washing machines and horses - can they mix?

[alsxx]

I'm curious to know if anyone has the secret to getting these two to mix!? See, I have only been living in my own place now for 2 years now and am already on my second machine...as far as my boyfriend is concerned that has something to do with putting horsey things in, rugs, numnahs, girths, my clothes post clipping and during moulting season!! So now he keeps a beady eye on what does go in, maybe as his mum bought the latest one! Having seen posts relating to putting grooming stuff in, how do you do it? Or are you on your third or fourth machine by now? Pointless post really, just curious!!

 

[Tinker_Belle]

"washing machines and horses - can they mix?"

I suppose they could but I have trouble enough loading mine into a trailer sometimes, let alone a washing machine

 

[pootler]

I find the best way is to wear dark glasses and sneak in ninja like to the local launderette. Surreptitiously stuff all your horsey stuff in there and hope like hell no-one spots you.

Alternatively wait for the husband/OH to really annoy you and then wash his pants with your numnahs.... best form of revenge I know of.

 

[alsxx]

PMSL!

 

[Ezme]

i heard putting it in a pillow case helps and most of the hair will stay in the case

 

[ironhorse]

When the cat's away..the mouse washes all her horse rugs, gets them dry and back to the stables before he notices. D**n this rainy weather.
It's good to have a husband who goes away on business!
Actually this is our second washing machine in 6yrs, and he actually suggested getting one with a bigger drum to accommodate the rugs.
We've also got one of those orange wash bags which at least keeps most of the tell tale white horse hairs off his boxer shorts

 

[GlamourDol]

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PUT YOUR HORSE IN A WASHING MACHINE!!!

 

[Janette]

Boring Sensible answer

It's not the horse, it's the hair. Remove as much hair as you can from stuff before washing. Seeing the hair collecting in the door of the machine sends my OH ballistic. oh, and smell. I have run a rinse program before I wash anything else or else I risk contaminating other stuff.
My OH had a real thing about me washing travel boots and tail bandages - anything with poo on it, until I pointed out that it wasn't as bad as washing the kids dirty nappies or HIS foul, stinking. oily overalls! They really DO gum up the works! Not to mention the time he washed overalls complete with an enormous spanner wich broke the glass of the washing machine door, or the oil slick which had to be washed off the rubber seal before anything else could be washed....... Now he says nothing when he hears a buckle clinking against the glass when I wash a girth or a fleece.

 

[RagazzoSam]

If you have water and a tack area what about buying a cheap 2ndhand washing machine and having it plumbed in ? My local British Heart Foundation electrical shop had a Bosch for sale recently for £95.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

[ QUOTE ]
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PUT YOUR HORSE IN A WASHING MACHINE!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Great minds...

I shouldn't be so flippant but the title tickled me

OP, I'm not allowed to wash my rugs in the machine but numnahs & stuff, I brush the worst of the hair off & am allowed to wash them in a pillowcase in the washing machine

My mum isn't horsey so I have limits

 

[Nando]

I cheat and break my parents washing machine instead...afterall, it is only a few feet from the yard so pointless loading it all in the car to clog up my own machine!!!

Poor parents must be on about their 5th w/m as both my sisters use it too!!!

 

[dressager]

Just get one of these, I use one and it makes life so much easier as I am washing bandages every other day:

http://www.frogpool.com/product-7325.html

 

[MurphysMinder]

I have one of those wash bags, or similar. Can thoroughly recommend them, girths, numnahs, dog blankets the lot go in them. I got mine from a company called applied thoughts, not sure how they compare price wise. www.washingnet.org.uk

 

[wishfulthinking]

I don't do rugs (apart from sheets) and I get the worst of the dirt/ hair off with a brush or hoover first to try and help the poor machine.

 

[Eaglestone]

My theory is that if it fits shove it in ..... my machine is now over 14 years old and as I have owned my horse for over 17 years, I think this proves they do mix.....

I have just had the brushes replaced, but you cannot blame the horse bits and bobs for those going

 

[Twilight]

These laundry bags are great, slightly more padded than a pillow case to protect glass from buckles. Velcro at top to seal in all the hair and dirt so it doesn't go in the filter. Have to make sure stuff is reasonabley mud free as the bags prevent much stuff going into machine - therefore it stays in bag so stuff doesn't always rince 100% clean if really dirty. Brings my fleecy event boots up clean after a wet day out and t's filthy fly rugs come out clean too!

http://www.krsproducts.co.uk/laundrybag.htm

 

[lucym]

erm....if it fits in the machine, then i wash it

did get one of those bags, and it is very good, but holds all the hair in, and i dont want my washed stuff covered in hair! whats the filter for after all??

only thing i now use it for is girths and travel boots

 

[alsxx]

exactly, if its fits shove it in - i've managed to get some 5'9 rugs in and washed!

I gave up using pillow cases as they dont seal and hair still goes everywhere so I may have to invest in one of those bags.

Just makes me laugh when OH asks 'er what's that noise' to the buckles chinking against the glass

 

[Becky1one]

I thought I was the only one who hid it from my OH. lol

 

[PennyJ]

Hoover everything hairy before it goes in otherwise the machine will bung up with hair and not work any more. Just get rid of as much as you can. I now put the stuff on the floor, stand on it and hoover it with the upright vacuum.

The trick to fixing the machine when it does bung up is to "backwash" the machine - drain it below the door seal level, then empty out offending item, pull machine out and then put water down the draining pipe which will send the hair back into the machine. then fish out as much hair from the dirty water in the machine as you can (use a sieve) and bale out the rest of the water. Keep on pouring water down the drain pipe and repeat sieve and baling out. Try another rinse cycle and let it drain into the sink or a bucket. You'll soon find out when it's clear enough of hair to start working properly. Then when it's back in action, go back to washing the offending rug!


Handy hint, wash them in the morning rather than at 11pm at night so that way you're not up till 3 in the morning fixing the machine before OH finds out!

 

[Marymary]

I use a pillow case and seal it with a hair band, keep meaning to get one of those orange wash bags and forgetting. We do have an older machine for the horses washing but its been 'waiting' to be plumbed in for 2 years!!

 

[mintaka04]

I've got one of those orange horsewear bags, they are ok, but I will admit to doing a horsy wash when hubby is out at work!

We have our old Miele washing machine in the garage, plumbed in for horsy stuff. It's about 13 years old and still going ok but it does make some awful noises, hence we bought a new one which I'm not supposed to do horsy wash in.
When the old Miele dies we will no doubt buy a secondhand machine to keep in the garage for horsy washing.
Hubby HATES the sound of the buckles crashing around in the wash!
At least when it's in the garage he doesn't hear it.

 

[cellie]

Mine stopped pumping out today guess what it was blocked with -disgusting -new machine as well.I have only just had it repaired as one of my boys left 5p in his pocket and it sheared off the bolts that hold paddles in place.That 5p cost me £60.I think Ill go for the hoover tip prior to washing next time.