Rug maintenance

[mickey]

Just wondering how much rug washing, rug washing and re-proof, and repairs cost in your area??
I am going to be shedding a small fortune I think, though I do have a few rugs to sort out. Naughty me, should have done it is the spring.

 

[Stoxx]

I had my pony's rugs washed a few weeks ago, it was £7 a rug no matter what rug or size. The yard I am now at does it for you and it's £5 a rug, £3 a sheet and £2 for numnahs etc. But I think that is quite cheap!

 

[Shilasdair]

The cheapest local rug wash is £8, the dearest £11, but those don't include reproofing.
I tend to only get mine washed, and reproof them myself, which does a better job, and is cheaper.
I was going to say, it can be quite pleasant sitting out on the grass in the sun proofing rugs, but here in Glos, I haven't seen the sun since the end of July

S

PS My tip is to get a receipt with a description of the rugs...in the past one of the companies I put mine into went bust...and I only got mine back because I could prove they belonged to me.

 

[Bettyboo1976]

I've always sent mine away to be washed and reproofed.. is it quite easy to reproof them yourself.. tbh i wouldnt know where to begin

 

[mickey]

I have phoned 2 places locally - One was £8.99 for a wash, the other was a rather steep £11.60. The first place does wash and re-proof for £17.95, the latter provides the same service for £18.55. No idea about the cost of repairs.

Do you think the re-proof you can buy to do it yourself is as good as that done by the cleaners??

I have some really nice rugs ( I don't like buying cheap rugs and replacing them each yr when they rip!). I certainly wouldn't want them getting lost!!!

 

[CBAnglo]

I have mine done every Spring. It is £5 wash and £5 reproof - no matter what size rug and includes necks etc. They also repair them - costs vary from £3 to £6 (but that one had about 3 huge tears in it). Takes a while (6 weeks) so it is a convenient place to store my rugs as well!

The woman is really nice and rings me when they are ready to be picked up. They come back really clean and waterproofed (no leaks all winter) and she even puts the nikwax tag on the rugs that have been reproofed so you know she has done it.

I took about 13 stable and turnout rugs to be washed and reproofed and it cost me approximately £90. I have done it myself in the past, but the bottle of proofing stuff was £10 and only did 2 rugs and it takes ages to wash the rugs and costs loads in soap and water. Much easier and cheaper to send them off!

 

[cellie]

I used tent re proofer from a caravan shop worked a treat and managed to do several with one tin.

 

[mickey]

Blimey CBAnglo that sounds like an incredible deal!

 

[moodiestmare]

I use the hydrophane (blue tin. Think it was about £7 and I have already done 3 rugs with it.

If you sponge it on it works really well.

I have heard though that if you pressure wash your rugs you don't need to reproof them and they come out really clean. Not sure if this is true though.

 

[CBAnglo]

I suppose it depends on how dirty your rugs are. My horses were stabled a lot over winter at one particular yard so their stable rugs were filthy - there was no way I was ever going to get them clean. Same for their turnouts - they were encrusted with mud etc.

I could have pressure washed them and reproofed them, taken others to the laundrette or soaked in a bucket etc but having done that in the past I always ended up using loads of soap (learnt never to buy baby blue rugs again no matter how lovely they look) and then having to sponge on the reproofer etc took me ages. I work pretty much 7 days a week so time really is a factor for me but no doubt it would probably be cheaper if I did them myself. I have heard the tent reproofer stuff is meant to be really good - never tried the hydrophane one although I did buy their rug repair kit (never used as just get the rug lady to do them!)

Mickey - pm me if you want the details - she isnt far from the dartford tunnel (well depends on how fast you drive down the A13!)

 

[Chex]

I don't wash mine because the local place is about £28 for a fullneck to be washed and reproofed

. I do need most of mine washed but I'm not spending the £400odd it would cost!!

 

[mickey]

Thanks CBANglo for your help, and everyone else too!

I think I shall get them washed locally and re-proof myself, given what people have said on this thread. There are some repairs to be done - I tried with my normal sewing machine once, and apart from taking 2 hrs to thread it (last time I used one was in the '80s at school)

the needle did not stand up to it!

Can anyone tell me where I can get the hydrophane? I presume any local outdoors store would sell the tent stuff, or I might have to order online?