Rug wash

[bonnyben]

There were two places locally that did horse rug cleaning - one has closed down as they are about to move and the other says she has a month turnaround period at least due to pressure of business. She is also a addler so spends a lot of time all over the place fitting saddles...so can't blame her really.

I have checked and the nearest place is in Stewarton, about 35 minutes at least away - I have about 5 winter/autumn rugs to be cleaned and am reluctant to leave them with the saddler because she seems a bit disorganised (will end up getting worng rugs back ) and the other one is a bit too far away....

I have heard that some people just hang them over their line in the garden and hose the dirt off - but does that do the job??

What do you do???

[fleabitten]

Over here i think there is a few places that will collect and deliver the rugs for you. Is there anywhere that would do that? I guess its not too much of a problem here as its such a small country. We got ours washed and repaired by our local tack shop.

I personally wouldnt dream of hanging them over the line and hosing them - totally pointless.

You can get rug re-proofer if you want to do them at home but it depends on whether you are happy sticking a big dirty rug into your washing machine - also whether it would fit!

[haffyfan]

I brush mine down inside and out (and buy new when they get beyond this!)

Only had one cleaned once many years ago now and it leaked like a sieve after and I had to buy a new one anyhows so might as well as saved the cleaning money! Had a bad experience with (so called) proffesional repairs too one of mine kept getting shoved to bottom of pile...think they just dumped new ones on top of it....again had to buy a new one as after a month and several calls to try and get it actually repaired I still had a very ripped rug and a horse needing to wear it! My mum repairs them for me now if it's not too bad.

[bonnyben]

Thanks guys.

I think my LG washer might tackle a fly rug or summer sheet but no way would I risk a h/w t/o in it... I am sure it would just break down with the weight.

Pick up service seems a good idea, not on offer though from what I have seen.

[racaille]

I have a large sink in my utility area so I soaked them in warm water, then hung them out over a pole wedged between two trees (my line would not take their weight, no way!) Then I got a bucket and a brush and scrubbed away any last mud (they were very muddy and smelly) before hosing them down.

They dried out very quickly - I found that someone had cleverly thought of washing and had made little exits for the water to escape from the lining at the front (WBs).

It sounds like a lot of faff but actually it was quick - I had four to do - and they came up beautifully, no pee smell at all!

[bonnyben]

Thanks Rac, sounds excellent. Two of Ben's rugs are WBs so handy to know about the little exits.

Shame I didn't ask this question in mid May though, when the weather was fabby here.

It's gone downhill now and previous experience says that once the rain comes in July that's it til Christmas....