How to wash blankets like a professional

[moving_to_dc]

I have been washing all the blankets at the barn I work at, and my own blankets, for years and years (usually totals ~25 blankets every spring). My front load washer can handle everything EXCEPT heavyweight 87" blankets. Those I do have to send out.

I use Woolite. No fabric softener. My machine has settings to spin just about every drop of water out of the blankets, and then I throw them over my west-facing looong porch railing to dry. I have to flip them about 12hrs later to get the underside dry, and usually let them dry for a full 24 hrs before folding them and storing them.

Super muddy or dirty blankets get hosed off or pressure washed off (no soap) before going in my washer.

Some of my turnouts are 20 years old, and are STILL waterproof. I have never treated any of them…

[My_Two_Cents]

Don’t forget to factor in the cost of doing your trainers blankets for free/or $10. That still leaves you $5 in the hole to start.

[Magicboy]

Charge $30 and $15 for the trainer if you can get it

[Crazy4aOTTB]

Thanks guys! I have decided against doing the barn or trainers blankets. My biggest concern is that they would not come out smelling “fresh” like they did last year and I hate to charge people and not have them come back looking and smelling clean. My other thing is that doing my trainers 7 blankets just at cost really cuts into any profit I might of made. I’m going to do my own this year and see how it goes and then if I feel that I did a good enough job to actually charge I will do them next year. But I won’t be doing my trainers for “cost” I might would give her a $5 discount but it’s just not worth it to do so many at cost.

[Nestor]

@x-halt-salute

All blankets were air dried, repaired if needed, got hair/lint removed from velcros and seams, were folded meticulously, tied with twine, bagged, and labeled so that they could be put neatly into storage upon return. IMO they came out far better than the service we sent them out to a previous year (which charged more and also damaged one of my blankets during the process), and since I was doing just my barn the turnaround time was far far quicker. I think people were happy with it…

I can definitely attest that the blankets came out FANTASTIC! Seriously better than the local service. People were very happy! And YAY for not waiting on blankets to be returned in October!

OP, definitely ask x-halt-salute for her tips/tricks. These blankets looked new!

[Couture_TB]

Only blankets I have ever power washed were ones that had been on the horse who had Strangles. Other than that I would never power wash blankets.

[Hunter_Mom]

I used to do blankets. It was miserable work. Unless you have a very large machine, expect to spend a lot of time at the laundromat. Most blankets do come clean in one wash, unless you have someone who leaves them on all winter. I used EQ Surface Wash - it’s an enzyme based cleaner that doesn’t kill the waterproofing and cuts through the urine and poop quickly. All blankets need to be air dried - make sure you have somewhere to hang them out of direct sunlight that they get good air flow. I would NOT pressure wash them, either. The fabric could easily be compromised by the pressure. And also be prepared for your car to smell like dirty blankets for ages.