Rug washing and waterproofing

[Paint Me Proud]

Basically my question is...

Does washing a turnout rug (such as at home in your washer!) destroy the waterproofing?

I, for some reason, have always believed that washing a waterproof item destroys the waterproofing properties.
Was talking with my mum about it today and we couldnt decide if washing on cold would be okay or whether it was the detergent etc?

Any ideas?

 

[ncarter]

I think you have to put a re-proofer on it too.
When you get your rugs washed there is a cost for washing and a cost for re-proofing on top.
However they never seem to come back as waterproof as they were when they were new!

 

[Paint Me Proud]

well i thought that as i know when people send their rugs away at the yard they always have 'wash and re-proof'

I am yet to send any rugs away and another livery said she would wash my rug for me as she has a massive rug sized washing machine at home. She seemed surprised when i said no thank you as i thought it would kill the waterproofing.

Has anyone on here successfully washed their own rugs and had them remain waterproof?

 

[Boysy]

Washing in plain cold or 30% degree will not affect your waterproofing at all, it is only when detergent is introduced that the proofing will be affected and even then you can get away with non-bio powder to some extent.

I have turnout rugs going strong that are a good few yrs old now, they are washed twice yrly in cold/warm water with no detergent and are 100% waterproof still. I use my local launderette for most of them otherwise they go in my machine at home on a slow cold or 30% wash and come out looking like new every time.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

fantastic - thanks Boysy!!

 

[Izzwizz]

If you wash them yourself use Nikwax rug wash, not any sort of detergent as that will affect the waterproofness. I wouldnt risk it with non-bio wash powder, use the horse products and this also lessens the risk of any skin irritation to your horses skin.