Winter is approaching fast, and horse blanket care begins with washing for many horse owners. Horses love to roll, and they aren’t concerned with getting dirty! So, we are tasked with getting blankets cleaned and ready for daily use with the cold approaching. Blankets should be washed at least once a year to prolong their use.
How to Wash and Dry Your Horse Blanket
Horse owners can use a washing machine or hand wash /pressure wash. While it sounds easy to throw the blanket in the machine and let it do all the work, this method doesn’t work for every blanket. Midweight to heavy blankets do best with hand/pressure washing. Also, check the tag to see if it's recommended to hand wash vs. the machine. Always wash according to the tag.
What should you wash your horse blankets with?
We recommend the use of Schneiders® Horse Blanket Wash. The extra strength formula is designed specifically to be effective on even the heaviest soil without leaving any residue that could irritate your horse’s sensitive skin.
Can you put a horse blanket in a dryer?
Most blankets cannot be put in the dryer. The dryer's heat can destroy waterproofing or damage the fabric. It could also melt any plastic on the blanket. The best way to dry is to line dry.
How do you repair your horse's blanket?
Caring for your horse’s blankets means you might find yourself repairing small tears and replacing missing parts. For repairs you can do yourself, a horse blanket repair tape is a great option, as shown here. You can always find replacements if you’ve lost a strap or your old blanket straps are in disrepair.
What do you use to re-waterproof your horse's blanket?
If necessary, re-activate the waterproofing capability of your blanket using a blanket re-waterproofer product. Spray the product onto the dry blanket in an open area away from animals. Follow the product instructions for application and dry time.
Steps to Pressure Washing Your Horse Blanket
When your horse’s blankets get extra dirty, follow these steps to pressure wash your horse blanket:
- Choose a warm day when you expect a few sunny days.
- Lay your blanket on the ground and brush away any obvious dirt and mud with a dry broom or brush.
- Use your pressure washer to thoroughly clean the mud, dirt, and sweat off the outside of the blanket.
- Flip the blanket over and thoroughly clean the inside of the blanket with the power washer.
- Hang your blanket over a fence and rinse both sides with plain water to remove all soap and the last dirt and debris.
- Hang the wet blanket in a sunny spot over a fence and leave it to dry thoroughly. (It may take a couple of days for the blanket to dry completely).
Steps to Hand Washing Your Horse Blanket
Use the same process as pressure washing, except using a hard brush, in circular motions, to soap up your blanket, and then use a hose to rinse it off. End by hanging the wet blanket in a sunny spot to dry thoroughly.
- Choose a warm day when you expect a few sunny days.
- Lay your blanket on the ground and brush away any obvious dirt and mud with a dry broom or brush.
- Use a hard brush, in circular motions, to clean the mud, dirt, and sweat off the outside and inside of the blanket.
- Hang your blanket over a fence and rinse both sides with plain water to remove all soap and the last dirt and debris.
- Hang the wet blanket in a sunny spot over a fence and leave it to dry thoroughly. (It may take a couple of days for the blanket to dry completely).
Steps to Machine Wash Your Horse Blanket
(ONLY for lightweight blankets and coolers)
- Remove excess dirt with a dry broom or brush.
- Hose off any stubborn dirt.
- Remove as much hair as possible from the blanket, as it can clog your drain.
- Put the blanket in a mesh or special laundry bag to protect the machine from buckles and straps.
- Wash your blanket on the gentle cycle, using cold water and a gentle detergent.
- Remove the blanket as soon as the machine’s cycle is complete (to avoid mold and mildew) and hang the wet blanket in a sunny spot to dry thoroughly.
10 Blanket Care Products Every Horse Owner Needs
Horse blanket care doesn’t have to be hard when you have the right products.
- Schneiders® Spray On Blanket Re-Proofer
- Schneiders® Blanket Wash
- Schneiders® Detachable Adjustable 1" Elastic Leg Straps
- StormShield® Horse Blanket Repair Tape
- Schneiders® Odor Eliminator 8oz
- Schneiders® Horse Blanket Care Kit
- Dura-Tech® Stall Front Horse Blanket Bag
- Dura-Tech® X-Large EZ-Store Storage Bag
- Brass Bridle & Halter Name Tag 3/4" disc
Using a blanket re-waterproofer will re-waterproof your waterproof blankets. Just spray the blanket and put it in the dryer on the permanent press cycle for 50 minutes (do not air dry) or use a hair dryer.
This horse blanket wash is environmentally friendly and specially formulated to clean your blanket without irritating your horse’s skin or stripping your blanket's waterproofing.
Detachable and adjustable horse blanket leg straps will replace those old, dirty straps, keeping the blanket secure and looking fresh.
Keep horse blanket repair tape on hand for rips on your waterproof turnout or stable blankets.
Blankets that stink from urine, mold, mildew, and other smells will be fresh again after you apply a horse blanket odor eliminator.
An alternative to buying separate products is an all-in-one horse blanket care kit. Schneiders carries a kit with a blanket wash, odor eliminator, extra locking bands to keep the t-locks fastened, and extra repair tape.
After washing, storing clean blankets is easy and convenient with a stall front horse blanket bag. These bags can hold one heavyweight blanket, two midweight blankets, or multiple sheets.
An extra large storage bag will keep your clean blankets pristine if you need blanket storage for more than one heavy blanket. One extra large bag will store two heavy blankets, three midweight blankets, and multiple sheets.
To keep your blankets organized for multiple horses, using a personalized brass name tag will help.
Click to shop more Horse Blanket Care Products.
