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Hi Julie,

I never wash with a blanket wash -- I don't put them in the washing machine 
and I only wash my blankets with water and a broom/scrub brush -- I'm too 
paranoid that the wash chemicals and water saturation that happens when 
putting blankets in the washing machine will remove the waterproofing (and 
I'm a bit lazy too :) ...).  My small, 1-rat study seems to be confirming my 
hypothesis, as I'm still using the same Weatherbeeta Orican Freestyle; it is 
on its third season, and it's still absolutely waterproof.  The Dover 
blanket I have for my hubby's QH doesn't seem to be holding up quite as 
nice, but the Amigo turnout blanket that I have for my kids' pony seems to 
be doing quite well in its 2nd season.

Here's my (minimal) blanket maintenance:  I only wash at the end of the 
season; during the season, I'll just spot clean if an area gets excessively 
gunky.  I put the blanket on a fence, take a hose and spray the outside of 
the blanket with water, using a brush/broom to get the dirty/poopy patches 
clean.  I wipe the inside of the blanket down with a clean wet washcloth, 
and let them air dry on a fence for the day.  They go into storage, and I 
pull them out the next winter, ready to go.

Good luck!  I can't imagine having to buy all new blankets every year --  
that's too pricey for me!

Sarah
Virginia


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie Fuller" <natira121@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 3:01 PM
Subject: [RC] Waterproof turnout sheets


> Okay, I'm disgusted again.
>
> Last winter, I had problems with my previously waterproof sheets.  Mind 
> you, I have used waterproof sheets for YEARS with no problems, in spite of 
> torrential rain and high winds.  But last year after carefully washing and 
> reproofing 7 sheets, NONE of them was waterproof anymore. (I used Nikwax 
> for washing and reproofing) After talking to the blanket manufacturer, and 
> the nikwax people, I got refunded for the nikwax,( not by nikwax, but by 
> Dover, whom I purchased through) and  eventually I ended up buying four 
> new sheets, (Weatherbeeta Landa Freestyle) and they were perfectly fine 
> for the remainder of the season.
>
> As usual, when I was finished with them for the season, I washed them with 
> Sportwash (it's specifically for WP fabrics) and put them away.  This fall 
> they all got washed again, then reproofed with Waterguard (by the same 
> company as Sportwash (and a product I have always been more than happy 
> with))
>
> Yeah, now I have 4 wet horses, again. *sigh*
>
> Last year I bought a Shires Typhoon Half Combo blanket for the stallion I 
> rescued.  He stayed warm and dry all winter with that blanket.  Has anyone 
> had a Shires brand blanket for more than a couple years?  How has it held 
> up?
>
> I checked the archives and didn't find much.  I prefer to let my horses 
> fur up, then use sheets because they fit in the washing machine easier, 
> but now I am thinking perhaps blankets would work better.  I don't know. 
> I am at wit's end over this.  And I cannot afford to spend $250-350 a 
> piece for the fancy high tech blankets.  I can go about $150, and that's 
> pushing it.
>
> I'm thinking I should contact all the blanket companies and offer to be 
> their tester!
>
> Julie
>
>
>
>
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Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

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