I’ve tried Woolite white, OxiClean, straight bleach and combinations of those products. And my saddle pads are still not sparkling white. And it’s driving me nuts!
Any brilliant tips??
Soak them in Oxyclean as soon as you can after they get dirty…so dump them in a soak as soon as you get home from using them, let them soak for a few hours or overnight, then put them in the washer. In the washer I use more Oxyclean plus whatever detergent. Seems to work pretty well.
Bleach tends to yellow things out a bit.
Mine stay white by staying safely stored under my desk in my room , especially my show pad it’s sparking white 
But in truth, oxyclean and a GOOD washing machine!
To get the boot polish stains off, treat directly with nail polish remover,then wash normally. I like the purple or blue coloured ones, the yellow tends to add to the yellowing of the pad. If the stains are bad then re-treat and wash again BEFORE drying.
Alternatively, read the rules carefully and see if you can’t get away with a black or other non-white coloured pad.
I am having a full-on protest to the sport of extreme washing: I’ve submitted rule changes for dark coloured clothes and polo shirts to be allowed; I intend to wear tweed next year with as dark breeches as I can get away with; and I will be using dark pads. The only flaw in this plan is that my horse has 3 white socks and is a mud-lover :lol:
[QUOTE=Dutchmare433;8906965]
Soak them in Oxyclean as soon as you can after they get dirty…so dump them in a soak as soon as you get home from using them, let them soak for a few hours or overnight, then put them in the washer. In the washer I use more Oxyclean plus whatever detergent. Seems to work pretty well.
Bleach tends to yellow things out a bit.[/QUOTE]
May be a silly question, but how much OxyClean do you use?
I had been suffering from the same dirty saddle pad affliction as you have. But then I bought a really nice (used – got a great deal) front load washing machine for the barn.
Stains gone. Dirt gone. Hair gone. Boot polish gone. It looks like new.
So my suggestion is to take the pads to a laundromat with heavy duty machines (or reg. machines with a heavy setting) and wash them on the Heavy Duty or White setting. I did not put in anything special – just a Pod. But I did put in several rub rags to churn and rub against the pad (1 pad at a time).
Damn! they look good.
My front load does a nice job. Use a LOT of OxyClean. I spray any spots and use a big scoop for a small load of whites. I also tell the machine to PreSoak, and do an extra rinse.
I also think it helps to wash often. If you ride in it so long it gets super dirty, that’s much more difficult to fix. I have a stack of pads and usually wash them every time I ride, def every time the horse gets sweaty. they aren’t super expensive ones either and some are 15 or more years old, most I got on sale. Those Dover Riders International ones are good for everyday use. If you watch for a sale you can get them for $9.99. when I go to shows I get the white ones out of the stack. They still look show-worthy.
I have enough saddle pads for each day of the week. I use them only once, then wash in detergent and dry. Works for me and my horses. The people at the barn who use a dirty, sweaty pad over and over have the dingy looking pads.
How do you wash your sheepskin pads? The bottom is spotless as it never comes in contact with the horse, but the top is dirty.
My good pads only get used for shows and the like. Then they get bleached. I rinse them twice (at least) to avoid sensitive Toby having an issue with the bleach. My everyday pads don’t have to be sparkly, so they get washed with minimal detergent and hung to dry.
My sheepskin always comes in contact with the horse. Isn’t that the purpose of having sheepskin?
Actually, I used to do it the other way, because I saw others doing it. I read a post from someone in the UK, who wondered why Americans put the sheepskin saddle side up, instead of on the horses back? Then, I remember something from way back in my youth (think Dark Ages.) The fox hunt folks rode with the sheepskin to the horses back. When they were done riding, they would let it dry, then brush out the sweat or dirt, before the next use. I have ridden with the sheepskin on the horses back ever since. It absorbs sweat well and is quite breathable to keep the horses back cooler.
When I wash it, I brush out the sweat (sharp tined cat brush gets loose hair, too), use Woolite on cold in my washing machine, then hang out on the back porch to dry. Never, ever put it in the dryer.
For those of you who do it the other way, what do you believe the purpose of using sheepskin is? Not being snarky, just curious? 
Thanks for the ideas! I have a top load washing machine, so I’m going to stock up on OxiClean this weekend and try the soaking method. If that doesn’t work, I’ll hit up the local laundromat. These are just my show pads which get washed after each use, but I would like them to be a bit cleaner than they are for the show ring!
[QUOTE=mythical84;8907088]
May be a silly question, but how much OxyClean do you use?[/QUOTE]
Probably more than I should? It depends on how much water I’m soaking in, but usually at least two scoops for the soak, and another two for the wash. I think there are directions on the box for scoops per gallon of water.
For boot stains, I put a bunch on the stain and scrub it with a brush before the soaking.
I sound quite a bit more neurotic than I really am, I swear!
What about synthetic pads, Ecogold and the like? Does oxyclean damage them?
Why not just use the knock off of oxyclean? 2 parts water to 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 1 part washing soda? Works just as well and is a fraction of the cost.
I have not had a problem with bleach yellowing dressage pads. I love bleach for all-white pads!
For pads with logos or piping you may not want to see bleach, I’m known to use Tilex or other bleach-based sprays on tough spots and then wash in regular detergent. Also, I’m fine with pads getting stained under the saddle area (dyes bleed out of the saddle when you’re riding in 90-100 degree weather with 90% humidity) so I’m not fanatical about the pads being white there.
Have you tried bluing?
I switched to a black pad with natural sheepskin. It’s legal, looks nice, and makes for one less thing to fuss over…
I have recently heard of, but never tried yet, using pine sol in your laundry. Apparently must be the original, just a 1/2 cup for a load of laundry, but makes whites whiter and brighter and softens everything up.
Not a recommendation from me, just throwing it out there!
Something I have done that does seem to help is spot bleach. I’ll put the bleach where it’s really needed, then let the sun dry it for a bit before washing it. always seemed to help keep the stains muted on my white pads.
