Learning Center · Blanketing

Where can I get my horse blankets washed properly?

A proper blanket wash uses a technical detergent that protects waterproofing, and the best services reproof at the same time.

By The Schneiders Product Team · Updated September 29, 2026
3 minute read · Reviewed against our current catalog

The short answer

look for a service that specifically launders horse blankets rather than a general laundry. The waterproofing question matters: a proper blanket wash uses a technical detergent that won't strip the finish, and many services will reproof at the same time if you ask.

Why household detergent and fabric softener wreck waterproofing What a proper blanket wash actually does differently Reproofing: why timing matters Questions to ask before you hand a blanket over

Start here

Why household detergent and fabric softener wreck waterproofing

A waterproof blanket's outer fabric works by causing water to bead and roll off rather than soak in, which depends on a thin surface coating staying intact and residue-free. Household detergent is formulated to leave fabric feeling soft and smelling clean, which in practice means it leaves a residue behind. That residue sits on top of the coating, breaks its ability to shed water evenly, and also tends to irritate a horse's skin at the shoulders and withers where the blanket contacts it directly. Fabric softener is worse for the same reason, since its entire purpose is to coat fibers with a film. Neither product is doing anything wrong for a t-shirt; both are wrong for a technical waterproof fabric.

How it works

What a proper blanket wash actually does differently

A wash built for horse blankets uses a detergent designed to clean without leaving that film, which is why a detergent made for blankets is worth using whether you're washing at home or asking a service what they use. This is the difference between a blanket that comes out clean and still water-repellent, and one that comes out clean but soaks through the next time it rains.

What that means for you

Reproofing: why timing matters

Washing removes dirt, but it also strips away some of what's left of the factory waterproofing, which is why reproofing after a wash restores what the wash took out rather than adding something extra. Reproofer works by bonding to clean fabric, so applying it over a dirty blanket means it has nothing solid to bond to and the coat won't hold. Reproof after washing, never instead of it, and never onto a blanket that's still dirty.

The details

Questions to ask before you hand a blanket over

Ask any service directly whether they reproof, and whether the price includes it. Plenty wash and don't, which means you get a clean blanket that's now less waterproof than when you dropped it off. If you're doing minor repairs yourself before storage, repair tape is worth having on hand for small tears so they don't grow over the winter.

Mentioned in this entry

Schneiders® Horse Blanket Wash View ›

Schneiders® BlockAide™ Blanket Reproofer View ›

Schneiders® Horse Blanket Repair Tape View ›

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Can I wash a waterproof blanket in a regular washing machine?

Many can be, but check the care label for machine size and cycle limits first, and use a detergent made for blankets rather than a household one. The machine isn't the risk, the detergent and any fabric softener are, since both leave residue that breaks down water repellency.

Why did my blanket leak after I washed it myself?

Most likely the detergent, not the wash itself. Household detergents and fabric softeners leave a film that interferes with the fabric's coating, which is exactly what makes water bead and roll off instead of soaking in. Switching to a technical blanket detergent solves this going forward.

Do I need to reproof every time I wash a blanket?

It's the lowest-risk habit, since washing removes some of the existing waterproofing along with the dirt. If the blanket still beads water well after washing you can skip it, but once you see water darkening the fabric instead of beading, it's time to reproof.

Can I apply reproofer to a blanket that's still a little dirty?

No. Reproofer works by bonding to the fabric surface, and dirt or residue between the coating and the fabric stops that bond from forming properly. Wash first, let it dry fully, then reproof.