've never had a rug leak....the only wetting I've ever found underneath a rug has been where water has run down the neck and wetted the top part underneath the shoulder, if I add a neck rug I dont get that problem - and thats only with rugs that dont fit as well round the shoulder that I find that anyway. Some of the rugs I have are donkeys years old (thinking of the pony's old rambo originals, about 12 years old) and they get put in the washing machine every spring!!

Ah well, each to their own I guess!