Second hand rugs, washed or unwashed?

[elliejhb]

I have about a dozen rugs to sell, many of which have been worn so if I was keeping I would get washed/wash at home (although as most are 7ft I'd struggle to get them in my washing machine). I know I won't get my money back on these rugs, but with the cost of washing them would I be better off selling 'sold as seen'?

If you were buying a second hand rug, what would you prefer to buy a washed rug or an unwashed rug (thinking mainly about turnouts, but interested in views for other types)

 

[Shooting Star]

For me it would depend on the asking price, cheap ones either because they are well worn or cheaper brands I wouldn’t personally expect to be washed but more expensive ones I would so I guess maybe where the asking price is £40+ I’d want them clean ... unless it’s a real bargain e.g. £250 rug for £50 I’d happily take to the cleaners myself.

So I guess my answer is that it depends!

 

[maddielove]

After buying a Rambo Duo second hand (and not exactly cheap either) last year that had been washed and subsequently leaked like a sieve I don't know if I'd buy a washed turnout again.

Wiping down the lining with a hot cloth and a dishwasher tablet/detergent to remove the worst of the grease and brushing off the worst of the mud/grime from the outside seems to be the way forward for making turnouts last - if they stay waterproof!

Anything else I'd prefer washed but would probably buy unwashed if priced to reflect that.

 

[Rowreach]

Honestly, I never buy second hand rugs. But when I see sh1te encrusted rugs advertised I just think ew, give it a bath ? I’d be too worried about bringing nasties into the house/into the yard.

 

[milliepops]

I don't get my TOs professionally washed and so i would happily buy a dirty one that has not been pro washed for the right price. i scrub the insides myself and dust off the outsides as much as necessary. I only buy Rambos though and can't afford to buy them new so this way suits me.

I would want stable rugs washed. Last used indoor rug i bought was absolutely wadded in horsehair on the inside. probably the most disgusting thing i have ever received second hand.

 

[sunnyone]

I wash everything I give away, so I'd certainly have to have done any rugs I was going to sell!

Hence I'd expect to buy them having been cleaned if I bought them and then would probably check that they were clean enough before putting them on a horse.

 

[ihatework]

I think it will depend on the quality of the rugs to start with. I often buy secondhand.
I only buy high end brands. Stable rugs I want cleaned. Turnouts I prefer dirty (and not used in stable) . I’ll hose wash them myself and disinfect the lining.
Cheap rugs from a sellers POV aren’t financially worth pro cleaning.

 

[honetpot]

If it's a good brand, if apart from the mud or the odd broken strap, unwashed. I wash mine in bicarb on in cold water. If I am selling I tend to was and reproof now I have found someone who does them for a reasonable price, including repairs. I sent a lot to a rug sale, so it will be interesting to see what sold, some were almost new.

 

[Fransurrey]

I ticked all unwashed, simply because so many people tell me of problems with their rugs coming back not waterproof anymore. Having said that, if I see a rug caked in mud for sale, I avoid it. It doesn't take much to hose off mud and show any tears or nicks.

 

[Jenko109]

I wouldnt buy a washed turnout because of the risk of it not being waterproof if it's not been reproofed.

Fleece or stable rug though, I would expect it to be washed.

 

[teddypops]

I would expect everything except turnouts to be washed. I don’t tend to buy used turnouts, but I wouldn’t buy one that had been washed because in my experience they are never waterproof again!

 

[Sossigpoker]

I've only bought stable rugs used but only bought them washed. But I still wash them again in Virkon.

 

[TPO]

I sell quite a few 2nd hand rugs and always sell dirty*. There's little return once they've been washed and reproofed so I don't bother.

*dirty as in mud splashes. Depending on the weather I'll do my best to wash the inside of turnouts and brush mud off the outer. Stable rugs I machine wash first.

 

[ester]

After buying a Rambo Duo second hand (and not exactly cheap either) last year that had been washed and subsequently leaked like a sieve I don't know if I'd buy a washed turnout again.
.

I bought a second hand unwashed duo that was fab... until mum leant it to a horse in a ditch then sent it to be pro washed proofed it was never the same again.

Most of my rugs have been second hand rhinos/rambos and I just hand wash the linings.

 

[Roxylola]

I wouldn't want turnouts that have been washed even if they're reproofed they won't be waterproof again. That said, I'd buy washed ones to use as stable rugs

 

[cremedemonthe]

All rugs should be washed before being sold, rugs can carry diseases and bacteria that can kill you, including Leptospirosis (Weil's disease). Whilst training as a Saddler we were warned not to work on dirty rugs but to clean them first or insist they were cleaned and dried before being brought in to the shop.
I ignored the advice thinking a little dirt won't harm but continuous repairing of rugs on one of my previous sewing machines knackered the bobbin by grinding away (grit and mud in the rug) and one rug I cut open the lining to effect a repair and a load of maggots wriggled out. Wash your rugs, your health can depend on it.
Oz (saddler)

 

[windand rain]

I have them washed and reproofed every year not had one leak yet I mostly buy cheaper new than second hand as I worry about cross contamination

 

[mariew]

I sell quite a few 2nd hand rugs and always sell dirty*. There's little return once they've been washed and reproofed so I don't bother.

.

I had this, nice rugs but people only wanted to pay £20 which was near on what I had paid.for washing and reproofing. I gave mine away to a all cal riding school instead.

 

[elliejhb]

I sell quite a few 2nd hand rugs and always sell dirty*. There's little return once they've been washed and reproofed so I don't bother.

*dirty as in mud splashes. Depending on the weather I'll do my best to wash the inside of turnouts and brush mud off the outer. Stable rugs I machine wash first.

This is my thought, that the cost of washing and reproofing a turnout would probably only just be covered by the price I could sell them for. I've also bought a second hand turnout before which just leaked.
But I'd wash stable/fly/fleece rugs if it meant that they'd sell.

 

[Kaylum]

Unwashed turnouts from the feedback we get people prefer unwashed. Use to send them all for washing and reproofing but it wasnt worth the extra cost when selling for charity. If it's a good rambo fleece or stable rug we would probably jet wash it as they make good money.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Agree with the above comments re unwashed stable rugs! ? photos of a few cm of solid poo and “no offers” at the end of the advert…
I wash non waterproof stuff regularly and wouldn’t ever sell it dirty.
Turnouts I’d like a bit of an effort made to clean but I’d be happy to buy a really good rug cheaper and clean it myself.
Saying that I’ve just sent a turnout to the cleaners to sell it! It’s pretty much new and I want to get decent money. It will just look better in photos ?‍ I’m going against my own words there ?

 

[jnb]

I wash fleeces or stable rugs before selling (professionally) but nowadays don't wash turnouts, mine don't get muddy anyway really as Cob has little mud to get into despite living out!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I had probably somewhere in the hundreds of donated second hand rugs when I sold donated tack to raise money for horse rescues. I managed to get a discount rate with a professional rug wash.

All were sent out to buyers as washed and reproofed and repaired, but with no guarantee they were still waterproof. The risk at a later date of a buyer claiming the rug had given their horse lice, ringworm or whatever would have put the charity I was fund raising for in a very poor light.

I would never buy second hand it it was still obviously dirty and certainly wouldn't put it on my horse.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I've never washed a turnout rug and don't really plan to and I prefer to buy them unwashed - am happy if they have brushed off the mud etc. though.

For stable rugs and fleeces don't see a reason not to wash them really and would like them clean and ready to go.